Job 14:20

KJV

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou prevailest {H8630} for ever {H5331} against him, and he passeth {H1980}: thou changest {H8138} his countenance {H6440}, and sendest him away {H7971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

You overpower him, and he passes on; you change his appearance and send him away.

Berean Standard Bible

You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.

American Standard Version

Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:20 encapsulates Job's profound despair and his stark assessment of human fragility and mortality in the face of God's unassailable power. In this lament, Job articulates the transient nature of human existence, emphasizing that no individual can withstand the divine decree concerning life and death. He portrays God as the sovereign agent who eternally triumphs over humanity, orchestrating the inevitable physical decline and ultimate departure from earthly life, leaving no room for human resistance or reversal of fate.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 14 is a deeply melancholic soliloquy by Job, delivered in response to the counsel of his friends. It forms part of a larger section (chapters 3-14) where Job expresses his anguish, questions God's justice, and grapples with the mystery of suffering. In this chapter, Job contrasts the cyclical renewal found in nature—specifically, a cut tree that can sprout again, as described in [Job 14:7-9](/job/14-7-9 "Job 14:7-9 - Hope for a Tree")—with the perceived finality of human death. He laments that unlike a tree, a person, once deceased, "wastes away" and "gives up the ghost," with no apparent earthly return, as he states in [Job 14:10](/job/14-10 "Job 14:10 - The Finality of Human Death"). Verse 20 serves as a bleak summation of this argument, underscoring God's absolute and unchallenged authority over human life and the irreversible journey towards the grave. The preceding verses, [Job 14:18-19](/job/14-18-19 "Job 14:18-19 - Mountains Crumble, Rocks Wear Away"), use powerful imagery of natural forces being worn down, further emphasizing that if even mountains yield to time, how much more so will frail humanity succumb to God's eternal decree.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely in the patriarchal period, though its exact dating is debated. The cultural backdrop reflects ancient Near Eastern understandings of divine sovereignty, human destiny, and the problem of suffering. In many ancient cultures, life was understood as a gift from the gods, and death as an inevitable return to the earth or the underworld. The concept of a personal resurrection, while hinted at in some later Old Testament texts, was not a widely developed or universally held belief in the way it would become in later Judaism and Christianity. Job's lament reflects a common human experience of mortality, but his particular agony stems from his inability to reconcile his suffering with his understanding of a just God, and the perceived finality of death exacerbates his sense of hopelessness. His words resonate with the universal human experience of confronting the limits of one's own power and the ultimate sovereignty of a higher power over life and death.
* **Key Themes:** Job 14:20 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully asserts **God's Absolute Sovereignty** over all creation, particularly over human life and death. Job acknowledges that God's power is eternal and irresistible, a truth affirmed throughout scripture, as seen in the declaration that God "does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth" in [Daniel 4:35](/daniel/4-35 "Daniel 4:35 - God's Unchallengeable Dominion"). Secondly, the verse highlights the profound theme of **Human Mortality and Frailty**. Job's poignant observation that "he passeth" speaks to the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human existence, a sentiment echoed in many wisdom texts, such as the Psalmist's reflection that "our days are seventy years, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away" in [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity of Life"). Finally, the imagery of God changing one's "countenance" and "sending him away" underscores the **Inevitable and Irreversible Nature of Death** from Job's perspective, portraying it as a divinely ordained departure from which there is no earthly return. This lament implicitly sets the stage for the profound theological questions about life beyond the grave that the book of Job, and indeed the entire biblical narrative, seeks to address.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prevailest (Hebrew, _tâqaph'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to overpower," this word signifies to be strong, mighty, or superior; to overcome or prevail against. When applied to God, as here, it emphasizes His irresistible and eternal power. Job acknowledges that God's dominion over humanity is absolute and unchallengeable, a force against which no human effort can stand. It conveys a sense of overwhelming, unyielding authority.
* **Changest (Hebrew, _shânâh'_):** This primitive root means "to fold," implying duplication, and by implication, "to transmute" or "to alter." In this context, it refers to God's active role in transforming or altering a person's physical state. It highlights the divine agency behind the visible changes that occur with aging, sickness, and ultimately, death.
* **Countenance (Hebrew, _pânîym'_):** This plural noun (always used as singular) refers to "the face" (as the part that turns). It is used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, often representing presence, identity, or vitality. In this verse, "changing his countenance" vividly depicts the visible and profound alterations that occur with physical decline and death, where the very essence of one's earthly identity is transformed.
* **Sendest him away (Hebrew, _shâlach'_):** This primitive root means "to send away, for, or out," or "to dismiss." In this context, it implies God's direct and active involvement in ushering a person out of life and into the realm of the dead. It is not a passive passing but an intentional dismissal by the sovereign Creator, highlighting God's ultimate control over the boundaries of human existence and the transition from life to death.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou prevailest for ever against him":** This clause asserts God's eternal and unassailable superiority over humanity. "Thou" refers directly to God, and "him" to humanity. Job recognizes that God's power is not temporary but everlasting, and against this infinite power, human beings are utterly helpless and cannot resist their ordained end. It sets up the dynamic of divine omnipotence versus human impotence.
* **"and he passeth":** This short, stark clause describes the inevitable outcome of God's prevailing power: human death. "He passeth" (from the Hebrew _hâlak_, "to walk" or "pass away") conveys the transient and fleeting nature of human life, like something that simply moves on and disappears. It emphasizes the brevity of existence and the certainty of departure from the earthly realm, a direct consequence of God's sovereign decree.
* **"thou changest his countenance":** Here, Job describes the physical manifestation of God's power over life and death. God is depicted as actively altering a person's "countenance" or appearance, signifying the process of decline, decay, and the ultimate disfigurement that accompanies death. It speaks to the irreversible physical transformation that marks the end of life, removing any semblance of vitality or recognition.
* **"and sendest him away":** This final clause reinforces God's active role in the process of death. God is not merely an observer but the one who "sends away" humanity from the land of the living. This implies a definitive dismissal, a final ushering out of existence, underscoring the absolute finality of death from Job's perspective and God's ultimate authority over this transition.

#### Literary Devices
Job 14:20 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its message of human frailty and divine sovereignty. The primary device is **Anthropomorphism**, where God is described with human-like actions: "Thou prevailest," "thou changest," and "sendest him away." This makes God's actions relatable and emphasizes His direct, active involvement in the human experience of mortality. There is also a strong element of **Contrast**, though implicit, between the enduring, eternal power of God ("for ever") and the fleeting, transient nature of humanity ("he passeth"). The phrase "changest his countenance" functions as a potent **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where the face (countenance) stands in for the entire person or their vital essence, signifying the complete physical and existential transformation brought by death. The overall tone is one of **Lament** and **Despair**, characteristic of Job's speeches, using stark and direct language to underscore the harsh reality of human existence under divine decree.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:20 profoundly articulates humanity's ultimate vulnerability before the absolute sovereignty of God, particularly concerning life and death. Job's lament highlights the unyielding reality that human beings cannot escape their mortal end, nor can they resist the divine will that dictates it. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the vast chasm between the eternal, all-powerful Creator and the finite, frail creature. While deeply pessimistic from Job's perspective, it lays foundational theological groundwork for understanding God's dominion over all aspects of existence, including the very breath of life. It compels the reader to confront the brevity of life and the inevitability of death, prompting a deeper reflection on the source of true hope and meaning beyond earthly limitations.

* [Daniel 4:35](/daniel/4-35 "God's Unchallengeable Dominion")
* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "The Brevity of Human Life")
* [James 4:14](/james/4-14 "Life as a Vapor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 14:20, while born of deep despair, offers profound truths for the believer to contemplate. It calls us to a posture of profound humility before God, acknowledging His supreme and eternal authority over every aspect of our lives, including our very existence and destiny. Our days are numbered, and our lives are utterly dependent on His sovereign will. This understanding should not lead to fatalism, but rather to a renewed appreciation for the gift of life and a sober awareness of its brevity. It challenges us to live with intentionality, to "redeem the time" and make the most of every opportunity, as urged in [Ephesians 5:16](/ephesians/5-16 "Ephesians 5:16 - Making the Best Use of Time"), and to prioritize what truly matters in light of eternity. While Job saw only finality, this verse implicitly points to the human need for a hope that transcends the grave, a longing for a God who can not only "send away" but also bring back, offering life beyond the inevitable decay.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does acknowledging God's absolute sovereignty over life and death impact your daily priorities and perspective?**
* **In what ways does the brevity of life, as expressed by Job, motivate you to live more wisely and purposefully?**
* **How does the Christian hope of resurrection transform the despair Job expresses in this verse?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 14:20 suggest that God is cruel for "sending away" humanity?**

Answer: From Job's perspective, suffering intensely and without understanding, God's actions appear harsh and final. The language "sendest him away" conveys a sense of dismissal and irreversible departure, which contributes to Job's profound despair. However, the verse primarily emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, a theological truth affirmed throughout scripture. It highlights that death is not an accident but part of God's ordained order for humanity in a fallen world. While Job's lament focuses on the pain of this reality, the Bible as a whole presents God's ultimate plan for humanity as one of redemption and eternal life, even through the experience of death. The ultimate answer to Job's lament is found in God's redemptive plan, which includes overcoming death through Christ, as seen in passages like [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God").

**What does "thou changest his countenance" specifically refer to?**

Answer: "Thou changest his countenance" (Hebrew: _shinnêtā pânāw_) literally means "you change his face." This phrase refers to the visible and profound physical alterations that occur as a person ages, becomes sick, and ultimately dies. It encompasses the loss of vitality, the onset of decay, and the irreversible transformation that marks the transition from life to death. The "countenance" or "face" is often seen as the seat of a person's identity and life force, so its change signifies a fundamental and undeniable shift in being, leading to the loss of earthly recognition and presence. It's a vivid, tangible image of mortality's impact, underscoring the finality of human life from Job's perspective, as also alluded to in [Ecclesiastes 12:1-7](/ecclesiastes/12-1-7 "Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 - Remember Your Creator").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 14:20 articulates humanity's profound vulnerability and the seemingly irreversible dominion of death, a lament that finds its ultimate answer and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Job's despair over God's eternal "prevailing" against humanity and the finality of being "sent away" highlights the very problem that the Gospel addresses. Humanity's inability to resist death, to change its own "countenance" from decay to life, underscores the desperate need for a divine intervention. This intervention comes in the person of Christ, who, unlike any mere human, truly "prevailed" over death itself, not by being subject to it, but by conquering it through His resurrection. The New Testament declares that through His death and resurrection, Jesus has "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" in [2 Timothy 1:10](/2_timothy/1-10 "2 Timothy 1:10 - Christ Abolishes Death"). Where Job saw God "sending him away" into oblivion, Christ's work transforms this departure; for believers, to be "absent from the body" is to be "present with the Lord," as affirmed in [2 Corinthians 5:8](/2_corinthians/5-8 "2 Corinthians 5:8 - Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord"). Jesus Himself promises, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live," a profound statement found in [John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"). Thus, the ultimate "sending away" is not into eternal separation, but into eternal fellowship with God through the one who has overcome the grave, making Job's lament a poignant foreshadowing of the victory found in the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world and the sting of death, as triumphantly declared in [1 Corinthians 15:55-57](/1_corinthians/15-55-57 "1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - Victory Over Death").

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

Lamentations 4:8

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Ecclesiastes 8:8

[There is] no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Job 14:14

If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Job 2:12

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.