Old Testament Commentary - Job 14

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                  CHAPTER 14                 

Job testifies of the shortness of life, the certainty of death, and the guarantee of a resurrection—He asks: If a man die, shall he live again?—He answers that he will await the Lord's call to come forth from the grave.

  1 aMAN that is born of a womana is of few days, and full of trouble.
  2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is acut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
  3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
 1a MAN that is born of a woman The first and leading woman was Eve, who was name such because she was the 'mother of all living.' And having followed after Adam and Eve, man was subject unto the fall and the cause of temporal death. The trouble that man would face would be of the probationary estate, a time of testing and proving of oneself. And the troubles would be of this mortal fallen termporal world of human corruption. Yet this was a necessary step in God's Plan of Exaltation wherein man would use his agency and make choices in and of himself.  1a 2 Ne. 2:21; Alma 12:24;
     Moses 4:23 (22-23)
 2a Isa. 38:12 (10-13)

  4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an aunclean? not one.
  5 Seeing his adays are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bbounds that he cannot pass;
  6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an ahireling, his day.
 4a TG Uncleanness
 5a TG Time
   b Acts 17:26
 6a Job 7:1-2

  7 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.
  8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
  9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
  10 But man adieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
  11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
  12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
 10a Alma 11:45; Alma 40:11-14;
       D&C 76:73 (71-74)

  13 O 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!
  14 If a man die, shall he alive again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
  15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
 14a TG Resurrection

  16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
  17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
  18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
  19 The 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.
  20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
  21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
  22 But his flesh upon him shall have apain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
 22a TG Pain