[As] the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no [more].
As the cloud {H6051} is consumed {H3615} and vanisheth away {H3212}: so he that goeth down {H3381} to the grave {H7585} shall come up {H5927} no more.
Like a cloud dissolving and disappearing, so he who descends to Sh'ol won't come back up.
As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.
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2 Samuel 14:14
For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. -
Job 16:22
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return. -
Job 30:15
¶ Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud. -
Job 14:10
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he? -
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. -
2 Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. -
Job 10:21
Before I go [whence] I shall not return, [even] to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
Job 7:9 is a poignant expression of Job's profound despair and his understanding of the irreversible nature of death in the earthly realm. In the midst of his overwhelming suffering, Job laments the fleeting quality of human life, comparing it to a cloud that quickly dissipates.
Context of Job 7:9
This verse comes from one of Job's early responses to his friends, particularly after Eliphaz's first speech. Having lost his children, wealth, and health, Job is in deep anguish, wishing for death as an escape from his torment. His words here reflect a common ancient Near Eastern perspective on death: once a person descends to the grave (or Sheol, the shadowy realm of the dead), there is no return to earthly life and its activities. Job is not necessarily denying an afterlife in Sheol, but rather emphasizing the definitive end of one's physical presence and influence in the world of the living.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "consumed" (כָּלָה - kalah) here implies completion, an end, or a vanishing away, much like smoke or a cloud dissipating entirely. The term "grave" (קֶבֶר - qeber) refers to the physical burial place, but in the broader Old Testament context, it often points to the ultimate destination of the dead, Sheol. Job's lament highlights the ancient understanding of death as an irreversible journey from the visible world.
Practical Application and Reflection
While Job's words reflect a profound sense of despair and a limited understanding of life beyond death from an Old Testament perspective, they serve as a powerful reminder of human mortality. For those with a later revelation of God's plan, this verse contrasts sharply with the hope found in the New Testament. The Christian faith offers the promise of a future resurrection and eternal life through Christ, where death is not the final word (1 Corinthians 15:52, John 5:28-29). Job's lament encourages us to consider the brevity of life and to seek meaning and hope beyond our earthly existence, ultimately pointing to the greater hope found in God's redemptive plan.