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Job
Chapter 14
Verse 14

Job 14:11

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,

American Standard Version (1901)

As the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up;

Bible in Basic English

The waters go from a pool, and a river becomes waste and dry;

Free Bible Version

Like water evaporating from a lake and a river that dries up and disappears,

King James (Authorized) Version

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

Translation for Translators

Just like water evaporates from the ocean, or like a riverbed dries up,

Unlocked Literal Bible

As water disappears from a lake, and as a river loses water and dries up,

Noah Webster Bible

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

World English Bible

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

Young's Literal Translation

Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.

Context

Job Laments the Finality of Death

¹⁰But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? ¹¹As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, ¹²so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

Summary

In this verse, Job expresses the reality of death and the brevity of human life by comparing it to water that evaporates from a lake and a river that dries up. He acknowledges the transient nature of life on earth, highlighting the inevitability of death for all living beings. Job's reflection on the fleeting nature of life serves as a reminder of the fragility and temporary nature of human existence, prompting contemplation on the significance of one's actions and the need for a deeper understanding of God's eternal purposes.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The waters fail from the sea - I believe this refers to evaporation, and nothing else. As the waters are evaporated from the sea, and the river in passing over the sandy desert is partly exsiccated, and partly absorbed; and yet the waters of the sea are not exhausted, as these vapors, being condensed, fall down in rain, and by means of rivers return again into the sea: so man is imperceptibly removed from his fellows by death and dissolution; yet the human race is still continued, the population of the earth being kept up by perpetual generations.

Job 14:11

Job Laments the Finality of Death

¹⁰But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? ¹¹As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, ¹²so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,

American Standard Version (1901)

As the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up;

Bible in Basic English

The waters go from a pool, and a river becomes waste and dry;

Free Bible Version

Like water evaporating from a lake and a river that dries up and disappears,

King James (Authorized) Version

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

Translation for Translators

Just like water evaporates from the ocean, or like a riverbed dries up,

Unlocked Literal Bible

As water disappears from a lake, and as a river loses water and dries up,

Noah Webster Bible

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:

World English Bible

As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

Young's Literal Translation

Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.