Bible Strands
Job 14:10
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Job speaks during his dialogue, reflecting on human mortality while contrasting it with the regrowth of trees and the evaporation of rivers. He addresses the reality of death in the midst of his own suffering and debate.
The words — יָמוּת (Ya.mut) means he dies, and וַיִּגְוַע (va/i.yig.Va') means he expires or breathes his last. These terms mark the finality of physical life before the rhetorical question אַיּוֹ (aYyo) asks where the person goes.
The thread — The theme of life as a fleeting breath and the uncertainty of death’s destination appears in Job 7:7 and Genesis 49:33. Job 19:26 later contrasts this finality with a hope of bodily resurrection.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment of human finitude and the absence of guaranteed postmortem knowledge. It forces the reader to confront mortality without offering immediate consolation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
Cross-references
- Job 19:26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
- Genesis 49:33 When Jacob had finished instructing his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and he was gathered to his people.
- Job 7:7 Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
- Proverbs 14:32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
- Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”
- Job 14:12 so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
- Job 17:13 If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,
- Matthew 27:50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
- Luke 16:22 One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.
- Acts 5:10 At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.