Job 14:10

KJV

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?

KJV (with Strong's)

But man {H1397} dieth {H4191}, and wasteth away {H2522}: yea, man {H120} giveth up the ghost {H1478}, and where is he?

Complete Jewish Bible

But when a human being grows weak and dies, he expires; and then where is he?

Berean Standard Bible

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?

American Standard Version

But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:10 profoundly articulates humanity's universal and inescapable confrontation with mortality, as Job voices his deep despair over the irreversible nature of death. Through a poignant rhetorical question, he laments the swift decay of the human body and the mysterious vanishing of the spirit, starkly contrasting it with the cyclical renewal observed in the natural world. This verse serves as a powerful expression of the Old Testament's limited revelation concerning the afterlife, reflecting Job's intense anguish and his struggle to reconcile his suffering with divine justice and the ultimate, enigmatic fate of humankind.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 14 forms a critical part of Job's third monologue, encompassing chapters 12-14, where he directly challenges the arguments of his friends, particularly Zophar. This chapter immediately follows Job's defense of his integrity and his lament over the brevity and hardship of human existence. In [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - Job's Lament on Human Mortality"), Job draws a sharp contrast between the hope for renewal evident in nature, such as a tree that can sprout again even after being cut down ([Job 14:7-9](/job/14-7-9 "Job 14:7-9 - Hope for a Tree")), and the apparent finality of human death. Verse 10, "But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?", stands as a stark and despairing counterpoint to the preceding verses, emphasizing the perceived irreversibility of human demise and deepening Job's sense of hopelessness regarding any earthly return or future. The profound question "where [is] he?" powerfully conveys his bewilderment and despair over the ultimate destination of the deceased, setting the stage for his subsequent plea for respite and a glimpse of the afterlife.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, while various cultures held differing beliefs about an afterlife—often a shadowy underworld like the Mesopotamian Irkalla or the Egyptian Duat—the Old Testament's revelation concerning the state of the dead was progressive and, at Job's time, still largely veiled. The prevailing concept of Sheol, often understood as a common grave or realm of the dead, was depicted as a place of silence, inactivity, and separation from the living, from which there was generally no return to earthly life ([Psalm 6:5](/psalm/6-5 "Psalm 6:5 - No Remembrance in Death") or [Isaiah 38:18](/isaiah/38-18 "Isaiah 38:18 - Sheol's Silence")). Job's lament in this verse reflects this prevailing understanding, where death was seen as a definitive end to earthly existence and all its joys and sorrows. His questioning "where [is] he?" is not necessarily a denial of any existence beyond the grave, but rather an expression of profound uncertainty, sorrow, and perhaps a longing for more clarity, which was not yet fully revealed to humanity. This cultural backdrop highlights the unique depth of Job's suffering, as he grapples with mortality without the full assurance of resurrection that would come with later biblical revelation.
* **Key Themes:** Job 14:10 profoundly contributes to several key themes woven throughout the book of Job and broader wisdom literature. Firstly, it underscores the **universal reality of human mortality and frailty**. Job's repeated emphasis on "man dieth" and "wasteth away" highlights the transient and vulnerable nature of human life compared to the enduring cycles of creation, a theme powerfully echoed in [Psalm 90:10](/psalm/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life"). Secondly, the verse introduces the profound **mystery and uncertainty surrounding the afterlife**. Job's desperate question, "and where [is] he?", articulates the ancient world's limited understanding of what happens after death, a stark contrast to the clearer revelation found in the New Testament concerning resurrection and eternal life through Christ ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Lastly, the verse reinforces the theme of **divine sovereignty and human helplessness** in the face of death. Despite Job's intense suffering and his fervent desire for an answer, he acknowledges that death is an inescapable decree from which no one can escape or reverse, emphasizing the ultimate control of God over life and death.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **man (Hebrew, _geber'_):** This term (H1397) refers to a "valiant man or warrior," but more generally, "a person simply." Its use here, rather than the more common _ʼâdâm_ (H120, generic mankind), might subtly emphasize the strength and vitality that death overcomes, or perhaps a specific individual's experience of death, making the lament more personal and poignant. It underscores that even the strong and mighty are subject to this universal fate.
* **wasteth away (Hebrew, _châlash'_):** The verb (H2522) means "to prostrate; by implication, to overthrow, decay; discomfit, weaken." In this context, it vividly describes the physical deterioration and dissolution of the human body after death. Unlike the regenerative capacity of nature that Job observes elsewhere, this word emphasizes the irreversible physical decay that marks the end of human earthly existence, highlighting the contrast Job draws between human mortality and nature's cyclical renewal.
* **giveth up the ghost (Hebrew, _gâvaʻ'_):** This phrase translates the verb (H1478), meaning "to breathe out, i.e., expire; die, be dead, perish." It is a common biblical idiom for the moment of death, signifying the cessation of life, the departure of the life-breath or spirit from the body. It underscores the finality of death from an earthly perspective, emphasizing the decisive moment when life departs and the individual is no longer among the living.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But man dieth, and wasteth away":** This opening clause establishes the undeniable and universal reality of human mortality. The verb "dieth" (מֵת, _mêṯ_ from H4191) is a stark declaration of the cessation of life, while "wasteth away" (וַיֶּחֱלָף, _wayyeḥelāph_ from H2522) vividly portrays the subsequent physical decay and dissolution of the body. Together, they paint a bleak picture of the human condition, emphasizing the transient and perishable nature of flesh, contrasting sharply with the enduring cycles of nature Job has just described.
* **"yea, man giveth up the ghost":** This phrase serves as a powerful reiteration and intensification of the preceding statement, using a different term for "man" (אָדָם, _ʼâdâm_ from H120, referring to humanity generally). "Giveth up the ghost" (וַיִּגְוַע, _wayyiḡwaʻ_ from H1478) signifies the final moment of expiration, the departure of the life-breath or spirit. It underscores the complete cessation of earthly life, leaving no ambiguity about the irreversible nature of this event from Job's perspective. The repetition reinforces the certainty and finality of death, emphasizing its decisive and absolute character.
* **"and where [is] he?":** This is the profound rhetorical question that encapsulates Job's anguish and the central mystery of the verse. It expresses his deep uncertainty, bewilderment, and despair regarding the state of the dead and their ultimate destination. It is a cry from the depths of human experience, grappling with the unknown beyond the grave, reflecting the limited understanding of the afterlife in his time and highlighting his desperate search for meaning in suffering and the ultimate fate of humanity.

#### Literary Devices
Job 14:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of despair and profound uncertainty regarding human mortality. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "and where [is] he?", which is not posed to elicit a direct answer but to emphasize the profound mystery and Job's personal bewilderment regarding the fate of the dead. This question powerfully underscores the limitations of human understanding concerning the afterlife in his era. **Parallelism** is also evident through the repetition and reinforcement of ideas in different phrases: "man dieth, and wasteth away" is paralleled by "yea, man giveth up the ghost." This **Synonymous Parallelism** intensifies the declaration of human mortality, reinforcing the finality and universality of death with a sense of inescapable doom. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Contrast** implicitly, setting the irreversible nature of human death against the backdrop of nature's capacity for renewal, which Job discusses in the preceding verses ([Job 14:7-9](/job/14-7-9 "Job 14:7-9 - Hope for a Tree")). This stark contrast amplifies Job's sense of hopelessness regarding his own earthly future and the fate of all humanity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:10 stands as a poignant testament to humanity's universal encounter with mortality and the ancient world's struggle to comprehend the afterlife. The verse encapsulates the Old Testament's often somber and veiled perspective on death, where Sheol was commonly understood as a shadowy realm of no return to earthly life. Job's desperate question, "and where [is] he?", reflects a deep human longing for understanding beyond the grave, a yearning for clarity on the ultimate destiny of the soul. Theologically, it highlights the absolute sovereignty of God over life and death, even as it expresses human vulnerability and the limits of revelation in the pre-Christ era. It sets the stage for the progressive unfolding of God's redemptive plan, which would eventually provide a definitive and glorious answer to Job's question through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

* [Psalm 49:10-12](/psalm/49-10-12 "The Mortality of All")
* [Ecclesiastes 3:19-20](/ecclesiastes/3-19-20 "All Go to One Place")
* [Hebrews 9:27](/hebrews/9-27 "Appointed to Die Once")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 14:10 confronts us with the stark reality of our own mortality, a profound truth often suppressed or ignored in modern society. Job's lament reminds us that life is fleeting, and physical decay is an undeniable part of the human experience. While Job's question "where [is] he?" was born out of despair and limited revelation, for believers today, it serves as a powerful impetus to reflect on the preciousness of life and the eternal hope we possess in Christ. This verse calls us to live with intentionality, acknowledging our finite time on earth, and to invest our lives in what truly lasts: our deepening relationship with God and our faithful impact on others for His glory. It encourages us to find comfort not in a denial of death, but in the certain promises of God that transcend the grave, transforming Job's ancient cry of uncertainty into a modern affirmation of faith and hope in the resurrected Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the certainty of death, as expressed by Job, shape your perspective on how you live each day and what you prioritize?**
* **In what ways does your understanding of the afterlife, informed by New Testament revelation, provide a more complete and hopeful answer to Job's question than his limited perspective?**
* **What practical steps can you take to "number your days" wisely, focusing on eternal priorities and living a life that honors God, rather than being consumed by temporal pursuits?**

### FAQ

**Does Job 14:10 suggest that Job had no belief in an afterlife?**

Answer: Job 14:10 does not necessarily suggest that Job had no belief in an afterlife, but rather expresses his profound uncertainty, bewilderment, and despair regarding its nature and his own fate within it. The Old Testament's understanding of Sheol (the realm of the dead) was often vague, portraying it as a shadowy place from which there was no return to earthly life. Job's question, "and where [is] he?", reflects his anguish and limited revelation, not a definitive theological statement denying all post-mortem existence. Later in the book, Job expresses a glimmer of hope for a future vindication and seeing God ([Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Redeemer Lives")), indicating a longing for, if not a full understanding of, life beyond the grave. His lament in [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - Job 14 - Job's Lament on Human Mortality") is more about the finality of earthly life and the profound mystery of what lies beyond it, especially in his context of intense suffering and perceived abandonment by God.

**How does the New Testament shed light on Job's question, "and where [is] he?"**

Answer: The New Testament provides the definitive and glorious answer to Job's question through the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Job wrestled with the mystery of death and the afterlife, Jesus conquered death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel ([2 Timothy 1:10](/2_timothy/1-10 "2 Timothy 1:10 - Christ Abolished Death")). The New Testament reveals that for those who believe in Him, death is not an end but a transition to eternal life in God's presence ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Believers who "give up the ghost" are said to be "absent from the body and present with the Lord" ([2 Corinthians 5:8](/2_corinthians/5-8 "2 Corinthians 5:8 - Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord")), awaiting the glorious bodily resurrection at Christ's return ([1 Thessalonians 4:16-17](/1_thessalonians/4-16-17 "1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - The Lord's Return")). Thus, the New Testament transforms Job's despairing question into a confident declaration of hope and eternal security in Christ, assuring believers of a future beyond the grave.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's poignant lament in [Job 14:10](/job/14-10 "Job 14:10 - Man's Mortality")—"But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?"—articulates humanity's deepest fear and most profound question in the face of mortality. This ancient cry finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Job, from his limited Old Testament perspective, saw death as an irreversible end to earthly existence, the New Testament reveals Christ as the definitive answer to Job's desperate "where [is] he?" Jesus declared, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Through His own sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel ([2 Timothy 1:10](/2_timothy/1-10 "2 Timothy 1:10 - Christ Abolhed Death")). The "ghost" that man "gives up" does not vanish into oblivion for the believer, but rather the spirit returns to God who gave it ([Ecclesiastes 12:7](/ecclesiastes/12-7 "Ecclesiastes 12:7 - The Spirit Returns to God")), and the body awaits a glorious transformation. For those in Christ, death is not the final word, but a doorway to eternal communion with God, a transition from being "absent from the body" to being "present with the Lord" ([2 Corinthians 5:8](/2_corinthians/5-8 "2 Corinthians 5:8 - Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord")). Thus, Job's despairing question is met with the resounding hope of the Gospel, where the ultimate "where is he?" is answered with the triumphant declaration: "he is with Christ."

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 19:26

And [though] after my skin [worms] destroy this [body], yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 7:7

¶ O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

Job 7:10

He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

Job 14:12

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Genesis 49:33

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Job 17:13

If I wait, the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.