Job 14:7-9

The Inevitability of Death

14:7 “But there is hope for ¹  a tree: ² 

If it is cut down, it will sprout again,

and its new shoots will not fail.

14:8 Although its roots may grow old ³  in the ground

and its stump begins to die ⁴  in the soil, ⁵ 

14:9 at the scent ⁶  of water it will flourish ⁷ 

and put forth ⁸  shoots like a new plant.

[14:7]  ¹ tn The genitive after the construct is one of advantage – it is hope for the tree.

[14:7]  ² sn The figure now changes to a tree for the discussion of the finality of death. At least the tree will sprout again when it is cut down. Why, Job wonders, should what has been granted to the tree not also be granted to humans?

[14:8]  ³ tn The Hiphil of זָקַן (zaqan, “to be old”) is here an internal causative, “to grow old.”

[14:8]  ⁴ tn The Hiphil is here classified as an inchoative Hiphil (see GKC 145 §53.e), for the tree only begins to die. In other words, it appears to be dead, but actually is not completely dead.

[14:8]  ⁵ tn The LXX translates “dust” [soil] with “rock,” probably in light of the earlier illustration of the tree growing in the rocks.

[14:9]  ⁶ tn The personification adds to the comparison with people – the tree is credited with the sense of smell to detect the water.

[14:9]  ⁷ tn The sense of “flourish” for this verb is found in Ps 92:12,13[13,14], and Prov 14:11. It makes an appropriate parallel with “bring forth boughs” in the second half.

[14:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “and will make.”