Job 14:7

¶ For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

For there is {H3426} hope {H8615} of a tree {H6086}, if it be cut down {H3772}, that it will sprout again {H2498}, and that the tender branch {H3127} thereof will not cease {H2308}.

"For a tree, there is hope that if cut down, it will sprout again, that its shoots will continue to grow.

For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.

For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Context

Job 14:7 is a poignant statement made by Job amidst his profound suffering and lamentations. In the preceding verses (Job 14:1-6), Job vividly describes the brevity and hardship of human life, contrasting it with the seemingly endless cycle of nature. He feels that once a man dies, he is gone forever, without the possibility of renewal or return to earthly life. This verse, therefore, highlights a specific aspect of nature's resilience – the ability of a cut-down tree to regenerate – which Job uses to underscore his own perceived hopelessness regarding physical life on earth.

Key Themes

  • Nature's Resilience vs. Human Mortality: The central theme is the stark contrast Job draws between the regenerative power of the natural world (specifically, a tree) and the apparent finality of human death. A tree, though cut down, can sprout anew, while Job believes man cannot.
  • Despair and Longing for Renewal: While the verse speaks of "hope" for a tree, it ironically serves to amplify Job's despair. He yearns for a similar prospect of renewal for himself, highlighting his deep suffering and desire for an end to his afflictions, or at least a hope beyond the grave.
  • The Cycle of Life and Death: The verse acknowledges the natural processes of decay and rebirth evident in the plant kingdom, a concept that deeply resonates in ancient agricultural societies.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hope" here is tiqvah (תִּקְוָה), which can mean "cord" or "expectation." In this context, it signifies a strong expectation or possibility of renewal. The phrase "sprout again" uses the verb yachaliyf (יַחֲלִיף), implying a change, renewal, or replacement. The "tender branch" (יוֹנַקְתּוֹ, yonakto) comes from a root suggesting "to suckle," emphasizing fresh, new growth emerging from the stump, symbolizing vitality and new life.

Reflection and Application

Though spoken from a place of deep despair, Job 14:7 invites us to ponder the nature of hope itself. Job's observation about the tree points to a natural law of regeneration that he feels is denied to humanity. This lament sets the stage for a profound theological question about life beyond the grave, a hope that is later fully revealed in God's plan of redemption.

  • Beyond Earthly Limitations: For believers, this verse, while highlighting Job's earthly perspective, implicitly points to a greater hope. The New Testament reveals the promise of resurrection, where death is not the final word, and human life, through Christ, can indeed "sprout again" into eternal life.
  • Finding Hope in Despair: Job's raw honesty about his suffering and his yearning for renewal can resonate with those facing overwhelming challenges. Even when earthly hope seems absent, the verse reminds us of the divine power that brings new life out of apparent death, whether in nature or in the spiritual realm.
  • God's Sovereignty in Life and Death: Ultimately, the verse subtly underscores God's intricate design in creation. The very resilience of a tree, which Job observes, is a testament to the Creator's power, a power that is infinitely greater and extends even over life and death, offering a hope that transcends the natural cycles of the earth.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 27:6

    He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    ¶ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

  • 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.

  • Daniel 4:23

    And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

  • Daniel 4:25

    That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

  • Job 19:10

    He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

  • Daniel 4:15

    Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

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