Job 14:21

KJV

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth [it] not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth [it] not of them.

KJV (with Strong's)

His sons {H1121} come to honour {H3513}, and he knoweth {H3045} it not; and they are brought low {H6819}, but he perceiveth {H995} it not of them.

Complete Jewish Bible

His children earn honor, but he doesn't know it; or they are brought low, but he doesn't notice.

Berean Standard Bible

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

American Standard Version

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:21 is a profound declaration within Job's lament, articulating the complete and irreversible detachment of the deceased from the earthly realm. It asserts that once an individual dies, they possess no awareness or perception of the triumphs or tragedies that befall their descendants. This verse underscores the absolute cessation of earthly consciousness and engagement with the living world, contributing to Job's broader contemplation on the brevity, fragility, and ultimate finality of human life from a purely temporal perspective.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 14:21 is situated within Job's third discourse (chapters 12-14), specifically in a section where he contrasts the transient nature of human life with the cyclical renewal observed in the natural world. Having previously highlighted the irreversible finality of human death in verses like [Job 14:7-12](/job/14-7-12 "Job 14:7-12 - Man's Irreversible Fate"), where he notes that a tree, though cut down, can sprout again, but a human, once dead, "lies down and rises not again," Job extends this argument. Verse 21 specifically applies this finality to the deceased's awareness of their family's fortunes. It reinforces the idea that death brings a complete separation from the concerns and events of the living world, deepening Job's despair as even the legacy one leaves behind becomes irrelevant to the one who has passed into Sheol.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, and particularly during the Old Testament period, the concept of an afterlife was often vague and shrouded in mystery. The prevailing understanding of the state of the dead was that they descended to Sheol, a shadowy realm characterized by inactivity and a profound separation from the vibrant world of the living. There was no widespread doctrine of conscious activity or direct interaction with the living from Sheol. For many, a person's lasting legacy was primarily tied to their descendants and their prosperity on earth, as seen in the importance of lineage and family name. Job's statement in [Job 14:21](/job/14-21 "Job 14:21 - The Deceased's Unawareness") reflects this prevailing worldview, emphasizing the complete cessation of earthly awareness and participation. His lament is rooted in a cultural context where the dead were truly "gone" from the concerns of this life, a stark reality that challenged the value placed on family continuity and reputation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **Ignorance of the Dead**, asserting that once a person dies, they have no awareness or perception of what transpires among the living, whether their children achieve great honor or fall into disgrace. This reinforces the idea that death is a definitive boundary. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Human Frailty and Mortality**, emphasizing that unlike the cyclical renewal observed in nature (as contrasted in [Job 14:7](/job/14-7 "Job 14:7 - A Tree's Hope")), human life is finite and irreversible, with no return to earthly consciousness or engagement. Finally, the verse articulates a profound **Detachment from Earthly Concerns**, implying that all earthly achievements, successes, and even tragedies become utterly irrelevant to the individual once they enter death. The pursuit of honor or the experience of being "brought low" are concerns solely for the living, highlighting the ultimate futility of such pursuits from the grave's perspective.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sons (Hebrew, _bên_):** H1121 (bên) refers to a son, often understood as a "builder of the family name." In this context, it emphasizes the continuity of a family line and the legacy a parent leaves behind, making the deceased's unawareness of their fortunes particularly poignant.
* **Honour (Hebrew, _kâbad_):** H3513 (kâbad) means "to be heavy" and, in a good sense, signifies being "honorable" or "glorious." Here, it denotes the prosperity, success, and high standing achieved by the sons, representing the positive extreme of earthly fortune.
* **Knoweth (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ_):** H3045 (yâdaʻ) means "to know," "perceive," or "ascertain by seeing." Its negation ("knoweth not") in this verse emphasizes a complete and utter absence of cognitive awareness, understanding, or recognition on the part of the deceased regarding the events unfolding among the living. It points to a total cessation of earthly perception.
* **Brought low (Hebrew, _tsâʻar_):** H6819 (tsâʻar) means "to be small" or "ignoble," indicating a state of disgrace, humility, or misfortune. It stands in stark contrast to "honour," representing the negative extreme of human experience that the deceased cannot perceive.
* **Perceiveth (Hebrew, _bîyn_):** H995 (bîyn) means "to separate mentally," "discern," or "understand." Like _yadaʻ_, its use in the negative ("perceiveth not") reinforces the idea of the deceased's complete lack of comprehension or insight into the fortunes of their descendants. It suggests not merely a lack of information, but an inability to process, distinguish, or react to it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"His sons come to honour,"**: This clause describes a positive outcome for the deceased's descendants – they achieve success, prosperity, or a good reputation. In ancient societies, the honor of one's children was a significant part of a parent's legacy and a source of pride, reflecting well on the family name.
* **"and he knoweth [it] not;"**: Despite the potential joy or satisfaction this success might bring to the living, the deceased parent has absolutely no cognitive awareness or understanding of it. This highlights the complete and unbridgeable separation between the realm of the living and the dead.
* **"and they are brought low,"**: This clause presents the opposite scenario – the descendants experience disgrace, poverty, or misfortune. This would typically be a source of great sorrow, concern, or even shame for a living parent, impacting their social standing and emotional well-being.
* **"but he perceiveth [it] not of them."**: Even in the face of such adversity for their children, the deceased parent remains entirely oblivious and unaffected. The use of "perceiveth" (discerns, understands) reinforces the idea that not only are they unaware of the facts, but they also lack any capacity to process, distinguish, or react to them, underscoring their profound and permanent detachment from earthly concerns.

#### Literary Devices
Job 14:21 employs several literary devices to convey its somber message regarding the finality of death. The most prominent is **Antithetical Parallelism**, seen in the contrasting phrases "His sons come to honour" and "they are brought low." This juxtaposition vividly illustrates the full spectrum of human experience—from triumph to tragedy—to which the deceased is utterly oblivious. The parallel structure is further reinforced by the repetition of the negative clauses, "he knoweth [it] not" and "he perceiveth [it] not of them," which emphasize the complete absence of awareness. This repetition also functions as a form of **Anaphora** in its thematic recurrence, driving home the point of absolute detachment. The verse is also a quintessential example of **Lament**, characteristic of Job's speeches, expressing deep despair and a bleak view of human mortality and the finality of earthly existence. There is an underlying **Irony** in the human striving for legacy and familial continuity, as the very individual who establishes that lineage will be completely unaware of its future outcomes, whether good or ill.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:21 encapsulates a prevailing Old Testament understanding of death, particularly the state of those in Sheol. This perspective emphasizes a profound cessation of earthly consciousness and engagement, where the dead are cut off from the affairs of the living. It highlights the finality of earthly life and the limited human understanding of what lies beyond the grave in earlier revelation. While this view can appear stark, it underscores the importance of living faithfully and purposefully in the present, as earthly achievements and relationships are confined to this side of eternity. It also subtly sets the stage for later, clearer revelations about the afterlife and resurrection, which would bring a more robust hope and a deeper understanding of God's redemptive plan.

* [Ecclesiastes 9:5](/ecclesiastes/9-5 "Ecclesiastes 9:5 - The Dead Know Nothing")
* [Psalm 146:4](/psalms/146-4 "Psalm 146:4 - Man's Breath and Thoughts Perish")
* [Isaiah 38:18](/isaiah/38-18 "Isaiah 38:18 - No Praise from the Grave")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 14:21, though expressing a somber Old Testament perspective on death, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder of the brevity and fragility of human life, urging us to consider how we live each day with intentionality and purpose. Since our awareness of earthly events ceases at death, the verse compels us to prioritize what truly matters: our relationship with God, our investment in eternal values, and our relationships with loved ones while we are still able to engage with them. It challenges the human tendency to live for legacy or earthly recognition, reminding us that such things hold no sway beyond the grave. For those who grieve, there can be a strange comfort in knowing that the deceased are at rest, unburdened by the ongoing struggles or triumphs of this world. Ultimately, this verse calls us to live with an eternal perspective, focusing not on what we can control or perceive after death, but on faithfulness and purpose in the present moment, trusting God with all that lies beyond.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the awareness of our mortality, as expressed in Job 14:21, shape our priorities and daily decisions?**
* **In what ways can we better invest in our relationships and eternal values today, knowing our earthly time and perception are finite?**
* **How does a biblical understanding of death, both Old and New Testament, inform our view of legacy and what truly endures?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean there is no afterlife or consciousness after death for believers?**

Answer: Job 14:21, along with other Old Testament passages like [Ecclesiastes 9:5](/ecclesiastes/9-5 "Ecclesiastes 9:5 - The Dead Know Nothing") and [Psalm 146:4](/psalms/146-4 "Psalm 146:4 - Man's Breath and Thoughts Perish"), reflects the prevailing Old Testament understanding of death, where the deceased enter Sheol, a shadowy realm of inactivity and separation from the living. This perspective primarily emphasizes the cessation of earthly awareness and engagement with the affairs of this world. It does not necessarily deny all forms of existence but rather highlights a profound break from the earthly sphere. The Old Testament's revelation regarding the afterlife was progressive and less clear than what is revealed in the New Testament. The New Testament, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, brings a much clearer and more hopeful understanding of conscious existence after death, a future resurrection, and eternal life in God's presence, as seen in passages like [John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life") and [Philippians 1:21-23](/philippians/1-21-23 "Philippians 1:21-23 - To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain"). Therefore, while Job's lament reflects an ancient, limited understanding, it does not contradict the fuller revelation of conscious life beyond the grave for those in Christ.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 14:21, with its stark portrayal of the deceased's complete detachment from earthly affairs and the finality of human life, highlights the profound despair that can arise from a purely temporal view of existence. Job's lament underscores humanity's desperate need for a hope beyond the grave, a hope that fully blossoms in Jesus Christ. While Job perceives death as an irreversible end to earthly awareness, the New Testament proclaims Christ's victory over death and the grave, transforming this bleak outlook. Jesus, through His resurrection, conquered the power of death, ensuring that those who believe in Him do not perish but have eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). The "ignorance of the dead" lamented by Job is overcome by the promise of resurrection and a conscious, eternal fellowship with God. Believers are promised a future where all tears are wiped away, and there will be no more death or sorrow ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Sorrow")). The Christian hope, articulated powerfully in [1 Corinthians 15](/1-corinthians/15 "1 Corinthians 15 - The Resurrection Chapter"), assures us that death is not the end of consciousness or relationship, but a transition into the glorious presence of 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 lament, while profoundly human, serves as a poignant backdrop against which the glorious, life-giving truth of Christ's resurrection shines ever brighter, offering not oblivion, but eternal life and perfect awareness in Him.

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

Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 2:18

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:19

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.

Isaiah 63:16

Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting.

Psalms 39:6

Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Isaiah 39:7

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Isaiah 39:8

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.