Job 14 · Verse 7

Job 14:7

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Job 14:7, King James Version

Job 14:7 in other translations

BSBFor there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
WEB“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
ASVFor there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
YLTFor there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
DARBYFor there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
BBEFor there is hope of a tree; if it is cut down, it will come to life again, and its branches will not come to an end.
WebsterFor there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease.

What does Job 14:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. Man may the more claim a peaceful life, since, when separated from it by death, he never returns to it. This does not deny a future life, but a return to the present condition of life. Job plainly hopes for a future state (Job 14:13; Job 7:2). Still, it is but vague and trembling hope, not assurance; excepting the one bright glimpse in Job 19:25. The Gospel revelation was needed to change fears, hopes, and glimpses into clear and definite certainties.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 For there is hope of a tree - We must not, says Calmet, understand this of an old tree, the stem and roots of which are dried up and rotted: but there are some trees which grow from cuttings, and some which, though pulled out of the earth, and having had their roots dried and withered by long exposure to the sun and wind, will, on being replanted, take root and resume their verdure. There are also certain trees, the fibres of which are so solid, that if after several years they be steeped in water, they resume their vigor, the tubes dilate, and the blossoms or flowers which were attached to them expand; as I have often witnessed in what is called the rose of Jericho. There are few trees which will not send forth new shoots, when the stock is cut down level with the earth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 14:7-15
Though a tree is cut down, yet, in a moist situation, shoots come forth, and grow up as a newly planted tree. But when man is cut off by death, he is for ever removed from his place in this world. The life of man may fitly be compared to the waters of a land flood, which spread far, but soon dry up. All Job's expressions here show his belief in the great doctrine of the resurrection. Job's friends proving miserable comforters, he pleases himself with the expectation of a change. If our sins are forgiven, and our hearts renewed to holiness, heaven will be the rest of our souls, while our bodies are hidden in the grave from the malice of our enemies, feeling no more pain from our corruptions, or our corrections.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 14:7 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.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
יֵ֥שׁyeshthereH3426
לָעֵ֗ץla.'Etzfor <the> a treeH6086
תִּ֫קְוָ֥הtik.Vah[is] hopeH8615
אִֽם\־'im-ifH518
יִ֭כָּרֵתYi.ka.retit will be cut downH3772
וְע֣וֹדve.'odand againH5750
יַחֲלִ֑יףya.cha.Lifit will sprout afreshH2498
וְ֝יֹֽנַקְתּ֗וֹve.yo.nak.Toand young shoot[s] itsH3127
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
תֶחְדָּֽל\׃tech.Dalit will failH2308

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

Cross references for Job 14:7

  • Isaiah 27:6

    He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.

  • Isaiah 11:1

    And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

  • Job 14:14

    If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

  • Daniel 4:23-25

    And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

  • Job 19:10

    He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

  • Daniel 4:15

    Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that it will sprout.
14; 19:10; Isa 11:1; 27:6; Da 4:15,23-25

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

Context

  • Job 14:6

    Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.

  • Job 14:7

    For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

  • Job 14:8

    Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

Read all of Job 14

Job 14:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque si el árbol fuere cortado, aun queda de él esperanza; retoñecerá aún, y sus renuevos no faltarán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car il y a de l’espoir pour un arbre: s’il est coupé, il repoussera encore, et ses rejetons ne cesseront pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn für den Baum gibt es Hoffnung: wird er abgehauen, so schlägt er wieder aus, und seine Schößlinge hören nicht auf.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Lignum habet spem: si præcisum fuerit, rursum virescit, et rami ejus pullulant.