Job14
English Standard Version
1 who is of a is of and of .
2He comes like a and ; he like a and .
3And do you your on such a and me into with you?
4 can a out of an ? There is .
5 his are , and the of his is with you, and you have his that he ,
6 from him and leave him , that he may , like a , his .
7For there for a , it be , that it will , and that its will .
8 its grow in the , and its in the ,
9yet at the of it will and like a .
10But a and is ; breathes his , and is he?
11As from a and a and ,
12so a and again; the are no he will or be out of his .
13 that you would me in , that you would me your be , that you would me a , and me!
14 a , shall he again? the of my I would , my should .
15You would , and I would you; you would for the of your .
16 you would my ; you would my ;
17my would be in a , and you would my .
18 the and , and the is from its ;
19the away the ; the the of the ; so you the of .
20You against him, and he ; you his , and .
21His come to , and he does it; they are , and he it .
22He the of his own , and he only .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 14.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job speaks of man's life. (1–6). Of man's death. (7–15). By sin man is subject to corruption. (16–22).
vv1-6
Job enlarges upon the condition of man, addressing himself also to God. Every man of Adam's fallen race is short-lived. All his show of beauty, happiness, and splendour falls before the stroke of sickness or death, as the flower before the scythe; or passes away like the shadow. How is it possible for a man's conduct to be sinless, when his heart is by nature unclean? Here is a clear proof that Job understood and believed the doctrine of original sin. He seems to have intended it as a plea, why the Lord should not deal with him according to his own works, but according to His mercy and grace. It is determined, in the counsel and decree of God, how long we shall live. Our times are in his hands, the powers of nature act under him; in him we live and move. And it is very useful to reflect seriously on the shortness and uncertainty of human life, and the fading nature of all earthly enjoyments. But it is still more important to look at the cause, and remedy of these evils. Until we are born of the Spirit, no spiritually good thing dwells in us, or can proceed from us. Even the little good in the regenerate is defiled with sin. We should therefore humble ourselves before God, and cast ourselves wholly on the mercy of God, through our Divine Surety. We should daily seek the renewing of the Holy Ghost, and look to heaven as the only place of perfect holiness and happiness.
vv7-15
Though a tree is cut down, yet, in a moist situation, shoots come forth, and grow up as a newly planted tree. But when man is cut off by death, he is for ever removed from his place in this world. The life of man may fitly be compared to the waters of a land flood, which spread far, but soon dry up. All Job's expressions here show his belief in the great doctrine of the resurrection. Job's friends proving miserable comforters, he pleases himself with the expectation of a change. If our sins are forgiven, and our hearts renewed to holiness, heaven will be the rest of our souls, while our bodies are hidden in the grave from the malice of our enemies, feeling no more pain from our corruptions, or our corrections.
vv16-22
Job's faith and hope spake, and grace appeared to revive; but depravity again prevailed. He represents God as carrying matters to extremity against him. The Lord must prevail against all who contend with him. God may send disease and pain, we may lose all comfort in those near and dear to us, every hope of earthly happiness may be destroyed, but God will receive the believer into realms of eternal happiness. But what a change awaits the prosperous unbeliever! How will he answer when God shall call him to his tribunal? The Lord is yet upon a mercy-seat, ready to be gracious. Oh that sinners would be wise, that they would consider their latter end! While man's flesh is upon him, that is, the body he is so loth to lay down, it shall have pain; and while his soul is within him, that is, the spirit he is so loth to resign, it shall mourn. Dying work is hard work; dying pangs often are sore pangs. It is folly for men to defer repentance to a death-bed, and to have that to do which is the one thing needful, when unfit to do anything.
Key Words
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
אִשָּׁה: a woman
קָצֵר: short (whether in size, number, life, strength or temper)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
שָׂבֵעַ: satiated (in a pleasant or disagreeable sense)
רֹגֶז: commotion, restlessness (of a horse), crash (of thunder), disquiet, anger
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
צִיץ: properly, glistening, i.e. a burnished plate; also a flower (as bright-colored); a wing (as gleaming in the air)
נָמַל: to become clipped or (specifically) circumcised
Cross References
Job 14Parallel reasoning on man born of woman being unclean and unable to justify himself.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects man's determined days on earth with the hard service of an appointed time.
Supported by JFB
Clarifies Job's progressive, triumphant hope of bodily resurrection despite his current dark musings.
Supported by JFB
Verbal link of 'born of women' expressing the inherent limitations of natural human birth.
Supported by JFB
Echoes Jacob's assessment of life's brevity and trouble: 'few and evil have the days...'
Supported by JFB
New Testament realization of the impossibility of bringing spiritual cleanness out of natural, unclean birth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Old Testament expectation of the ultimate passing away or changing of the current heavens.
Supported by JFB
Imagery of God's people being hidden in safety until His indignation or wrath is overpast.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Job's distress over God watching him so closely as an adversarial observer.
Supported by JFB
Graphic comparison of frail human life to a flourishing flower that quickly fades and is cut down.
Supported by JFB
Confirms God's sovereign appointment of the pre-determined times and boundaries of human existence.
Parallel imagery of sin being bound up and stored away before judgment.