Job 14:8
in Job 14If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;
KJV
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
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This verse in Job 14
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Though the root thereof wax old - Though life becomes almost extinct. The idea is, though the root of the tree be very old, yet it does not become wholly lifeless. It is not like an old man, when life goes out altogether. In the very aged root there will be vitality still; but not so in man. Though the stock thereof - The stump - literally that which is cut off - גזעוּ geza‛ô.
This site's exposition
there is hope for a tree
on Job 14:7-9
The words "there is hope for a tree" open the chapter's central contrast, a felled tree that buds again "at the scent of water". The line "its tender shoots will not fail" names a persistence in a plant the chapter is about to deny a man.
This site's exposition
its stump dies in the soil
Barnes notes that even a very old root keeps some life in it. Job sets the tree beside man in verses 7 to 10. The stump that seems dead in the ground still holds hope, while a man breathes his last and is gone.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
After stating his opinion, Job here proceeds to make it clear. First, he shows that as things appear in this life man is in a worse condition than even those weak creatures which are renewed after their destruction. This fact is especially clear in trees. …
Ver. 8, 9. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the dust; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth leaves as when it was first planted. What is 'the root' of the righteous, but holy preaching, since it is that he springs out of, and that he holds on in? and what is meant by the name of 'the earth' or of 'dust,' but the sinner? to whom it is said by the voice of the Creator, Earth thou art, and unto earth shalt thou return.
Ver. 7-10. For there is a hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will be green again; and that the tender branches thereof will sprout forth. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth foliage as when it was planted. But man, when he is dead, and stripped, and consumed, where is he?
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The animal life, in some insects and fowls, is so: the heat of the sun retrieves it. But the rational soul, when once retired, is too great, too noble, a thing to be recalled by any of the powers of nature; it is out of the reach of sun or rain, and cannot be restored but by the immediate operations of Omnipotence itself; for (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth,....
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִם־ | ʾim- | though | H518 → | 1069 times |
| יַזְקִ֣ין | yazkin | it will grow old | H2204 → | |
| בָּאָ֣רֶץ | baaretz | in the ground | H776 → | 2504 times |
| שָׁרְשׁ֑וֹ | sharesho | root its | H8328 → | 33 times |
| וּ֝בֶעָפָ֗ר | uveafar | and in the dust | H6083 → | 110 times |
| יָמ֥וּת | yamut | it will die | H4191 → | 839 times |
| גִּזְעֽוֹ׃ | gizo | stump its | H1503 → |
אִם־though
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
יַזְקִ֣יןit will grow old
yazkinH2204 →
בָּאָ֣רֶץin the ground
baaretzH776 →2504 times
שָׁרְשׁ֑וֹroot its
shareshoH8328 →33 times
וּ֝בֶעָפָ֗רand in the dust
uveafarH6083 →110 times
יָמ֥וּתit will die
yamutH4191 →839 times
גִּזְעֽוֹ׃stump its
gizoH1503 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 12:24Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 15:36–38
You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
- Isaiah 53:10–12
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,…
- Hebrews 2:9–10
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death…
- John 12:32–33
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:36–38
Through
Isaiah 26:19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her…
it leads to
- Daniel 12:2
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Ezekiel 37:1–14
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.
- Matthew 27:52
The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
- Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Daniel 12:2
About Job
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XII; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.