Job 14:6

KJV

Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

KJV (with Strong's)

Turn {H8159} from him, that he may rest {H2308}, till he shall accomplish {H7521}, as an hireling {H7916}, his day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

look away from him, and let him be; so that, like a hired worker, he can finish his day in peace.

Berean Standard Bible

look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.

American Standard Version

Look away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:6 encapsulates Job's profound weariness and desperate plea for respite from his relentless suffering and perceived divine scrutiny. In this poignant lament, he likens his finite, arduous life to the fixed term of a day laborer, longing for God to withdraw His afflicting gaze so that he might experience a moment of peace and relief before his allotted time on earth inevitably concludes. This verse powerfully conveys the depths of human despair when faced with unceasing pain and the yearning for even a temporary cessation of toil before death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 14:6 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically his response to Zophar (Job 11). Chapter 14 opens with Job's lament on the extreme fragility and brevity of human life, contrasting it sharply with the resilience of nature, particularly a tree that can sprout anew even after being cut down (Job 14:7-9). This sets the stage for Job's plea for a similar, albeit temporary, reprieve. The verse immediately precedes Job's further reflections on the finality of human death (Job 14:10-12) and his desperate wish for a hidden place in Sheol until God's wrath passes (Job 14:13). The entire chapter underscores Job's deep sense of being under a divine microscope, without relief from his afflictions, a pervasive theme throughout [the Book of Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job - Suffering and Sovereignty").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, life was often understood as a period of toil and struggle, subject to divine will. The concept of a "hireling" (Hebrew: *śākîr*) was a common social and economic reality. A hireling was a day laborer, typically poor, who worked for a fixed, often short, period, expecting payment and rest at the end of their "day." This imagery would have been readily understood by Job's audience as a metaphor for a life of hard work with a definite end. The prevailing wisdom of the time, challenged by Job's experience, often linked suffering directly to sin, making Job's unmerited affliction particularly perplexing and distressing within his cultural framework.
* **Key Themes:** Job 14:6 contributes significantly to several major themes in the book. Firstly, it highlights the **Human Frailty and Mortality**, emphasizing the transient and difficult nature of human existence, which is likened to a shadow or a fleeting breath, as seen in [Job 7:6](/job/7-6 "Job 7:6 - My Days Are Swifter Than a Weaver's Shuttle"). Secondly, it expresses a profound **Desire for Rest and Relief** from suffering. Job's cry, "Turn from him, that he may rest," is a desperate plea for God to alleviate His intense scrutiny and the pain it brings. This longing for cessation of pain is a recurring motif for Job, evident in his earlier wish for death as a release from torment in [Job 3:17](/job/3-17 "Job 3:17 - There the Weary Are at Rest"). Lastly, the comparison to a "hireling" underscores the theme of **Life as a Finite Task or Toil**, portraying human existence as a fixed term of arduous labor, anticipating an end to the struggle.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Turn from him (Hebrew, _hašḥēṯ mēʿālāw'_):** This phrase, often translated as "look away from him" or "cease from him," comes from the root *š-ḥ-t*, which can mean "to spoil, corrupt, destroy." In the Hiphil stem, as used here, it often implies causing something to cease or leaving something alone. Job's plea is not for God to abandon him entirely, but to cease His active, afflicting scrutiny and relentless pressure, providing a momentary withdrawal of divine attention and the suffering it seems to bring. It's a desperate request for a pause in the divine assault.
* **Rest (Hebrew, _yeḥdal'_):** Derived from the verb *ḥādal*, meaning "to cease, desist, leave off, refrain." In this context, it signifies more than mere physical repose; it is a profound longing for a cessation of the intense divine scrutiny and the accompanying afflictions. Job yearns for a period where God's hand is not actively pressing upon him, allowing for a moment of peace and relief from his torment.
* **Hireling (Hebrew, _śākîr'_):** This term refers to a day laborer, someone employed for a specific, often short, duration, typically for a daily wage. Unlike a permanent servant, the hireling has a contractual agreement that ends at a set time, after which they expect rest or payment. This imagery powerfully conveys Job's feeling that his life is a fixed period of hard labor and suffering, and he yearns for its predetermined completion so he can finally find peace.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Turn from him":** This is a direct, desperate imperative addressed to God. Job pleads for God to avert His gaze, to cease His intense and afflicting scrutiny. He perceives God's constant attention as the source of his torment, and thus begs for a cessation of this divine pressure.
* **"that he may rest":** The desired outcome of God's withdrawal. Job longs for a period of peace, a cessation of his suffering, a moment of relief from the relentless divine pressure and the pain it entails. This "rest" is a profound yearning for quietude and freedom from affliction before death.
* **"till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day":** This clause specifies the duration of the desired respite and the underlying metaphor for life. Job asks for this rest to last until his allotted time on earth—his "day"—is completed. The comparison to a "hireling" underscores his perception of life as a fixed, finite period of arduous labor, implying that just as a laborer's day ends, so too will his life, and with it, his suffering.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Metaphor**, comparing human life to the "day" of a "hireling." This vivid image conveys the finite, arduous, and often unrewarding nature of existence as Job experiences it, emphasizing its fixed duration and the expectation of an end to toil. The entire verse functions as a **Plea** or **Lament**, a direct, impassioned address to God expressing deep anguish and a desperate request for relief. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between Job's current state of relentless suffering and the desired state of peace and rest, highlighting the profound weariness of his soul. The intensity of Job's language can also be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, reflecting his overwhelming sense of being hounded by divine attention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 14:6 resonates deeply with the universal human experience of suffering, the desire for peace, and the stark reality of life's brevity. It highlights the profound tension between divine sovereignty and human vulnerability, as Job grapples with a God who seems to be an active participant in his torment, rather than a source of comfort. Job's plea for God to "turn from him" is a raw expression of a soul overwhelmed by affliction, longing for even a temporary cessation of divine scrutiny before the inevitable end of life. This verse underscores the biblical theme of human finitude and the yearning for ultimate rest from the burdens of this world, a theme explored throughout wisdom literature.

* [Psalm 90:10](/psalms/90-10 "Psalm 90:10 - The Brevity and Toil of Life")
* [Ecclesiastes 3:1-8](/ecclesiastes/3-1 "Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - A Time for Everything Under Heaven")
* [Job 7:1-3](/job/7-1 "Job 7:1-3 - Is Not Man's Life on Earth a Drudgery?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's lament in Job 14:6 offers a profound window into the human experience of prolonged suffering and the desperate longing for relief. It acknowledges the inherent toil and finite nature of our earthly existence, reminding us that life's "day" will indeed come to an end. This verse fosters empathy for those who feel relentlessly burdened, providing a biblical voice to the cry for respite amidst overwhelming circumstances. It challenges us to consider our own perspectives on suffering and divine involvement, prompting us to seek moments of rest and reflection even in the midst of life's demands. Ultimately, while Job's hope is for a cessation of pain in death, his yearning points to a deeper human need for ultimate peace that transcends earthly limitations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's comparison of life to a "hireling's day" influence your understanding of purpose and perseverance in the face of life's challenges?**
* **In what ways do you seek "rest" or "respite" when you feel overwhelmed by the pressures and difficulties of life?**
* **What does Job's desperate plea for God to "turn from him" reveal about the nature of honest prayer during times of intense suffering or perceived divine scrutiny?**

### FAQ
**Why does Job compare himself to a "hireling"?**

Answer: Job compares himself to a "hireling" (a day laborer) to emphasize the finite, fixed, and arduous nature of his life. A hireling works for a set period, often under difficult conditions, anticipating the end of their labor and the receipt of wages or, implicitly, rest. By using this metaphor, Job highlights his feeling that his life is a predetermined period of intense, unceasing toil under God's scrutiny, and he longs for its completion to find peace. It underscores his sense of being bound by a divine "contract" of suffering, from which he desperately seeks release.

**Does Job's plea "Turn from him" imply he wants God to abandon him?**

Answer: Not necessarily abandonment, but a cessation of active, afflicting scrutiny. Job feels relentlessly pursued and afflicted by God's hand, as expressed in other passages like [Job 10:3](/job/10-3 "Job 10:3 - God's Scrutiny of Job") and [Job 13:21](/job/13-21 "Job 13:21 - Job's Plea for God to Withdraw His Hand"). He longs for a moment of relief, a divine withdrawal of the oppressive pressure, so he can experience peace before death. It's a cry for mercy and respite from overwhelming suffering, not a desire for God's ultimate absence or a rejection of God's existence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate yearning for rest from his "hireling's day" finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Job longed for a temporary cessation of divine scrutiny before death, Christ offers eternal rest from the toil of sin and the curse of the Law. Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him, promising to give them rest for their souls, as beautifully articulated in [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary"). He is the one who truly "accomplished his day," not as a hireling working for wages, but as the Son who perfectly fulfilled the Father's will, culminating in His cry "It is finished!" on the cross ([John 19:30](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - Jesus' Final Words on the Cross")). Through His finished work, Christ has secured the ultimate Sabbath rest for the people of God, a rest that transcends earthly suffering and extends into eternity ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")). Thus, Job's lament, while rooted in despair, prophetically points to the One who would bear the ultimate burden of humanity's "day" of toil and offer true, everlasting peace to all who believe.

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 7:19

How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

Psalms 39:13

O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

Job 7:1

¶ [Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of an hireling?

Job 7:2

As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for [the reward of] his work:

Job 7:16

I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

Job 10:20

[Are] not my days few? cease [then, and] let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

Matthew 20:1

¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man [that is] an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.