Wisdom · Chapter 14 of 42

Job 14

Job meditates on the brevity and frailty of human life: born of woman, few of days, and full of trouble, fleeing like a shadow. He observes that even a felled tree may sprout again at the scent of water, but man lies down and does not rise. Then he dares to hope: if a man dies, might he live again? He longs for God to hide him in the grave and remember him when wrath passes.

What happens in Job 14

Job broadens his lament into a meditation on all humanity. Man, born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble, springing up like a flower only to be cut down. He asks why God fixes his eyes on so frail a creature and brings him into judgment, since no one can bring a clean thing out of an unclean. Because human days are numbered, Job pleads that God would look away and let man rest till his day is done.

Then comes the poignant contrast: there is hope for a tree, for though cut down it may sprout again at the scent of water, but when man dies he wastes away and does not awake. Then Job voices a fragile hope: if a man die, shall he live again? He imagines waiting until his change comes, with God calling and himself answering. But the chapter sinks back into grief, and God destroys the hope of man.

Job 14 in context

Job 14 is among the most tender and searching chapters in the book, a reflection on mortality itself. Old Testament faith had only a dim view of life beyond the grave, and Job's words hover between despair and a longing that outruns his knowledge. His question, if a man die, shall he live again, is not yet a confident doctrine of resurrection, but it is a genuine reach toward one.

He even imagines God remembering him and calling him back, a hope the fuller revelation of Christ will confirm.

Main themes of Job 14

Job 14 (KJV)

1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. 7For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. 19The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. 20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 22But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Verses to carry from Job 14

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”Job 14:1

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.”Job 14:7

“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”Job 14:14

Reflection

Job asked the question every human heart eventually asks: if I die, will I live again? He reached for hope in the dark without a clear answer. We stand on the other side of an empty tomb.

Let his honest longing deepen your gratitude, for the question that haunted Job has been answered by the risen Christ, who is himself the resurrection and the life.

A prayer from Job 14