Job 14 · Verse 16

Job 14:16

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
Job 14:16, King James Version

Job 14:16 in other translations

BSBFor then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
WEBBut now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
ASVBut now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?
YLTBut now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
DARBYFor now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
BBEFor now my steps are numbered by you, and my sin is not overlooked.
WebsterFor now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

What does Job 14:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. Rather, "Yea, thou wilt number my steps, and wilt not (as now) jealously watch over my sin." Thenceforward, instead of severe watching for every sin of Job, God will guard him against every sin. number ... steps--that is, minutely attend to them, that they may not wander [Umbreit] (1Sa 2:9; Psa 37:23).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 For now thou numberest my steps - כי עתה ki attah, Although thou, etc. Though thou, by thy conduct towards me, seemest bent on my utter destruction, yet thou delightest in mercy, and I shall be saved.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 14:16-22
Job's faith and hope spake, and grace appeared to revive; but depravity again prevailed. He represents God as carrying matters to extremity against him. The Lord must prevail against all who contend with him. God may send disease and pain, we may lose all comfort in those near and dear to us, every hope of earthly happiness may be destroyed, but God will receive the believer into realms of eternal happiness. But what a change awaits the prosperous unbeliever! How will he answer when God shall call him to his tribunal? The Lord is yet upon a mercy-seat, ready to be gracious. Oh that sinners would be wise, that they would consider their latter end! While man's flesh is upon him, that is, the body he is so loth to lay down, it shall have pain; and while his soul is within him, that is, the spirit he is so loth to resign, it shall mourn. Dying work is hard work; dying pangs often are sore pangs. It is folly for men to defer repentance to a death-bed, and to have that to do which is the one thing needful, when unfit to do anything.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 14:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
עַ֭תָּה'A.tahnowH6258
צְעָדַ֣יtze.'a.Daisteps myH6806
תִּסְפּ֑וֹרtis.Poryou will countH5608
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
תִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹרtish.Moryou will watchH8104
עַל\־'al-overH5921
חַטָּאתִֽי\׃cha.ta.Tisin myH2403

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 14:16

  • Job 10:6

    That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?

  • Job 31:4

    Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

  • Psalms 139:1-4

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

  • Job 34:21

    For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

  • Proverbs 5:21

    For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

  • Jeremiah 32:19

    Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

  • Job 33:11

    He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

  • Job 13:27

    Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

  • Psalms 56:6

    They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

  • Job 10:14

    If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thou numberest.
10:6,14; 13:27; 31:4; 33:11; 34:21; Ps 56:6; 139:1-4; Pr 5:21
Jer 32:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 14:15

    Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

  • Job 14:16

    For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

  • Job 14:17

    My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

Read all of Job 14

Job 14:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues ahora me cuentas los pasos, y no das tregua á mi pecado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car maintenant tu comptes mes pas: ne veilles-tu pas sur mon péché?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn nun zählst du meine Schritte; wachst du nicht über meine Sünde?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tu quidem gressus meos dinumerasti: sed parce peccatis meis.