Bible Commentaries
Job 14

Verses 1-22

JOB - CHAPTER 14

JOB EXPLAINS THE COMMON MISERY OF ALL MEN

Verses 1-22:

Verse 1 begins a description of Job’s account of the common troubles and miseries to which all men are born. The phrase "born of woman," means to the oriental, born in "feebleness," as women were considered by them to be feeble creatures, as a consequence of which men have inherent frailties, prone to sin himself, Genesis 2:21; Job 15:14; Job 25:4; Matthew 11:11. The phrase "few days and full of trouble," reflects the brevity of human life, continually beset with troubles, to which his inherent depravity inclines him, as expressed Genesis 47:9; Psalms 90:10; Ecclesiastes 2:23, even as the "sparks fly upward," Job 5:7; Job 18:5.

Verse 2 compares life’s brevity with the life of a flower that is beautiful today, but so soon cut down, to be trampled under foot, as also expressed Isaiah 40:6; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:21; Psalms 90:6; Job 8:9. His life is also compared with a shadow from the sun, that soon goes down to total darkness; that sun-shadow has no absolute stillness or stability. So it is with physical life, Ecclesiastes 9:5; Romans 5:12.

Verse 3 recounts Job’s inquiry whether or not God did fix his eyes so sharply upon him in judgment, watching him writhe in his frailty, constantly? Job was so frail; God so Almighty, Job 1:8; Job 7:19-20; Zechariah 12:4. Yet Job was brought to judgment before Him, Psalms 143:2.

Verse 4 rhetorically asks, can a "morally unclean one" bring forth a "morally clean or pure one?" suggesting she cannot, can she? The answer is, no. Because of an inherent sin nature, one is born with death and depravity in his being, else there would be no infant mortality, James 1:15; Psalms 51:5; Psalms 58:3; Romans 5:12-14; Death is sin full grown in men, 1 Corinthians 15:56. If one could get rid of inherent, original, or inborn sin in his body he could get rid of physical death. But none is exempt from it, for all are corrupt by nature, transgressors by nature, "from the womb," or from birth, Ephesians 2:3. It is this inborn sin nature that predisposes every person to death, even those who die in infancy. See Isaiah 48:8; Romans 5:12-14.

Verse 5 adds that since his days are determined (limited) and the number of his months of life with the Lord, the Lord Himself had appointed his bounds, limitation of days in the body of sin’s corruption, that he could not pass into eternity without experiencing death, or a bodily change, as expressed, Psalms 90:10; Ecclesiastes 9:5; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27.

Verse 6 is an appeal from Job for the Lord to turn from him, from permitting Satan to lay the plagues on him any longer, till he shall accomplish as an hireling, his useful days of service to God and his fellowman, that he may enjoy life for a little longer span, Psalms 39:13.

Verses 7-9 state that nature offers hope and gives evidence that there is hope of continuity of a live tree that is cut down, that it will sprout again, even if the root stays long in the earth and the trunk stock die to the ground. There always exists hope that it will bud, from humidity of water and bring forth life, expressed by Job 5:13; Job 7:2; Job 19:25.

Verses 10, 11 contrast physical life as coming forth, living one time only, wasting away, giving up the spirit, and like pools or a sea of water that offers hope for a while, then dries up; Such is the brevity of our physical life. But it does not end all, Jeremiah 51:36; Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 19:5; John 5:28-29; Romans 8:1.

Verse 12 adds "So," or similar to this, "man lieth down and riseth not," in a body of depravity any more, even until the present heavens be no more. They, the present heavens, too shall to be no more, shall pass away, but there shall be a "new heaven and a new earth," even as redeemed men shall have, beyond death, a new body, free of afflictions and pains that the former was heir to, Psalms 102:26; Isaiah 51:6; Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; Acts 3:21; Romans 8:11; Romans 8:20; 2 Peter 3:7-11; Revelation 20-11; See also Revelation 21:1; 1 Corinthians 15:53-57; 2 Corinthians 5:1; 1 John 3:2. Job had hope of and faith in life after death.

Verse 13 recounts Job’s lament that God would hide or protect him in the grave, keep him secret as His own possession, his own jewel, until His wrath had passed over, then at an appointed time, he hilariously shouted, "Remember me!" And let it be always clear, God never forgets or loses one of His own, even in death, Daniel 12:1-3; John 5:28-29; Malachi 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 8:11; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Peter 1:3-4. Jesus still keeps His own, John 17:12; John 10:28-30.

Verse 14 questions, for purposes of Divine record, "if a man die, shall he live again?" Then Job responded, with an hope sustained by faith, that all the days of his appointed time, until the resurrection of the righteous would he wait, till his time of resurrection of body change should come, as described, Job 13:15; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:21; Psalms 16:10; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58.

Verse 15 witnesses that the Lord will call to the righteous in the graves, and he will answer Him, because the Lord desires a full fruition of the regeneration, in the soul and body of every believer, John 5:28; Psalms 17:15; How much Job knew of such a resurrection is not known, but that it was real to him is evident, Job 19:25; Psalms 50:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 John 2:28.

Verses 16, 17 declare that the Lord numbered the steps of Job, and kept a sentinel-like watch-care over him, his sins, that he might not wonder afar, 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalms 37:23.

Verse 17 certifies that the Lord had saved and sealed up Job’s sins in a bag, all his iniquities and transgressions, for punishment in Christ who bore them all for every believer, 1 Peter 2:24. The idea also seems to be that he will chasten unconfessed sins in the lives of His own children, Hebrews 12:5-10; See also Deuteronomy 32:34; Job 21:19; Hosea 13:12.

Verses 18, 19 relate Job’s reversion to the temporary gloom and certain failure of the depraved human life that must so soon be turned to the grave, and blast hopes for any long joy or prosperity in this life. If mountains and rocks and stones erode away with the blast of wind and weather, should man hope to escape decay of the depraved body forever? Surely not, Psalms 90:10; Psalms 103:16.

Verse 20 states that the Lord overpowers fleshly men by His superior strength. They die, pass on; He changes their countenance in death, Daniel 5:9.

Verse 21 adds that his sons come in deep sadness to pay honor and tribute to him in death, but he knows it not. For parents and children are sadly severed in death, Ecclesiastes 9:5.

Verse 22 concludes that man’s flesh (what he is by natural birth) shall have pain into the experience or sting of death, Psalms 49:14; Proverbs 14:32; Matthew 8:12; Luke 16:23; but his soul within him (the spirit, mind, and conscience) shall mourn, waiting for the hour of certain reunion with the body, free of pain and sin, Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 3:20-21,