Job 14:21

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

American Standard Version (1901)

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Bible in Basic English

His sons come to honour, and he has no knowledge of it; they are made low, but he is not conscious of it.

Free Bible Version

Their children may become important or fall from their positions, but they don't know or see any of this.

King James (Authorized) Version

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Translation for Translators

When we die we do not know if our sons will grow up and do things that will cause them to be honored. And if they become disgraced, we do not see that, either.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If his sons are honored, he does not know it; and if they are brought low, he does not see it.

Noah Webster Bible

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

World English Bible

His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

Young's Literal Translation

Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

Context

Job Laments the Finality of Death

²⁰You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away. ²¹If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware. ²²He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”

Summary

This verse from the book of Job reflects the deep sense of hopelessness and despair that Job is experiencing. Job acknowledges that his days are numbered and that he cannot escape the reality of death. It highlights the inevitability of death for all humanity, emphasizing the transient nature of life on earth. Job's words serve as a reminder of the fragility of human life and the need for a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty and purpose in the midst of suffering.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

His sons come to honor - When dead, he is equally indifferent and unconscious whether his children have met with a splendid or oppressive lot in life; for as to this world, when man dies, in that day all his thoughts perish.

John Gill Bible Commentary

His sons come to honour,.... Or "are multiplied" (s), see Nah 3:15; their families increase like a flock, become very numerous, which was reckoned a great blessing; or "become heavy" (t); being loaded with gold and silver, with riches and honour, raised to great grandeur and dignity, and possessed of much wealth and large estates: and he knoweth it not; the man whose countenance is changed and sent away into another world; for the dead know nothing of the affairs of this life; a good man indeed after death knows more of God and Christ, of the doctrines of grace, and mysteries of Providence; but he knows nothing of the affairs of his family he has left behind: some understand this of a man on his death bed while alive, who, when he is told of the promotion of his sons to honour, or of the increase of their worldly substance, takes no notice of it; either being deprived of his senses by the disease upon him; or through the greatness of his pains and agonies, or the intenseness of his thoughts about a future state, does not notice what is told him, nor rejoice at it; which in the time of health would have been pleasing to him: but the first sense seems best: and they are brought low, that is, his sons; or "are diminished" (u); lessened in their numbers, one taken off after another, and so his family decreases; or they come into low circumstances of life, are reduced in the world, and brought to straits and difficulties, to want and poverty: but he perceiveth it not of them; he is not sensible of their troubles, and so not grieved at them; see Isa 63:16; or when he is told of them on his death bed, he does not take notice of them, or regard them, having enough to grapple with himself, and his mind intent on his everlasting state, or carried above them in the views of the love, grace, and covenant of God; see Sa2 23:5. (s) , Sept. "multiplicabuntur", Vatablus, Bolducius. (t) "Multi vel graves sunt", Drusius; "graves erunt et onusti", Mercerus. (u) , Sept. "minuuntur, numero pauci sunt", Drusius.

Job 14:21

Job Laments the Finality of Death

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.

American Standard Version (1901)

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Bible in Basic English

His sons come to honour, and he has no knowledge of it; they are made low, but he is not conscious of it.

Free Bible Version

Their children may become important or fall from their positions, but they don't know or see any of this.

King James (Authorized) Version

His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

Translation for Translators

When we die we do not know if our sons will grow up and do things that will cause them to be honored. And if they become disgraced, we do not see that, either.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If his sons are honored, he does not know it; and if they are brought low, he does not see it.

Noah Webster Bible

His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.

World English Bible

His sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

Young's Literal Translation

Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 14:21

Verse

Context

Job Laments the Finality of Death

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Job 14:21

Job Laments the Finality of Death

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary