Job 14:2 Meaning and Explanation
“He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Two images for the fleeting life: a flower swiftly cut down, and a shadow that slips away and does not stay.
What Does Job 14:2 Mean?
Job continues his portrait of mortal frailty, reaching for pictures drawn from the world around him. The flower and the shadow were familiar to ancient eyes; both are beautiful and both are gone almost before they are noticed. This same comparison runs through the Psalms and is taken up again in the New Testament.
There is sorrow here, but also a quiet wisdom. To know that we flee like a shadow is to learn to hold this life with open hands and to seek what does not fade. The One who numbers our days can also give them weight and meaning, planting in passing lives a hope that, in Christ, will outlast every withering flower.
Job 14:2 in the Original Language
tsel (צֵל), 'shadow' -- a shade that lengthens and vanishes, a frequent biblical image for the brevity of life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 14:2
What does Job 14:2 mean?
Two images for the fleeting life: a flower swiftly cut down, and a shadow that slips away and does not stay.