Job 14:6

Context

Job 14:6 is part of Job's poignant lament in response to his friends, particularly Zophar. In this chapter, Job reflects deeply on the fragility and brevity of human life, contrasting it with the resilience of nature (like a tree that can sprout anew after being cut down). He expresses profound weariness and despair over his immense suffering and the perceived relentless scrutiny from God. His plea in this verse is for a momentary respite, a turning away of divine attention, so he might experience some peace before his allotted time on earth concludes. This passage underscores Job's deep sense of being under a divine microscope, without relief from his afflictions, a theme explored throughout the Book of Job.

Key Themes

• Human Frailty and Mortality: The verse highlights the transient and difficult nature of human existence. Life is depicted as a limited period of toil, similar to a hired worker's fixed term. This echoes sentiments found in other wisdom literature, such as Psalm 90:10.
• Desire for Rest and Relief: Job's cry, "Turn from him, that he may rest," is a desperate plea for God to alleviate His intense scrutiny and the suffering it brings. He longs for a period of peace, or simply to be left alone, before the end of his days. This longing for cessation of pain is a recurring motif for Job, as seen in Job 3:17.
• Life as a Finite Task: The comparison to a "hireling" (Hebrew: שָׂכִיר, śākîr) is central. A hireling works diligently for a specific, limited period, anticipating an end to their labor and the receipt of their wages. Job sees his life as such a fixed term of arduous work, wishing for the "day" to be accomplished so he can finally have peace.

Linguistic Insights

The term "hireling" (שָׂכִיר, śākîr) is significant. It refers to a day laborer or someone employed for a specific, often short, duration. Unlike a permanent servant or a family member, 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 he yearns for its completion. The phrase "Turn from him" (הַשְׁחֵת מֵעָלָיו, hašḥēṯ mēʿālāw) implies a cessation of God's active engagement or scrutiny, a request for divine withdrawal from his relentless affliction.

Practical Application

Job's lament in this verse resonates with the human experience of hardship and the desire for peace amidst suffering. It acknowledges the finite nature of life and the periods of toil we all face.

• Empathy for Suffering: This verse helps us understand the profound weariness and despair that can accompany prolonged suffering, fostering empathy for those who feel relentlessly burdened.
• Perspective on Life's Brevity: The "hireling" metaphor reminds us that our time on earth is finite and often filled with challenges. This can encourage us to live purposefully and to seek moments of rest and reflection.
• Hope for Ultimate Rest: While Job focuses on the end of his earthly "day," the Christian perspective often finds a deeper hope in the ultimate rest and peace offered through faith in God, beyond this life's struggles. This spiritual rest is promised to the people of God, as explored in passages like Hebrews 4:9.