Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous? New Living Translation Can any mortal be pure? Can anyone born of a woman be just? English Standard Version What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? Berean Standard Bible What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? King James Bible What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? New King James Version “What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? New American Standard Bible “What is man, that he would be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he would be righteous? NASB 1995 “What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? NASB 1977 “What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Legacy Standard Bible What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Amplified Bible “What is man, that he should be pure and clean, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just? Christian Standard Bible What is a mere human, that he should be pure, or one born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Holman Christian Standard Bible What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? American Standard Version What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Contemporary English Version No human is pure and innocent, English Revised Version What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? GOD'S WORD® Translation Why should a mortal be considered faultless or someone born of a woman be considered righteous? Good News Translation Can any human being be really pure? Can anyone be right with God? International Standard Version "What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right? Majority Standard Bible What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? NET Bible What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? New Heart English Bible What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Webster's Bible Translation What is man, that he should be clean? and he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? World English Bible What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhat [is] man that he is pure, "" And that he is righteous, one born of woman? Young's Literal Translation What is man that he is pure, And that he is righteous, one born of woman? Smith's Literal Translation What is man that he will be clean? and that he will be just, being born of woman? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhat is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just? Catholic Public Domain Version What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman? New American Bible How can any mortal be blameless, anyone born of woman be righteous? New Revised Standard Version What are mortals, that they can be clean? Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhat is man, that he should be innocent? Or he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Who is the man who is innocent, or who born of woman is going to be justified? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Brenton Septuagint Translation For who, being a mortal, is such that he shall be blameless? or, who that is born of a woman, that he should be just? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God…13as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth? 14What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? 15If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,… Cross References Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Psalm 51:5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Ecclesiastes 7:20 Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. Psalm 14:3 All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Isaiah 64:6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? 1 Kings 8:46 When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near, 2 Chronicles 6:36 When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near, Mark 10:18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone. Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” Treasury of Scripture What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? is man Job 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Job 25:4-6 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? … Jump to Previous Born Clean Pure Righteous UprightJump to Next Born Clean Pure Righteous UprightJob 15 1. Eliphaz reproves Job for impiety in justifying himself17. He proves by tradition the restlessness of wicked men What is man, that he should be pure This phrase questions the inherent purity of humanity, reflecting the biblical theme of human fallibility and sinfulness. In the context of the Book of Job, this rhetorical question underscores the belief that humans, by nature, are not pure due to the original sin introduced in Genesis 3. The idea of human impurity is echoed in Psalm 51:5, where David acknowledges being sinful from birth. The rhetorical nature of the question suggests that purity is not achievable by human effort alone, pointing to the need for divine intervention and grace. or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the nature of righteousness and justice. 2. Eliphaz the Temanite One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Eliphaz is speaking, offering his perspective on human nature and righteousness. 3. Teman A region in Edom, known for its wise men. Eliphaz is identified as a Temanite, suggesting he is considered wise and knowledgeable. 4. The Heavenly Court Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Job includes the heavenly court where God and Satan discuss Job's faithfulness. 5. The Human Condition The broader theme of human imperfection and the struggle for righteousness is central to this passage and the Book of Job. Teaching Points Human ImperfectionThe verse highlights the inherent imperfection of humanity. It serves as a reminder that no one can claim purity or righteousness on their own merit. Dependence on God’s Grace Recognizing our inability to be pure or righteous on our own should lead us to depend on God's grace and mercy for our justification and sanctification. The Role of Humility Understanding our limitations should cultivate humility, preventing us from self-righteousness and encouraging us to seek God’s wisdom and guidance. The Need for a Savior This passage points to the necessity of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who provides the righteousness we cannot achieve on our own. The Importance of Repentance Acknowledging our sinful nature should lead us to continual repentance and a desire to align our lives with God’s will.(14) What is man?--This is the ceaseless burden.�(See Job 4:17; Job 9:2; Job 25:4, &c.)Verse 14. - What is man, that he should be clean? A vain "beating of the air." Eliphaz had asserted the same truth in his first speech, when he said, "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he taxeth with folly: how much less in them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?" (Job 4:17-19); and Job had given his full assent to it, when he exclaimed, "I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand" (Job 9:2, 3). The true question was not whether Job or any other man was" clean," i.e. wholly sinless but whether Job had sinned so deeply and grievously that his sufferings were the natural and just punishment for his sins. And a mere repetition of the statement that all men were sinful and unclean was off the point - nihil ad rem-altogether futile and superfluous. And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? (setup. Job 25:4). The clause is a mere variant of the preceding one. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whatמָֽה־ (māh-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what is man, אֱנ֥וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 582: Man, mankind that כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he should be pure, יִזְכֶּ֑ה (yiz·keh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2135: To be translucent, to be innocent or one born יְל֣וּד (yə·lūḏ) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage of woman, אִשָּֽׁה׃ (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female that וְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he should be righteous? יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק (yiṣ·daq) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous Links Job 15:14 NIVJob 15:14 NLT Job 15:14 ESV Job 15:14 NASB Job 15:14 KJV Job 15:14 BibleApps.com Job 15:14 Biblia Paralela Job 15:14 Chinese Bible Job 15:14 French Bible Job 15:14 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 15:14 What is man that he should be (Jb) |
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