Job 7:1
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
Job 7:1 in other translations
| BSB | “Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand? |
|---|---|
| WEB | “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand? |
| ASV | Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling? |
| YLT | Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days? |
| DARBY | Hath not man a life of labour upon earth? and are not his days like the days of a hireling? |
| BBE | Has not man his ordered time of trouble on the earth? and are not his days like the days of a servant working for payment? |
| Webster | Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling? |
What does Job 7:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Job 7:1-21. Job Excuses His Desire for Death.
1. appointed time--better, "a warfare," hard conflict with evil (so in Is 40:2; Da 10:1). Translate it "appointed time" (Job 14:14). Job reverts to the sad picture of man, however great, which he had drawn (Job 3:14), and details in this chapter the miseries which his friends will see, if, according to his request (Job 6:28), they will look on him. Even the Christian soldier, "warring a good warfare," rejoices when it is completed (1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:3; 4:7, 8).Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Job continues to deplore his helpless and afflicted state, Job 7:1-6. He expostulates with God concerning his afflictions, Job 7:7-12; describes the disturbed state of his mind by visions in the night season; abhors life, Job 7:13-16; and, showing that he is unworthy of the notice of God, begs pardon and respite, Job 7:17-21. Verse 1 Is there not an appointed time to man - The Hebrew, with its literal rendering, is as follows: הלא צבא לאנוש עלי ארץ halo tsaba leenosh aley arets, "Is there not a warfare to miserable man upon the earth?" And thus most of the versions have understood the words. The Septuagint: Ποτερον ουχι πειρατηριον εστι ὁ βιος ανθρωπου επι της γης; "Is not the life of man a place of trial upon earth?" The Vulgate: Militia est vita hominis super terram, "The life of man is a warfare upon earth?" The Chaldee is the same. N'y a-t-il pas comme un train de guerre ordonne aux mortels sur la terre? "Is there not a continual campaign ordained for mortals upon the earth?" French Bible. The German and Dutch the same. Coverdale: Is not the life off man upon earth a very batayle? Carmarden, Rouen, 1566: Hath man any certayne tyme upon earth? Syriac and Arabic: "Now, man has time upon the earth." Non e egli il tempo determinato a l'huomo sopra la terra?" "Is there not a determined time to man upon the earth?" Bib. Ital., 1562. All these are nearer to the true sense than ours; and of a bad translation, worse use has been made by many theologians. I believe the simple sentiment which the writer wished to convey is this: Human life is a state of probation; and every day and place is a time and place of exercise, to train us up for eternal life. Here is the exercise, and here the warfare: we are enlisted in the bands of the Church militant, and must accomplish our time of service, and be honorably dismissed from the warfare, having conquered through the blood of the Lamb; and then receive the reward of the heavenly inheritance.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 7:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Job 7:1 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Job 7:1
- Job 14:5-6
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
- Psalms 39:4
Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
- Job 5:7
Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
- Job 14:13-14
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
- Leviticus 25:50
And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.
- Deuteronomy 15:18
It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.
- Ecclesiastes 8:8
There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
- Matthew 20:1-15
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. …
- Isaiah 40:2
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
- John 11:9-10
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
- Isaiah 21:16
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
- Isaiah 38:5
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12 He complains of his own restlessness, and expostulates with God.
Is there.
14:5,13,14; Ps 39:4; Isa 38:5; Joh 11:9,10
an appointed time. or, a warfare.
Ec 8:8
like the days.
14:6; Le 25:50; De 15:18; Isa 21:16; Mt 20:1-15
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Job 7:1
Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
- Job 7:2
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
Job 7:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | CIERTAMENTE tiempo limitado tiene el hombre sobre la tierra, y sus días son como los días del jornalero. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | L’homme n’a-t-il pas une vie de labeur sur la terre? Et ses jours ne sont-ils pas comme les jours d’un mercenaire? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Hat der Mensch nicht einen harten Dienst auf Erden, und sind seine Tage nicht wie die Tage eines Tagelöhners? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Militia est vita hominis super terram, et sicut dies mercenarii dies ejus. |