Ecclesiastes 3

The phrase is unclear in the original language of Hebrew. It’s perhaps most literally (and obscurely) translated something like this: “God seeks what has been pursued.” Yeah, figure that out. Some scholars guess that what God is pursuing is the past, so he can reuse it in some form, in the future. The point of the verse seems to spin around the idea that God’s in charge. He’s got control of the past, present, and future. And he knows how to use them.

The Hebrew text says, more literally, “Who knows if the human (adam) spirit (ruah) rises (ala) up (maal).” We’ve added “that last exhale of breath” because the word for spirit, ruah, can also mean “breath.” It’s the same word used to describe God’s work in creation: “God’s Spirit cruised through the darkness, above the water” (Genesis 1:2). It’s the word used to describe the death of people and animals during the Flood: “If it lived on land and drew a breath it died” (Genesis 7:22). Even in New Testament times, wind and breath symbolized life. “Jesus breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:22).