Job 14:9 kjv
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
Job 14:9 nkjv
Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant.
Job 14:9 niv
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.
Job 14:9 esv
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
Job 14:9 nlt
at the scent of water it will bud
and sprout again like a new seedling.
Job 14 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water... yields its fruit... its leaf does not wither. | Prosperity for the righteous from water. |
| Isa 44:4 | They will spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. | Rapid growth and blessing. |
| Isa 58:11 | ...the LORD will guide you continually... make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden... | Spiritual refreshment and vitality. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... He is like a tree planted by water... will not fear... | Trust in God leads to life and steadfastness. |
| Eze 36:30 | And I will multiply the fruit of the tree... | God's blessing bringing fruitfulness. |
| Joel 2:23 | ...rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains... and sent down... rain for you. | Divine provision bringing renewal. |
| Hos 14:5-7 | I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall blossom like the lily... take root like the cedars... | God's healing bringing growth. |
| Jn 4:10 | ...If you knew the gift of God... He would have given you living water. | Jesus as the source of eternal life. |
| Jn 7:38-39 | Whoever believes in Me... streams of living water will flow from within him. This He spoke concerning the Spirit. | The Spirit as the living water. |
| Rev 22:1 | Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life... | God's presence as the source of life. |
| Eze 47:12 | ...along both banks of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food... their fruit will be for food... | Life and sustenance from the river of God. |
| 1 Cor 15:20-22 | But now Christ has been raised from the dead... as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. | Christ's resurrection promises life. |
| Jn 11:25-26 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live..." | Jesus as the source of overcoming death. |
| Rom 6:4 | We were buried with Him... that just as Christ was raised... so we too might walk in newness of life. | Resurrection to new spiritual life. |
| Psa 104:13 | He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works. | God as the sustainer of creation. |
| Job 14:10-12 | But man dies and is laid low... he lies down and does not rise again... | Immediate contrast with human mortality. |
| Heb 9:27 | ...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Finality of physical death for man. |
| Ecc 3:19-20 | For what happens to the children of man... a man has no advantage over the beasts... all are from dust... | All return to dust, shared mortality. |
| Psa 36:8-9 | They feast on the abundance of Your house... For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. | God as the ultimate fountain of life. |
| Lam 3:21-23 | But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases... | Hope despite desolation. |
| Rev 21:6 | And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega... I will grant to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life..." | God is the ultimate source of all life. |
Job 14 verses
Job 14 9 Meaning
This verse highlights the remarkable resilience of a seemingly dead tree stump. Even from just the mere detection or "scent" of water, it can miraculously spring back to life, sprouting new branches and flourishing as if it were a newly planted sapling. This vivid imagery is used by Job to contrast the enduring hope of nature's renewal with the apparent finality of human death in his lament.
Job 14 9 Context
Job 14 forms part of Job’s second speech to his friends, a lament on the brevity and frailty of human life. In verses 7-9, Job points to the hope that a cut tree possesses: even when it seems dead, with the availability of water, it can revive and put forth new shoots. This observable phenomenon in the natural world contrasts sharply with Job's perceived fate for humanity. He laments in the subsequent verses (14:10-12) that man, once dead, does not experience such a return, but "lies down and does not rise again." The verse therefore serves as a poignant setup for Job’s desperate yearning for a hope of renewal, which he struggles to find for humanity in contrast to nature. The historical and cultural context underscores the importance of water in an arid ancient Near Eastern land, where the survival of vegetation was entirely dependent on this vital resource. The ability of a dried-up tree stump to bud again was a powerful testament to the latent life within creation when nurtured.
Job 14 9 Word analysis
- Yet: Introduces a contrast. Despite the tree being cut down (v. 7), there's still a possibility.
- through the scent: Hebrew: mērēyaḥ (מֵרֵיחַ). Derived from ruaḥ (רוּחַ), meaning "spirit, breath, wind, smell." This highlights not necessarily an abundance or direct immersion, but a mere perception or detection of water. It implies an inherent life-force within the tree, so sensitive to moisture that even its smell can initiate growth. This conveys the power of the smallest life-giving impulse.
- of water: Hebrew: mayim (מַיִם). Essential for life in the ancient world, frequently used symbolically in the Bible to represent life, sustenance, purification, and spiritual blessing (e.g., "living water"). Here, it is the direct agent of renewal.
- it will bud: Hebrew: yafrîaḥ (יַפְרִיחַ). From the root pāraḥ (פָּרַח), meaning to bloom, blossom, sprout, or spring forth. Denotes fresh, new growth, a sign of renewed vitality and life.
- and bring forth boughs: Hebrew: v'āśāh 'ānāf (וְעָשָׂה עָנָף). Literally, "and it will make a branch." This phrase indicates substantial new growth, moving beyond mere budding to full-fledged branching, demonstrating complete restoration.
- like a new plant: Hebrew: k’nāṭaʿ ḥādāš (כְּנָטַע חָדָשׁ). This simile emphasizes the vigor and freshness of the new growth. It's not just a weak sprout, but a robust renewal, as if the tree were young and vibrant again, newly planted with its full potential ahead.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Yet through the scent of water": This phrase underlines the extraordinary responsiveness of life. It implies that only a subtle, indirect connection to the life-giving element is needed to spark significant revival. This suggests an deep, intrinsic will to live and flourish embedded in nature.
- "it will bud and bring forth boughs": This signifies a progressive and substantial renewal. From an initial small bud, the life force strengthens and manifests in extensive branching, showcasing a comprehensive recovery from a seemingly terminal state.
- "like a new plant": This comparison provides the pinnacle of the restoration. The regenerated tree is not just surviving but thriving, possessing the full vibrancy and potential of something young and freshly rooted, rather than being a mere shadow of its former self.
Job 14 9 Bonus section
- The rhetorical function of Job's observation about the tree is to deepen the pathos of his argument. He presents the tree's hopeful scenario only to contrast it with humanity's perceived lack of such a promise (Job 14:10-12), amplifying his despair.
- The sensitivity to "scent" (reiyach) implies that the tree possesses an innate awareness and response to the conditions necessary for its survival and flourishing. This is more than just passive absorption; it speaks to an active, deep-seated drive towards life.
- This verse can be seen as a faint glimmer of the universal yearning for resurrection and renewal, even if Job himself hasn't yet grasped the full biblical truth of God's plan for humanity's future resurrection. It establishes a divine pattern of restoration in creation that God would ultimately fulfill in Christ.
Job 14 9 Commentary
Job 14:9 is a striking natural analogy within Job’s discourse, illustrating the inherent hope for regeneration embedded in the created order. For Job, a cut tree holds an undeniable promise: despite being felled or appearing lifeless as a stump, its deep root system, when it senses water, reactivates to bring forth abundant, fresh growth. This isn't mere survival; it's a renewal so complete it's "like a new plant."
However, Job does not share this hope for himself or for humanity. He observes this miraculous cyclical renewal in nature only to tragically lament that man does not share in it. This verse serves as the bitter irony to his plea in verses 10-12, highlighting the perceived inequity between natural cycles and human destiny. The "scent of water" metaphorically represents a catalyst for life, whether literal sustenance, the breath of God's spirit, or the hope of a resurrection that Job desperately searches for, but seems unable to grasp for humankind. This imagery underscores humanity's profound need for a source of life that can overcome the finality of physical death.