Job 14:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:1 encapsulates a profound lament from Job, articulating a somber perspective on the human condition. In the midst of his overwhelming suffering, Job observes that human life, from its very inception, is inherently brief and perpetually beset by hardship and distress. This verse serves as a foundational statement for Job's subsequent plea, highlighting the perceived futility and fragility of existence when viewed through the lens of pain and transience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse opens Job's third major speech (Job 12-14), following his intense dialogue with his friends and his direct address to God in chapter 13. Having challenged God's perceived injustice and expressed his desire for a direct encounter, Job now shifts to a more introspective, yet still deeply sorrowful, reflection on the universal human experience. Chapter 14 continues this lament, moving from the brevity of life (Job 14:1-6) to a longing for renewal and a potential afterlife (Job 14:7-12), and finally to a desperate plea for God's mercy and a mediator (Job 14:13-22). This verse sets the stage for Job's argument that if life is so short and full of trouble, why should humanity also be subjected to such intense divine scrutiny and suffering without hope?
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Job's words resonate with the broader ancient Near Eastern (ANE) wisdom tradition, which often acknowledged the fragility, brevity, and hardship of human existence. Texts from Mesopotamia and Egypt frequently express similar sentiments regarding the transient nature of life and the inevitability of suffering. The phrase "born of a woman" emphasizes humanity's inherent vulnerability and dependence, a common understanding in patriarchal societies where lineage and origin were significant. Job's personal context is crucial: he speaks from a place of unimaginable loss—his children, wealth, and health—which colors his universal observation with profound personal anguish. His lament is not a detached philosophical statement but a cry born from the crucible of experience, reflecting the common human lot in a fallen world.
* **Key Themes:** Job 14:1 introduces several pervasive themes central to the book of Job and wider biblical anthropology. The primary themes are the **brevity of life** ("of few days") and the **pervasiveness of suffering** ("full of trouble"). Job sees human existence, from its very origin, as inherently limited in duration and overflowing with affliction. This perspective contributes to the book's exploration of divine justice, the nature of suffering, and the human response to God in adversity. It underscores the **frailty and vulnerability** of humanity, a concept echoed throughout Scripture, from the fleeting nature of human life in [Psalm 90](/psalms/90 "Psalm 90 - The Brevity of Life") to the comparison of life to a vapor in [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life as a Vapor"). Job's lament here is a raw expression of **despair and existential angst**, challenging the simplistic theological frameworks of his friends and setting the stage for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of God's sovereignty and human suffering.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Man (Hebrew, _'ish'_):** This term refers to a human being, often emphasizing an individual man, but here used in a generic sense to represent humanity as a whole. By using _'ish'_, Job universalizes his observation, suggesting that this condition is not unique to him but applies to all people. It underscores the shared human experience of vulnerability and mortality.
* **few days (Hebrew, _qetsar yamim'_):** Literally meaning "short of days," this phrase powerfully conveys the extreme brevity and impermanence of human life. It emphasizes the transient, fleeting nature of existence, akin to a shadow or a breath. This brevity is a source of Job's despair, as it seems incongruous with the vastness of suffering experienced within such a short span.
* **trouble (Hebrew, _rogez'_):** This word denotes agitation, disquiet, restlessness, turmoil, or vexation. It suggests not merely external problems or misfortunes, but an internal state of unease and disturbance. Life is not just short, but also tumultuous, filled with a pervasive sense of disquiet and affliction that permeates every aspect of existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Man [that is] born of a woman":** This clause highlights the universal origin and inherent vulnerability of humanity. Being "born of a woman" signifies a beginning marked by dependence, frailty, and a connection to the earthly, mortal realm. It emphasizes that this condition is not a result of individual sin (as Job's friends suggest) but is part of the common human experience from birth. It underscores the shared, inescapable nature of the human predicament.
* **"[is] of few days":** This phrase directly asserts the brevity and transient nature of human life. It conveys a sense of impermanence and finitude, suggesting that human existence is a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of time. This brevity is a key element of Job's lament, as it seems to magnify the disproportionate amount of suffering experienced within such a limited lifespan.
* **"and full of trouble":** This final clause describes the pervasive and abundant nature of suffering, hardship, and vexation that characterizes human life. The word "full" implies an overflowing, inescapable reality. Life is not merely punctuated by trouble, but saturated with it, suggesting that disquiet and affliction are inherent companions throughout one's brief journey. This profound statement encapsulates Job's personal experience while also reflecting a universal truth about life in a fallen world.

#### Literary Devices
Job 14:1 employs several literary devices to convey its somber message. The most prominent is **Lament**, as the entire chapter functions as a deeply personal expression of grief, anguish, and despair from Job's perspective. The phrase "Man [that is] born of a woman" serves as a form of **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the specific act of birth from a woman represents the universal human condition of vulnerability and mortality. The statement "full of trouble" can be interpreted as **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used to emphasize the overwhelming and pervasive nature of suffering from Job's perspective, though it rings true to the human experience in a fallen world. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Juxtaposition** between the extreme brevity of life ("of few days") and the abundance of suffering ("full of trouble"), highlighting the perceived unfairness or disproportionate burden of human existence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:1 presents a stark theological anthropology, emphasizing humanity's inherent fragility and the pervasive reality of suffering in a fallen world. While spoken from Job's personal anguish, it resonates with broader biblical themes concerning the effects of sin on creation and the human condition. It acknowledges the transient nature of earthly life and the universal experience of hardship, prompting deeper questions about divine justice, the purpose of suffering, and the ultimate hope for humanity. This verse underscores the human need for a transcendent answer to life's brevity and troubles, pointing towards a hope that extends beyond the limitations of this mortal existence.

* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity and Toil of Life")
* [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "James 4:14 - Life as a Vapor")
* [Job 5:7](/job/5-7 "Job 5:7 - Man Born to Trouble")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 14:1, though born of deep despair, offers a profound and honest acknowledgment of the human condition. It reminds us that suffering is not an anomaly but an inherent part of life in a fallen world, a shared experience that transcends cultural and historical boundaries. This verse can foster profound empathy for those undergoing trials, reminding us that no one is immune to the "trouble" that fills our "few days." It challenges us to confront the reality of our mortality and the brevity of our time on earth, prompting us to consider what truly matters and how we might live lives of meaning and purpose in the face of inevitable hardship. Rather than leading to despair, this raw honesty can serve as a catalyst for seeking deeper truth, enduring comfort, and ultimate hope that transcends the limitations and sorrows of this earthly existence. It calls us to look beyond ourselves and our immediate circumstances for a source of strength and peace that can sustain us through life's inevitable troubles.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging life's brevity ("of few days") impact our priorities and the way we choose to live each day?**
* **In what ways have you experienced life being "full of trouble," and how did you respond to those challenges?**
* **How can this verse foster greater empathy and compassion for others who are suffering?**
* **What hope or meaning can we find in a world where life is short and full of trouble, as Job describes?**

### FAQ
**Is Job 14:1 a universal theological statement about God's intent for humanity?**

Answer: While Job 14:1 describes a universal human experience, it is primarily a lament spoken from Job's perspective of profound suffering, not a definitive theological statement from God about His original design or ultimate purpose for humanity. It reflects the reality of life in a fallen world, where sin has introduced decay, pain, and mortality. The Bible teaches that God originally created humanity for eternal life and fellowship in a perfect world ([Genesis 2:7-9](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7-9 - Creation of Man and the Garden")), but the Fall brought about death and suffering ([Genesis 3:17-19](/genesis/3-17 "Genesis 3:17-19 - The Curse")). Thus, Job's observation is a realistic assessment of life *under the sun* (as Ecclesiastes often describes it), acknowledging the consequences of sin, rather than an indictment of God's initial benevolent design.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's lament in Job 14:1, with its stark portrayal of humanity as "born of a woman," "of few days, and full of trouble," profoundly highlights the human predicament that only finds its ultimate resolution in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself was truly "born of a woman" ([Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4 - Born of a Woman")), fully entering into the human condition, yet He was without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrew/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")). While His earthly life was indeed "of few days" (approximately 33 years) and certainly "full of trouble"—marked by rejection, temptation, suffering, and ultimately the agonizing death on the cross ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Man of Sorrows")), He transformed the meaning of human suffering. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ conquered the very powers that bring about the brevity and trouble of human existence: sin and death. He offers eternal life, transcending our "few days" ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")), and promises a future where there will be no more tears, pain, or trouble ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears or Pain")). In Christ, the despair of Job's lament is replaced with an enduring hope, as He is the ultimate answer to humanity's deepest cries for meaning and redemption in the face of a short and troubled life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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?