Job 14:12

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

So man {H376} lieth down {H7901}, and riseth {H6965} not: till the heavens {H8064} be no more {H1115}, they shall not awake {H6974}, nor be raised out {H5782} of their sleep {H8142}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so a person lies down and doesn't arise until the sky no longer exists; it will not awaken, it won't be roused from its sleep.

Berean Standard Bible

so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

American Standard Version

So man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:12 articulates a profound expression of human mortality from Job's perspective, portraying death as an irreversible state akin to an unending sleep. In his deep despair, Job laments that once a person dies, they remain in this state of unconscious rest until a cosmic, unimaginable event—the dissolution of the heavens themselves—occurs. This verse underscores the perceived finality of human life in contrast to the cyclical renewal observed in nature, reflecting Job's limited understanding of God's ultimate plan for humanity beyond the grave.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 14:12 is situated within Job's third speech (chapters 12-14), specifically in a section (Job 14:1-12) where he contrasts the ephemeral nature of human life with the resilience of the natural world. Having previously questioned God's justice and the brevity of human existence (Job 14:1-6), Job then turns to the apparent finality of death. He observes that while a tree, though cut down, can sprout again (Job 14:7), a human being, once fallen, does not rise (Job 14:10). This lament culminates in Job 14:12, emphasizing the perceived permanence of death, a stark contrast to the hope for renewal he sees even in a withered plant. This passage reflects Job's deep personal suffering and his struggle to reconcile his experience with his understanding of divine justice and power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, understanding of the afterlife was often vague and shadowy. The concept of Sheol, a subterranean realm of the dead, was prevalent, generally depicted as a place of inactivity and silence, from which there was no return. While there were nascent ideas of divine power extending even to the grave, a clear, widespread doctrine of bodily resurrection was not fully developed in early Israelite thought, particularly as articulated in the patriarchal period or early wisdom literature like Job. Job's lament, therefore, accurately reflects a common human and ancient perspective on death's finality, unilluminated by the later, fuller revelation of resurrection found in other parts of the Old Testament (e.g., [Isaiah 26:19](/isaiah/26-19 "Isaiah 26:19 - Resurrection Hope") or [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Resurrection to Life or Contempt")) and definitively in the New Testament.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Job. Primarily, it highlights the **fragility and brevity of human life**, a recurring motif throughout Job's laments (e.g., [Job 7:6](/job/7-6 "Job 7:6 - Life as a Weaver's Shuttle")). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **human mortality and the apparent finality of death**, contrasting sharply with the hope of renewal seen in nature (Job 14:7-9). Job's despair also touches on the theme of **limited human understanding** in the face of divine mystery; he cannot fathom a way out of death's grip, particularly when divine intervention seems absent. Finally, the phrase "till the heavens be no more" subtly introduces the theme of **God's ultimate sovereignty over creation and time**, even as Job uses it to emphasize death's permanence, hinting that only a cosmic, divinely ordained event could alter this state.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lieth down (שָׁכַב, _shakhav_):** This Hebrew verb literally means "to lie down" or "to recline." In biblical contexts, it is frequently used as a euphemism for death, implying a state of rest or cessation of activity, as seen when referring to the death of kings or patriarchs (e.g., [Genesis 47:30](/genesis/47-30 "Genesis 47:30 - Jacob's Request to be Buried with His Fathers")). Here, it underscores the physical act of dying and the subsequent state of repose in the grave.
* **Awake (קוּץ, _quts_):** This verb means "to awake" or "to arise from sleep." Its use here, in the negative ("they shall not awake"), directly counters the natural expectation of waking from sleep, emphasizing the permanent nature of death from Job's perspective. It highlights the absence of any natural or human-initiated recovery from the state of death.
* **Till the heavens [be] no more (עַד בְּלִי שָׁמַיִם, _'ad-beli-shamayim_):** This is a powerful and highly expressive phrase. _'Ad_ means "until," _beli_ means "without" or "no more," and _shamayim_ means "heavens." The phrase is a hyperbolic expression signifying an immeasurable, virtually eternal duration. It conveys Job's conviction that the state of death is so utterly final that only a cataclysmic, cosmic dissolution—the end of the created order itself—could bring about a change. It is not necessarily a theological statement about the literal end of the heavens, but rather an emphatic way to describe the permanence of death from a human, earthly vantage point.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So man lieth down, and riseth not:"** This opening clause establishes the central premise of Job's lament regarding human mortality. "Man" (אִישׁ, _'ish_) refers to humanity in general. "Lieth down" uses the common biblical euphemism for death, suggesting a peaceful but irreversible repose. The immediate follow-up, "and riseth not," unequivocally negates any natural or immediate reawakening or return to life, setting a tone of despair and finality.
* **"till the heavens [be] no more,"** This phrase introduces the extreme condition under which Job believes the state of death might be altered. It is a hyperbole, expressing an incomprehensibly long duration—a period so vast that it extends beyond the very existence of the cosmos as Job knows it. It underscores the perceived absolute permanence of death from a human perspective, implying that no lesser event could possibly reverse it.
* **"they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep."** This final clause reiterates and amplifies the initial statement, using a powerful **parallelism** to reinforce the idea of death's finality. "Awake" directly relates to the "sleep" metaphor, while "raised" (יֵעֹרוּ, _ye'oru_, from עוּר, _'ur_, meaning "to rouse" or "to awaken") further emphasizes the absence of any reanimation. The metaphor of "sleep" for death is common in the Bible, but here, in Job's mouth, it is a sleep without hope of waking, emphasizing the grim reality of the grave from his limited viewpoint.

#### Literary Devices
Job 14:12 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its message of despair and finality. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where death is consistently described as "sleep." This metaphor is common in biblical literature, but in Job's context, it is a sleep from which there is no natural awakening, deepening the sense of hopelessness. Secondly, **Hyperbole** is powerfully used in the phrase "till the heavens [be] no more." This exaggerated statement emphasizes the absolute and seemingly unending nature of death, suggesting an event of cosmic dissolution would be required for any change. Finally, the verse utilizes **Parallelism** in the concluding phrase, "they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." The two clauses express the same idea—the permanence of death—using slightly different but reinforcing terms, thereby intensifying the impact and driving home Job's bleak assessment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:12 stands as a poignant testament to the human struggle with mortality and the limits of understanding in the face of death, particularly without the full scope of divine revelation. From Job's perspective, death is an insurmountable barrier, a permanent sleep. However, the broader biblical narrative progressively unveils a more profound truth about death and the afterlife. While the Old Testament's understanding of resurrection develops over time, hints of God's power over death and a future hope emerge. The New Testament, in particular, transforms the "sleep" metaphor from a symbol of permanent cessation into a temporary state for believers awaiting a glorious awakening. This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial backdrop against which the later, triumphant biblical declarations about resurrection gain even greater significance, highlighting the transformative power of God's redemptive plan.

* [Psalm 49:15](/psalm/49-15 "Psalm 49:15 - God Will Redeem My Soul from Sheol")
* [Isaiah 26:19](/isaiah/26-19 "Isaiah 26:19 - Your Dead Shall Live")
* [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Resurrection of Many")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 14:12 resonates deeply with the universal human experience of grief, loss, and the fear of death's finality. In moments of profound suffering or loss, it is natural to feel that death is an absolute end, a permanent separation. Job's lament reminds us that such feelings are deeply human and biblically acknowledged. However, for those who live with the fuller revelation of God's Word, particularly the New Testament, this verse also highlights the immense comfort and hope provided by Christ's victory over death. It calls us to reflect on the contrast between a world without resurrection hope and the transformative power of the gospel. While Job saw an unending sleep, we are invited to see a temporary rest, a prelude to a glorious awakening. This perspective should shape how we grieve, how we live, and how we view the future, grounding our hope not in human understanding or natural cycles, but in the faithful promises of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's perspective on death in this verse resonate with or differ from your own initial feelings about mortality or loss?**
* **What comfort or challenge does the broader biblical narrative of resurrection offer in light of Job's despair?**
* **How might understanding "sleep" as a temporary state for believers impact your approach to grief or your view of the future?**
* **In what ways does this verse highlight the importance of divine revelation in confronting life's deepest mysteries?**

### FAQ

**Does Job 14:12 deny the possibility of resurrection?**

Answer: From Job's immediate, suffering-laden perspective, this verse certainly expresses a strong sense of death's finality and the apparent impossibility of human resurrection by natural means. He sees no natural mechanism for a person to "rise" or "awake" from death, unlike a tree that can sprout again (Job 14:7-9). However, it's crucial to interpret this verse within the context of Job's limited revelation and his personal despair. It reflects Job's human understanding at that moment, not a definitive theological statement from God's full counsel. Later in the book, Job himself expresses a profound hope in a Redeemer who will stand upon the earth, and that he, Job, will see God with his own eyes after his skin is destroyed (Job 19:25-27). Furthermore, the broader biblical narrative, especially the New Testament, clearly reveals God's plan for resurrection through Jesus Christ (as seen in [1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ, the Firstfruits")). So, while Job 14:12 captures a human lament about death's permanence, it does not negate the ultimate biblical truth of resurrection.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 14:12, with its stark portrayal of death as an unending sleep, sets the stage for the profound and glorious truth revealed in Jesus Christ. Job's lament, "So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep," articulates the ultimate human dilemma—the finality of death and the absence of any natural hope for reversal. This deep human yearning for a way out of death's grip finds its complete and triumphant answer in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself transformed the metaphor of "sleep" for death, using it to describe Lazarus's death, not as a permanent state, but as a temporary one from which He would awaken him (as in [John 11:11-14](/john/11-11 "John 11:11-14 - Jesus Raises Lazarus")). His own resurrection from the dead, as the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits")), decisively broke the power of death and the grave. What seemed to Job an eternal sleep, lasting "till the heavens be no more," is, for believers in Christ, a temporary rest, a waiting period until the grand cosmic awakening at Christ's return, when "the dead in Christ will rise first" ([1 Thessalonians 4:16](/1_thessalonians/4-16 "1 Thessalonians 4:16 - The Resurrection of Believers")). Through Christ, death is not a final end but a passage, and the ultimate hope is not the dissolution of the heavens, but their renewal and the establishment of "a new heaven and a new earth" where death will be no more ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-4 - New Heaven and New Earth")).

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 10:21

Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Job 10:22

A land of darkness, as darkness [itself; and] of the shadow of death, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness.

Revelation 21:1

¶ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 Peter 3:10

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2 Peter 3:13

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Ecclesiastes 3:19

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.

Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?