Job 14:18

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,

American Standard Version (1901)

But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place;

Bible in Basic English

But truly a mountain falling comes to dust, and a rock is moved from its place;

Free Bible Version

But just as the mountains crumble and fall, and the rocks tumble down;

King James (Authorized) Version

And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

Translation for Translators

“But, just like mountains crumble and rocks fall down from a cliff,

Unlocked Literal Bible

But even mountains fall and come to nothing; even rocks are moved out of their place;

Noah Webster Bible

And surely the mountain falling cometh to naught, and the rock is removed out of its place.

World English Bible

“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place.

Young's Literal Translation

And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.

Context

Job Laments the Finality of Death

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.

Summary

In this verse, Job expresses the reality of the brevity of human life and the transient nature of our earthly existence. He acknowledges that even the strongest structures eventually crumble and disappear, emphasizing the inevitability of death and decay. Job's reflection serves as a reminder of the temporary nature of our lives and the importance of seeking God's eternal purposes amidst the fleeting moments we have on earth. It prompts us to consider the legacy we leave behind and the significance of investing in things of lasting value beyond this temporal world.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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.