Job 14:18
Job 14:18 in Multiple Translations
But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place;
But truly a mountain falling comes to dust, and a rock is moved from its place;
But just as the mountains crumble and fall, and the rocks tumble down;
And surely as the mountaine that falleth, commeth to nought, and the rocke that is remooued from his place:
And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place.
And surely the mountain falling cometh to naught, and the rock is removed out of its place.
A mountain falling cometh to nought, and a rock is removed out of its place.
“But, just like mountains crumble and rocks fall down from a cliff,
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 14:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 14:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ֭/אוּלָם
הַר
נוֹפֵ֣ל
יִבּ֑וֹל
וְ֝/צ֗וּר
יֶעְתַּ֥ק
מִ/מְּקֹמֽ/וֹ
וְ֭/אוּלָם
ʼûwlâm
H199
but
Conj | Adv
הַר
har
H2022
mountain
N-ms
נוֹפֵ֣ל
nâphal
H5307
to fall
V-Qal
יִבּ֑וֹל
nâbêl
H5034
be senseless
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
וְ֝/צ֗וּר
tsûwr
H6697
rock
Conj | N-ms
יֶעְתַּ֥ק
ʻâthaq
H6275
to proceed
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
מִ/מְּקֹמֽ/וֹ
mâqôwm
H4725
place
Prep | N-ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 14:18
וְ֭/אוּלָם
ʼûwlâm
H199
"but"
Conj | Adv
This word is used to show contrast, like 'but' or 'however', and is often used to emphasize a point, as seen in its various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) but, but indeed (a strong adversative) 2) however, nevertheless
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: as for, but, howbeit, in very deed, surely, truly, wherefore. See also: Genesis 28:19; Job 2:5; Micah 3:8.
הַר
har
H2022
"mountain"
N-ms
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Definition: : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount
Usage: Occurs in 486 OT verses. KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. See also: Genesis 7:19; Deuteronomy 3:12; Judges 18:13.
נוֹפֵ֣ל
nâphal
H5307
"to fall"
V-Qal
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to fall, and it's used in many ways, like falling down, failing, or being defeated. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah. God's people often fell away from Him, but He always offered a way back.
Definition: : fall/drop/fail 1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fall 1a2) to fall (of violent death) 1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before 1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of 1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result 1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to 1a7) to lie, lie prostrate 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate 1b2) to overthrow 1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot 1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.) 1b5) to cause to fall 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon 1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself 1d) (Pilel) to fall
Usage: Occurs in 403 OT verses. KJV: be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for H6419 (פָּלַל)), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down. See also: Genesis 2:21; 1 Samuel 17:52; Esther 9:3.
יִבּ֑וֹל
nâbêl
H5034
"be senseless"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To wither means to lose strength or fade away, and can also describe someone acting foolishly or wickedly. It is used to convey a sense of decline or failure.
Definition: 1) to be senseless, be foolish 1a) (Qal) to be foolish 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to regard or treat as foolish 1b2) to treat with contempt
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: disgrace, dishounour, lightly esteem, fade (away, -ing), fall (down, -ling, off), do foolishly, come to nought, [idiom] surely, make vile, wither. See also: Exodus 18:18; Isaiah 28:1; Psalms 1:3.
וְ֝/צ֗וּר
tsûwr
H6697
"rock"
Conj | N-ms
A rock or boulder, often used to describe God as a refuge, like in Psalm 18:2.
Definition: 1) rock, cliff 1a) rocky wall, cliff 1b) rock (with flat surface) 1c) block of stone, boulder 1d) rock (specific) 1e) rock (of God) 1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei 1g) Rock Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: edge, [idiom] (mighty) God (one), rock, [idiom] sharp, stone, [idiom] strength, [idiom] strong. See also H1049 (בֵּית צוּר). See also: Exodus 17:6; Psalms 28:1; Psalms 18:3.
יֶעְתַּ֥ק
ʻâthaq
H6275
"to proceed"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to move or proceed, and can also mean to grow old or be removed. It appears in various forms, including to transcribe or copy out. In the Bible, it is used to describe advancing in years or moving forward in life.
Definition: 1) to move, proceed, advance, move on, become old, be removed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to move 1a2) to advance (in years), grow old and weak 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to move forward, proceed, move on 1b2) to remove 1b3) to transcribe
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: copy out, leave off, become (wax) old, remove. See also: Genesis 12:8; Job 18:4; Psalms 6:8.
מִ/מְּקֹמֽ/וֹ
mâqôwm
H4725
"place"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
Maqom means a place or location, like a city or a region. It can also refer to a condition of the body or mind. This term is used to describe a wide range of locations and situations.
Definition: 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of
Usage: Occurs in 379 OT verses. KJV: country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 1:9; Deuteronomy 12:3; 1 Kings 20:24.
Study Notes — Job 14:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 14:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 14:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 14:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 14:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 14:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 14:18
- Cambridge Bible on Job 14:18
- Barnes' Notes on Job 14:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 14:18
- Sermons on Job 14:18
Context — Job Laments the Finality of Death
16For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope. 20You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 6:14 | The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. |
| 2 | Job 18:4 | You who tear yourself in anger— should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place? |
| 3 | Jeremiah 4:24 | I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. |
| 4 | Isaiah 41:15–16 | Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. |
| 5 | Isaiah 54:10 | Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. |
| 6 | Psalms 102:25–26 | In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on. |
| 7 | Isaiah 40:12 | Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? |
| 8 | Matthew 27:51 | At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. |
| 9 | Revelation 20:11 | Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. |
| 10 | Revelation 8:8 | Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, |
Job 14:18 Summary
[This verse is saying that just like mountains can wear away and rocks can be moved, our hopes and dreams can also be worn away by the challenges of life. Job is using this metaphor to express his feelings of despair and hopelessness, but as Christians, we know that God is our rock and our refuge, as seen in Psalms 46:1-3. We can trust Him to be our strength and comfort, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart, just like it says in Deuteronomy 31:6 that God will never leave us or forsake us.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main idea of Job 14:18?
The main idea of Job 14:18 is that just like mountains and rocks can be eroded and dislodged, our hopes and foundations can also be worn away by the challenges of life, as seen in the Book of Job and also in Psalms 46:1-3 where God is our refuge in times of trouble.
Is Job saying that God is the one eroding the mountain and dislodging the rock?
While the verse does not explicitly state that God is the one causing the erosion, in the context of the Book of Job, it can be inferred that Job is using this metaphor to express his feelings of despair and hopelessness, similar to what is expressed in Lamentations 3:1-20 where the prophet feels God's discipline.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of Job's lament in Job 14, where he expresses his desire for God to count his steps and cover his sin, as mentioned in Job 14:16-17, and his feeling that God is overpowering him, as stated in Job 14:20.
What can we learn from this verse about God's character?
Although this verse does not directly describe God's character, it can be seen in the context of the whole Bible that God is a God of hope and comfort, as seen in Romans 15:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, and that He can bring comfort and strength in the midst of trials and challenges.
Reflection Questions
- What are some 'mountains' in my life that feel like they are eroding, and how can I trust God in those areas?
- How do I feel when my 'rock' of hope and security is dislodged, and what can I do to find stability in God?
- In what ways can I apply the metaphor of the eroding mountain to my own life and struggles, and how can I find comfort in God's presence?
- What are some ways that God has been my 'rock' in the past, and how can I trust Him to be my rock in the future?
Gill's Exposition on Job 14:18
And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought,.... Job here returns to his former subject of the irreparable state of man at death, which he illustrates by various other similes, as before; and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 14:18
And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. Cometh to nought - literally, fadeth; a poetical image from a leaf (Isaiah 34:4).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 14:18
As when a great mountain falls, either by an earthquake or inundation of waters, or from any other cause, it moulders away like a fading leaf, (as the Hebrew word signifies,) and never recovers its former height and stability; and as the rock, when by the violence of winds or earthquake, &c. it is removed out of its place, and thrown down, is never readvanced; and as the waters by continual droppings, or violent and frequent assaults, wear away, or break the stones to pieces, so as they can never be made whole again; and as thou washest away, to wit, by a great and violent inundation which thou sendest, the things which grow out of the dust of the earth, to wit, herbs, and fruits, and plants, which once washed away are irrecoverably lost, and, or so, (as this particle is oft used, i.e. in like manner, to wit, irrecoverably,) thou destroyest the hope of man; i.e. so when man dies, all hope of living again in this world is utterly lost: and this seems to be the plain meaning of these two verses. And as before he declared the hopelessness of man’ s restoration from death to this animal life, by way of opposition to such things as did rise in a manner from death to life, , &c.; so now he declares it by way of similitude or resemblance to such things, as being once lost and gone are past all hopes of recovery.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 14:18
Job 14:18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.Ver. 18. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought] q.d. If thou, Lord, proceed to deal thus rigidly with me, viz. to number or cipher up my steps, to watch over my sins, to seal them up in a bag, &c., and all this in fierce wrath, that thou mayest lay load upon me; what mountain, what rock, what other creature is ever able to abide it? Job had said before, "Is my strength the strength of stones?" Job 6:12; "Am I a sea, or a whale?" Job 7:12 : were I these, or any the like robust creatures, yet could not I expect to stand before the displeased Omnipotency, who taketh the hills like tennis balls, and cracketh the rocks like a nut shell. See Habakkuk 1:4-6. And the rock is removed out of his place] As in earthquakes it sometimes happens. See Job 19:5. Or by reason of the sea underlaking, it decayeth in time, and waxeth old, as the Hebrew word signifieth.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 14:18
Verse 18. The mountain falling cometh to naught] Every thing in nature is exposed to mutability and decay:-even mountains themselves may fall from their bases, and be dashed to pieces; or be suddenly swallowed up by an earthquake; and, by the same means, the strongest and most massive rocks may be removed.
Cambridge Bible on Job 14:18
16–22. This prayer for a second life is supported by a picture of the severity with which God deals with man in this life and the mournful consequences of it.
Barnes' Notes on Job 14:18
And surely the mountain falling - Margin, “Fadeth.” The sense of this is, that the hope of man in regard to living again, must certainly fail - as a mountain falls and does not rise again; as the
Whedon's Commentary on Job 14:18
18. And surely — But. He now proceeds to sum up. Cometh to nought — Decayeth. Literally, withereth like a leaf. A bold metaphor.
Sermons on Job 14:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Who Is Able to Stand? by Vernon Higham | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus Christ as God. He describes a vision from the book of Revelation where stars fall, the sky rolls up like |
|
Service and Servanthood of the Lord - Part 7 of 8 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the significance of the sharp threshing instrument in the ministry of Jesus. The instrument represents the dividing line between the false and |
|
Psalm 114 by Henry Law | Henry Law preaches on the greatness and glory of God as shown in His dealings with Israel, highlighting their deliverance from Egypt and consecration as a peculiar people, drawing |
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A Bar of Steel by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches on the transformative process of God's refining work in our lives, using the analogy of a bar of steel being shaped into valuable tools through intense d |
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The Last Revival by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having faith that drives out fear. He quotes Isaiah 54:4, which reassures believers that they will not be ashamed or repro |
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Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of pouring kindness and hope into the hearts of others. They explain that by sharing the truths of God with those around us, w |
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Staying Married Is Not About Staying in Love, Part 1 by John Piper | This sermon delves into the profound reality of marriage as a reflection of God's covenant with His people, emphasizing the divine origin and purpose of marriage. It highlights the |