Job 14:1

¶ Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

Man {H120} that is born {H3205} of a woman {H802} is of few {H7116} days {H3117}, and full {H7649} of trouble {H7267}.

"A human being, born from a woman, lives a short, trouble-filled life.

“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.

Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.

Job 14:1 (KJV)

Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

Commentary

This verse is part of a lament spoken by Job as he reflects on the human condition in the midst of his intense suffering. He is expressing a profound sense of despair and the apparent futility of life when viewed through the lens of hardship and brevity.

  • Historical and Cultural Context: Job's words reflect the perspective common in ancient wisdom literature that human life is fragile, short, and often marked by hardship. This is not a universal theological statement about God's intent for humanity but a deeply personal observation born out of Job's specific, overwhelming experience of loss and pain.
  • Key Themes and Messages: The primary themes are the brevity ("of few days") and the difficulty ("full of trouble") of human existence. Job sees life, from its very origin ("born of a woman"), as inherently limited in duration and overflowing with affliction. This sets the stage for his subsequent questions about why a short, troubled life should also be subjected to divine scrutiny and judgment.
  • Linguistic Insights: The Hebrew phrase translated "of few days" (קְצַר יָמִים - qetsar yamim) literally means "short of days," strongly emphasizing the limited lifespan. The word for "trouble" (רֹגֶז - rogez) can imply restlessness, agitation, or disquiet, suggesting that life is not just short but also tumultuous and full of disquieting experiences.
  • Cross-references: Similar sentiments about the brevity and difficulty of life can be found in other parts of Scripture, though often with a different theological context or conclusion. See Psalm 90:10 ("seventy years... full of trouble") and James 4:14 ("a vapour... appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away"). Job himself mentions trouble elsewhere, like in Job 5:7 ("man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward").
  • Practical Application: While a bleak assessment, this verse acknowledges the reality of suffering and the transient nature of life in a fallen world. It can foster empathy for those undergoing trials and highlight the human need for hope that transcends earthly limitations and suffering. It reminds us that the struggles we face are part of a shared human experience, prompting us to look for deeper meaning and enduring comfort.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 5:7

    Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

  • Ecclesiastes 2:23

    For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

  • Job 25:4

    How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean [that is] born of a woman?

  • Job 7:1

    ¶ [Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an hireling?

  • Genesis 47:9

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

  • Job 9:25

    ¶ Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

  • Job 15:14

    What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
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