Job 14:10

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary

Job 14:10 KJV: "But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?"

Context

Job 14 is part of Job's deeply emotional and despairing monologue in response to his friends' accusations and lack of understanding. Having lost everything—his children, wealth, and health—Job grapples with profound suffering and the seeming unfairness of his situation. In this chapter, he contrasts the transient nature of human life with the regenerative capacity of nature, such as a tree that can sprout again even after being cut down. Verse 10 starkly highlights the irreversible nature of human death from Job's perspective, questioning the fate of man after life's end, reflecting his limited understanding and deep anguish regarding the afterlife in his time of distress.

Key Themes

  • Human Mortality and Frailty: The verse powerfully emphasizes the certainty of death ("man dieth") and the physical decay that accompanies it ("wasteth away"). It underscores the brevity and fragility of human existence, a recurring theme in wisdom literature.
  • The Mystery of the Afterlife: Job's poignant question, "and where [is] he?", reveals his profound uncertainty about the state of the dead. This reflects the limited revelation concerning the afterlife in the Old Testament, particularly before the full revelation brought by Jesus Christ's resurrection.
  • The Irreversibility of Earthly Death: Unlike the hope for renewal seen in nature, Job sees human death as final and without return to earthly life, which contributes to his intense grief and feeling of hopelessness in this passage.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "wasteth away" comes from the Hebrew word chalaph (חָלַף), which conveys the idea of passing away, changing, or decaying, emphasizing the transient and decaying nature of the human body. "Giveth up the ghost" translates the Hebrew word gava (גָּוַע), meaning to expire, die, or cease to live, referring directly to the cessation of life. This phrase is used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe the moment of death, such as when Rachel gave up the ghost.

Practical Application

Job 14:10 serves as a stark reminder of our own mortality and the universal reality of death. While Job's question "where [is] he?" expresses despair from his limited perspective, believers today have the comfort of the New Testament's clearer revelation about the afterlife. This verse encourages us to:

  • Acknowledge Human Frailty: It prompts reflection on the preciousness and brevity of life, encouraging us to number our days wisely.
  • Seek Hope Beyond the Earthly: For those who trust in Christ, death is not the end but a transition. The Apostle Paul speaks of believers sleeping in Jesus and their ultimate resurrection.
  • Live Purposefully: Understanding the temporal nature of life can motivate us to live each day with intention, focusing on eternal values and our relationship with God, knowing that our spirit returns to God who gave it.
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Cross-References

  • Job 19:26 (4 votes)

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

  • Job 7:7 (3 votes)

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

  • Job 7:10 (3 votes)

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

  • Job 14:12 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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

  • Job 17:16 (2 votes)

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