Job’s question reminds us that in moments of profound despair, humanity often grasps for a divine promise of resurrection and renewal.
Job, an ancient figure believed by many to have lived around the same era as the patriarch Abraham (approximately 2000-1800 BC), wrestles with profound questions of mortality and divine justice. In the midst of his suffering, he contemplates the possibility of renewal beyond death when he says, “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes” (Job 14:14). Here, Job poses a question that echoes through humanity’s search for meaning: Is there life after our earthly existence? He then expresses a resolute patience, waiting for a “change” that points to a transformation he desperately hopes for, yet cannot fully see.
The sense of struggle (“All the days of my struggle”) underscores the burdens Job has endured. In the larger context of the Book of Job, he has lost his possessions, children, and health, and he is searching for hope amid devastating pain. This verse captures the yearning for a future release or resurrection, a theme that finds its fuller revelation in the New Testament when Jesus declares that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and when the Apostle Paul teaches that in Christ “all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Job’s words foreshadow an eternal promise that becomes clearer centuries later.
Moreover, the phrase “will he live again?” suggests a longing for a reality where suffering is lifted. Although Job lived in the land of Uz—likely situated east of the Jordan River—his cry captures a universal human need for assurance of a life beyond mortal struggles. His resolve to wait “until my change comes” can be understood as a patient hope in God’s ultimate mercy and redemption. Through trial and hardship, he clings to the possibility that God holds the power to transform anguish into renewal.
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Job 14:14 meaning
Job, an ancient figure believed by many to have lived around the same era as the patriarch Abraham (approximately 2000-1800 BC), wrestles with profound questions of mortality and divine justice. In the midst of his suffering, he contemplates the possibility of renewal beyond death when he says, “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes” (Job 14:14). Here, Job poses a question that echoes through humanity’s search for meaning: Is there life after our earthly existence? He then expresses a resolute patience, waiting for a “change” that points to a transformation he desperately hopes for, yet cannot fully see.
The sense of struggle (“All the days of my struggle”) underscores the burdens Job has endured. In the larger context of the Book of Job, he has lost his possessions, children, and health, and he is searching for hope amid devastating pain. This verse captures the yearning for a future release or resurrection, a theme that finds its fuller revelation in the New Testament when Jesus declares that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) and when the Apostle Paul teaches that in Christ “all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Job’s words foreshadow an eternal promise that becomes clearer centuries later.
Moreover, the phrase “will he live again?” suggests a longing for a reality where suffering is lifted. Although Job lived in the land of Uz—likely situated east of the Jordan River—his cry captures a universal human need for assurance of a life beyond mortal struggles. His resolve to wait “until my change comes” can be understood as a patient hope in God’s ultimate mercy and redemption. Through trial and hardship, he clings to the possibility that God holds the power to transform anguish into renewal.