Job 14:6 (KJV)

What does Job 14:6 mean?

Job 14:6 is Job’s plea to God to leave a person alone so they can have a break from suffering, like a hired worker who is allowed to finish out his day in peace. Job is asking for relief from constant hardship, hoping for a little rest before life’s end.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly to God in the middle of his suffering, using the image of a "hireling"—a day laborer—to describe the human condition. Job’s words reflect his feeling that life is full of toil and trouble, and he longs for God to turn away His intense attention so that a person can have some rest, just as a worker is allowed to complete his shift without further burden.

The Hebrew behind Job 14:6

• "Turn" (שָׁעָה, sha‘ah): This word often means to turn away or look away. Job is asking God to stop focusing on him so intently, which he feels is causing his suffering.
• "Rest" (חָדַל, chadal): This word means to cease or stop. Job is longing for a pause from his troubles, not just physical rest but a break from hardship.
• "Accomplish" (רָצָה, ratsah): This word can mean to finish or complete something with satisfaction. Job wants to be able to finish his allotted time, like a worker who completes his day’s work.
• "Hireling" (שָׂכִיר, sakhir): This refers to a day laborer, someone who works for wages and expects to be left alone to do his job until the end of the day.
• "Day" (יוֹם, yom): This simply means a day, but in context, it refers to the span of a person’s life or their time of labor.

Why Job 14:6 matters

• Job 14:6 helps clear up the idea that Job is blaming God unfairly; instead, Job is expressing a deeply human longing for relief in the face of relentless suffering.
• The verse emphasizes the image of life as hard labor, showing how Job sees human existence as a struggle where even a small break is precious.
• This plea fits into the larger conversation in Job, where Job wrestles honestly with God about suffering, justice, and the limits of human endurance.