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Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 14:1-22

Job’s reply to Zophar (12:1-14:22)The reply from Job opens with a sarcastic comment on the supposed wisdom of the three friends. They have merely been repeating general truths that everybody knows (12:1-3). They do not have the troubles Job has, and they make no attempt to understand how Job feels. A good person suffers while wicked people live in peace and security (4-6).Job does not argue with the fact that all life is in God’s hands. What worries him is the interpretation of that fact... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 14:4

Job 14:4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?— Who can be clean, that is born of the unclean? Not one. Houbigant, who observes, that Job, without doubt, here alludes to our natural corruption. The Vulgate renders it, Who can bring a clean thing from unclean seed? read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 14:4

4. A plea in mitigation. The doctrine of original sin was held from the first. "Man is unclean from his birth, how then can God expect perfect cleanness from such a one and deal so severely with me?" read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 14:1-22

Job’s despair ch. 14In this melancholic lament Job bewailed the brevity of life (Job 14:1-6), the finality of death (Job 14:7-17), and the absence of hope (Job 14:18-22)."Born of woman" (Job 14:1) reflects man’s frailty since woman who bears him is frail. Job 14:4 means, "Who can without God’s provision of grace make an unclean person clean?" (cf. Job 9:30-31; Job 25:4). God has indeed determined the life span of every individual (Job 14:5).It seemed unfair to Job that a tree could come back to... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 14:1-22

Job’s Third Speech (concluded)1-6. Job pleads for God’s forbearance on the grounds of man’s shortness of life and sinful nature.1, 2. The well-known Sentence in the Burial Service. 3. Open thine eyes] i.e. watch so vigilantly: cp. Job 14:16, Job 14:17. 4. Job pleads the innate sinfulness of man. 5, 6. Let man spend his days in peace, seeing that his time is but short: cp. Job 7.7-12. A tree has a chance of a second growth after it is cut down. Not so man. With him death is final. Job here... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 14:4

(4) Who can bring a clean thing . . .—How can man be clean that is born of woman, who is unclean? This question is reiterated by Bildad (Job 25:4). We ought perhaps, however, rather to render “Oh, that the clean could come forth from the unclean! but none can.” read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 14:1-22

Job 14:2 'I will not now ask, writes Charlotte Bronte in 1848, 'why Emily was torn from us in the fullness of an attachment, rooted up in the prime of her own days, in the promise of her powers; why her existence now lies like a field of green corn trodden down, like a tree in full bearing struck at the root. I will only say, sweet is rest after labour, and calm after tempest, and again that Emily knows that now.' Job 14:2 What shadows we are, and what shadows we pursue! Burke. The Apparently... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 14:1-22

XII.BEYOND FACT AND FEAR TO GODJob 12:1-25; Job 13:1-28; Job 14:1-22Job SPEAKSZOPHAR excites in Job’s mind great irritation, which must not be set down altogether to the fact that he is the third to speak. In some respects he has made the best attack from the old position, pressing most upon the conscience of Job. He has also used a curt positive tone in setting out the method and principle of Divine government and the judgment he has formed of his friend’s state. Job is accordingly the more... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 14:1-22

CHAPTERS 12-14 Job’s Answer to Zophar 1. His sarcasm (Job 12:1-6 ) 2. He describes God’s power (Job 12:7-25 ) 3. He denounces his friends (Job 13:1-13 ) 4. He appeals to God (Job 13:14-28 ) 5. The brevity and trouble of life (Job 14:1-6 ) 6. The ray of light through hope of immortality (Job 14:7-22 ) Job 12:1-6 . He answers not only Zophar but the others as well. Before this Job had expressed his disappointment in them, rebuked them for their unkindness, and assailed as worthless... read more

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