18. cometh to naught—literally, "fadeth"; a poetical image from a leaf ( :-). Here Job falls back into his gloomy bodings as to the grave. Instead of "and surely," translate "yet"; marking the transition from his brighter hopes. Even the solid mountain falls and crumbles away; man therefore cannot "hope" to escape decay or to live again in the present world ( :-). out of his place—so man (Psalms 103:16). read more
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
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
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
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
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
14:18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the {k} rock is removed out of his place.(k) He murmurs through the impatiency of the flesh against God, as though he used great severity against him as against the hard rocks, or waters that overflow, so that by this the opportunity of his hope is taken away. read more
MAN'S DECAY AND DEATH (vv.1-12) What Job had said in chapter 3:28 he expands upon in these verses, giving a vivid description of the evanescent character of man's life on earth. This is generally true of all mankind, though men do everything in their power to alleviate this condition. "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble" (v.1) Though Job himself lived 140 years after his bitter experience, yet when it was finished, it was only "few days." Like a flower, man comes... read more
FIRST SERIES OF THE DEBATE The first series of the debate may be outlined as follows: 1. With Eliphaz (chaps. 4-7) a. Speech of Eliphaz (chaps. 4-5) b. Reply of (chaps. 6-7) 2. With Bildad (chaps. 8-10) a. Speech of Bildad (chap. 8) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 9-10) 3. With Zophar (chaps. 11-14) a. Speech of Zophar (chap. 11) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 12-14) It is thought the debate may have occupied several days, by which supposition some of the difficulties of the book are removed. In the... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 14:18
THE FAILURE OF EARTH-LIFE TO SATISFY MANKIND"But the mountain falling cometh to naught;And the rock is moved out of its place;The waters wear the stones;The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth:So thou destroyest the hope of man.Thou prevailest forever against him, and he passeth;Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not;And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.But his flesh upon him hath pain,And his soul... read more