Job 14:9-19

9 the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.[a]
10 But a man dies and fades away; he breathes his last-where is he?
11 As water disappears from the sea and a wadi becomes parched and dry,
12 so man lies down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep.[b]
13 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger passes, that You would appoint a time for me and then remember me.[c]
14 When a man dies, will he come back to life? [If so,] I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes.[d]
15 You would call, and I would answer You. You would long for the work of Your hands.[e]
16 For then You would count my steps but would not take note of my sin.
17 My rebellion would be sealed up in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.[f]
18 But as a mountain collapses and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so You destroy a man's hope.[g]

Job 14:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 14

Job, having turned himself from his friends to God, continues his address to him in this chapter; wherein he discourses of the frailty of man, the shortness of his life, the troubles that are in it, the sinfulness of it, and its limited duration, beyond which it cannot continue; all which he makes use of with God, that he would not therefore deal rigorously with him, but have pity on him, and cease from severely afflicting him, till he came to the end of his days, which could not be long, Job 14:1-6; he observes of a tree, when it is cut down to the root, yea, when the root is become old, and the stock dies, it will, by means of being watered, bud and sprout again, and produce boughs and branches; but man, like the failing waters of the sea, and the decayed and dried up flood, when he dies, rises not, till the heavens be no more, Job 14:7-12; and then he wishes to be hid in the grave till that time, and expresses hope and belief of the resurrection of the dead, Job 14:13-15; and goes on to complain of the strict notice God took of his sins, of his severe dealings with men, destroying their hope in life, and removing them by death; so that they see and know not the case and circumstances of their children they leave behind, and while they live have continual pain and sorrow, Job 14:16-22.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Ps 1:3; Jr 17:8; Ezk 31:7
  • [b]. Jb 19:25-27; Dn 12:2-3; 1 Th 4:16
  • [c]. Gn 8:1; 19:29; Ps 30:5
  • [d]. Jb 7:1; 14:12; 1 Co 15:51-52
  • [e]. Jb 10:3
  • [f]. Jb 10:14; Ps 32:1-2; Jr 31:34
  • [g]. Jb 7:6; 19:10; Mt 7:24-26
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