Job 14:10
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
But a man
The Hebrew word for "man" here is "gever," which often denotes a strong or mighty man. This term emphasizes the inherent strength and dignity of humanity, created in the image of God. Despite this strength, the verse highlights the universal truth of human mortality. In the broader biblical context, this serves as a humbling reminder of the limitations of human life compared to the eternal nature of God.

dies
The Hebrew verb "muwth" is used here, which simply means to die or perish. This word is a stark reminder of the consequence of sin entering the world through Adam, as described in Genesis. Death is the inevitable end for all humanity, a theme that runs throughout the book of Job, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly life and the need for a savior.

and is laid low
The phrase "is laid low" comes from the Hebrew "chalah," which can mean to be weak, sick, or to be brought down. This imagery suggests not just the physical act of dying but the humbling process of being reduced from life to death. It reflects the biblical theme of human frailty and the ultimate leveling of all people, regardless of status or strength, before God.

he breathes his last
The Hebrew word "gava" is used here, meaning to expire or to give up the ghost. This phrase captures the moment of death, the final breath that signifies the departure of life. In the biblical narrative, breath is often associated with the spirit or life force given by God (Genesis 2:7). The cessation of breath marks the return of the spirit to God, as Ecclesiastes 12:7 suggests.

and where is he?
This rhetorical question underscores the mystery and uncertainty surrounding death. In the context of Job, it reflects Job's struggle with understanding the afterlife and the fate of the soul. The question invites contemplation on the eternal destiny of humanity, pointing to the hope of resurrection and eternal life found in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. It challenges believers to consider their own mortality and the assurance of salvation through faith.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and suffering. He is known for his unwavering faith in God despite his circumstances.

2. Uz
The land where Job lived. It is often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.

3. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to offer counsel and comfort but often end up accusing him of wrongdoing.

4. God
The ultimate authority and sovereign being who allows Job's trials to test his faith and integrity.

5. Death
A central theme in this verse, representing the inevitable end of human life and the mystery of what follows.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Mortality
Job 14:10 confronts us with the reality of death, a universal experience that prompts reflection on the meaning and purpose of life.

The Mystery of Life After Death
The question "where is he?" highlights the uncertainty and mystery surrounding what happens after death, encouraging believers to seek answers in Scripture.

Faith in the Face of Uncertainty
Job's struggle with understanding death challenges us to maintain faith and trust in God's sovereignty, even when answers are not clear.

The Hope of Resurrection
While Job expresses despair, Christians can find hope in the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Living with Eternal Perspective
This verse encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, valuing spiritual growth and relationships over temporal concerns.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Job 14:10 reflect the human struggle with understanding death and the afterlife?

2. In what ways can the certainty of death influence how we live our daily lives as Christians?

3. How do other scriptures, such as 1 Corinthians 15:22, provide hope and assurance beyond the despair expressed in Job 14:10?

4. What practical steps can we take to maintain faith and trust in God when faced with the uncertainties of life and death?

5. How can we use the reality of mortality to prioritize our spiritual growth and relationships with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
This passage reflects on the common fate of humans and animals, emphasizing the inevitability of death and the return to dust.

Psalm 90:3-6
These verses speak to the brevity of human life and the certainty of death, echoing Job's lament about the transient nature of existence.

1 Corinthians 15:22
This New Testament verse offers hope beyond death, contrasting the despair in Job with the promise of resurrection through Christ.
A Four-Fold View of Man Alter DeathC. Clayton, M. A.Job 14:10
Am I to Live ForeverD. G. Watt, M. A.Job 14:10
An Anxious Query AnsweredHugh S. Carpenter, D. D.Job 14:10
Immortality of the SoulJohn N. Norton.Job 14:10
Man is a Dying CreatureHenry, MatthewJob 14:10
The Great QuestionC. J. P. Eyre, A. M.Job 14:10
The Momentous EventJ. Burns, D. D.Job 14:10
The Mystery of DeathGordon Calthrop, M. A.Job 14:10
The Query of the AgesByron A. Woods.Job 14:10
The Shortness and Vanity of Human LifeB. Bailey.Job 14:10
The State of the DeadR. A. Hallam, D. D.Job 14:10
Where are the DeadJohn Vaughan, LL. D.Job 14:10
Where is He?W. Windle.Job 14:10
Self-Defence Before GodE. Johnson Job 14:1-12
Sad Views of LifeR. Green Job 14:7-10
Is There a Life Beyond the Grave?W.F. Adeney Job 14:7-14
People
Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Becometh, Breath, Breathes, Death, Dies, Dieth, Expires, Expireth, Ghost, Gives, Giveth, Laid, Lies, Lieth, Low, Perisheth, Prostrate, Spirit, Wasteth, Weak, Yea, Yes, Yieldeth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 14:1-12

     5004   human race, and sin

Job 14:1-22

     8615   prayer, doubts

Job 14:7-12

     5916   pessimism

Job 14:10-12

     5816   consciousness

Job 14:10-15

     5535   sleep, and death

Library
February 18 Evening
Adam . . . begat a son in his own likeness.--GEN. 5:3. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?--Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Dead in trespasses and sins; . . . by nature the children of wrath, even as others.--I am carnal, sold under sin. That which I do I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing. By one man sin entered into the world, . . . by one man's
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 22 Evening
There is a hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.--JOB 14:7. A bruised reed shall he not break.--He restoreth my soul. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.--No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceful fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Before I was afflicted
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 19 Evening
Consolation in Christ, . . . comfort of love, . . . fellowship of the Spirit.--PHI. 2:1. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.--My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. The Father . . . shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever: the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name.--Blessed be God,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Job's Question, Jesus' Answer
'If a man die, shall he live again?'--JOB xiv. 14. '... I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.'--JOHN xi. 25, 26. Job's question waited long for an answer. Weary centuries rolled away; but at last the doubting, almost despairing, cry put into the mouth of the man of sorrows of the Old Testament is answered by the Man of Sorrows of the New. The answer in words is this second
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

An Unanswerable Question.
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one."--JOB xiv. 4. This is one of those simple questions which, by their very simplicity and directness, set us thinking about the importance of our personal life. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?" But all our common life is somehow the outcome of our separate individual lives--of your life and mine. Therefore how important it is in the common interest that each of us should look above all things to his own life and its character,
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

A Voice from the Hartley Colliery
This text is appropriate to the occasion, but God alone knoweth how applicable the discourse may be to some here present; yes, to young hearts little dreaming that there is but a step between them and death; to aged persons, who as yet have not set their house in order, but who must do it, for they shall die and not live. We will take the question of the text, and answer it upon Scriptural grounds. "If a man die, shall he live again?" NO!--YES! I. We answer the question first with a "No." He shall
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

The Voice of Job.
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.'--Job xiv. 13-15. The book of Job seems to me the most daring of poems: from a position of the most vantageless realism, it assaults the very
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

Meditations for the Evening.
At evening, when thou preparest thyself to take thy rest, meditate on these few points:-- 1. That seeing thy days are numbered (Psal. xc.; Job xiv. 5), there is one more of thy number spent, and thou art now the nearer to thy end by a day. 2. Sit down a while before thou goest to bed, and consider with thyself what memorable thing thou hast seen, heard, or read that day, more than thou sawest, heardst, or knewest before, and make the best use of them; but especially call to mind what sin thou hast
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

My God! I Know that I must Die.
"Mein Gott! ich weiss wohl dass lch sterbe." Job 14:11,12. [13]B. Schmolk. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1854 My God! I know that I must die-- My mortal life is passing hence On earth I neither hope nor try To find a lasting residence. Then teach me by Thy heavenly grace, With joy and peace my death to face. My God! I know not when I die, What is the moment or the hour-- How soon the clay may broken lie, How quickly pass away the flower; Then may Thy child prepared be Through time to meet Eternity.
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

Life, Death, and Judgment. --Job xiv. 1-3. 11-13.
Life, Death, and Judgment.--Job xiv. 1-3. 11-13. Few, few and evil are thy days, Man, of a woman born; Peril and trouble haunt thy ways; Forth, like a flower at morn, The tender infant springs to light, Youth blossoms to the breeze, Age, withering age, is cropt ere night; Man like a shadow flees. And dost thou look on such an one? Will God to judgment call A worm, for what a worm hath done Against the Lord of all? As fail the waters from the deep, As summer-brooks run dry, Man lieth down in dreamless
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

Whether one Can be Happy in this Life?
Objection 1: It would seem that Happiness can be had in this life. For it is written (Ps. 118:1): "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." But this happens in this life. Therefore one can be happy in this life. Objection 2: Further, imperfect participation in the Sovereign Good does not destroy the nature of Happiness, otherwise one would not be happier than another. But men can participate in the Sovereign Good in this life, by knowing and loving God, albeit imperfectly.
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether There is to be a Resurrection of the Body?
Objection 1: It would seem that there is not to be a resurrection of the body: for it is written (Job 14:12): "Man, when he is fallen asleep, shall not rise again till the heavens be broken." But the heavens shall never be broken, since the earth, to which seemingly this is still less applicable, "standeth for ever" (Eccles. 1:4). Therefore the man that is dead shall never rise again. Objection 2: Further, Our Lord proves the resurrection by quoting the words: "I am the God of Abraham, and the God
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Time of Our Resurrection Should be Delayed Till the End of the World?
Objection 1: It would seem that the time of the resurrection ought not to be delayed till the end of the world, so that all may rise together. For there is more conformity between head and members than between one member and another, as there is more between cause and effect than between one effect and another. Now Christ, Who is our Head, did not delay His resurrection until the end of the world, so as to rise again together with all men. Therefore there is no need for the resurrection of the early
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Resurrection Will Take Place at Night-Time?
Objection 1: It would seem that the resurrection will not be at night-time. For the resurrection will not be "till the heavens be broken" (Job 14:12). Now when the heavenly movement ceases, which is signified by its breaking, there will be no time, neither night nor day. Therefore the resurrection will not be at night-time. Objection 2: Further, the end of a thing ought to be most perfect. Now the end of time will be then: wherefore it is said (Apoc. 10:6) that "time shall be no longer." Therefore
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Separated Souls Know that Takes Place on Earth?
Objection 1: It would seem that separated souls know what takes place on earth; for otherwise they would have no care for it, as they have, according to what Dives said (Lk. 16:27,28), "I have five brethren . . . he may testify unto them, lest they also come into the place of torments." Therefore separated souls know what passes on earth. Objection 2: Further, the dead often appear to the living, asleep or awake, and tell them of what takes place there; as Samuel appeared to Saul (1 Kings 28:11).
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether a Man May Merit for Himself the First Grace?
Objection 1: It would seem that a man may merit for himself the first grace, because, as Augustine says (Ep. clxxxvi), "faith merits justification." Now a man is justified by the first grace. Therefore a man may merit the first grace. Objection 2: Further, God gives grace only to the worthy. Now, no one is said to be worthy of some good, unless he has merited it condignly. Therefore we may merit the first grace condignly. Objection 3: Further, with men we may merit a gift already received. Thus if
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ's Body Rose Again Entire?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's body did not rise entire. For flesh and blood belong to the integrity of the body: whereas Christ seems not to have had both, for it is written (1 Cor. 15:50): "Flesh and blood can not possess the kingdom of God." But Christ rose in the glory of the kingdom of God. Therefore it seems that He did not have flesh and blood. Objection 2: Further, blood is one of the four humors. Consequently, if Christ had blood, with equal reason He also had the other humors,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Saints have Knowledge of Our Prayers?
Objection 1: It would seem that the saints have no knowledge of our prayers. For a gloss on Is. 62:16, "Thou art our father and Abraham hath not known us, and Israel hath been ignorant of us," says that "the dead saints know not what the living, even their own children, are doing." This is taken from Augustine (De Cura pro Mort. xiii), where he quotes the aforesaid authority, and the following are his words: "If such great men as the patriarchs knew not what was happening to the people begotten of
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Damned See the Glory of the Blessed?
Objection 1: It would seem that the damned do not see the glory of the blessed. For they are more distant from the glory of the blessed than from the happenings of this world. But they do not see what happens in regard to us: hence Gregory commenting on Job 14:21, "Whether his children come to honor," etc. says (Moral. xii): "Even as those who still live know not in what place are the souls of the dead; so the dead who have lived in the body know not the things which regard the life of those who
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Moral Depravity.
VIII. Let us consider the proper method of accounting for the universal and total moral depravity of the unregenerate moral agents of our race. In the discussion of this subject, I will-- 1. Endeavor to show how it is not to be accounted for. In examining this part of the subject, it is necessary to have distinctly in view that which constitutes moral depravity. All the error that has existed upon this subject, has been founded in false assumptions in regard to the nature or essence of moral depravity.
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Through the Fall and Revolt of Adam, the Whole Human Race Made Accursed and Degenerate. Of Original Sin.
1. The knowledge of ourselves most necessary. To use it properly we must be divested of pride, and clothed with true humility, which will dispose us to consider our fall, and embrace the mercy of God in Christ. 2. Though there is plausibility in the sentiment which stimulates us to self-admiration, the only sound sentiment is that which inclines us to true humbleness of mind. Pretexts for pride. The miserable vanity of sinful man. 3. Different views taken by carnal wisdom and by conscience, which
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Original Sin. Rom. 5:12, Etc. ; Psa. 51:5; Job 14:04
Original sin. Rom. 5:12, etc.; Psa. 51:5; Job 14:4. Backward with humble shame we look On our original; How is our nature dashed and broke In our first father's fall! To all that's good averse and blind, But prone to all that's ill What dreadful darkness veils our mind! How obstinate our will! [Conceived in sin, O wretched state! Before we draw our breath The first young pulse begins to beat Iniquity and death. How strong in our degen'rate blood The old corruption reigns, And, mingling with the
Isaac Watts—The Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts

One Thing is Needful;
or, SERIOUS MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN, AND HELL UNTO WHICH IS ADDED EBAL AND GERIZZIM, OR THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE, by John Bunyan. London: Printed for Nath. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688.[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. According to Charles Doe, in that curious sheet called The Struggler for the Preservation of Mr. John Bunyan's Labours, these poems were published about the year 1664, while the author was suffering imprisonment for conscience
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

A Wise Desire
I remember once going to a chapel where this happened to be the text, and the good man who occupied the pulpit was more than a little of an Arminian. Therefore, when he commenced, he said, "This passage refers entirely to our temporal inheritance. It has nothing whatever to do with our everlasting destiny: for," said he, "We do not want Christ to choose for us in the matter of heaven or hell. It is so plain and easy that every man who has a grain of common sense will choose heaven; and any person
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Links
Job 14:10 NIV
Job 14:10 NLT
Job 14:10 ESV
Job 14:10 NASB
Job 14:10 KJV

Job 14:10 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Job 14:9
Top of Page
Top of Page