Job 14:7 (KJV)

What does Job 14:7 mean?

Job 14:7 says that even if a tree is cut down, there is still hope that it will grow back and send out new shoots. The verse uses the image of a tree’s resilience to express the idea that life can return even after apparent destruction.

In this part of the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends while reflecting on human suffering and the limits of human life. He uses the example of a tree to contrast with the finality he feels about death, suggesting that nature sometimes gets a second chance, while he feels people do not. The verse sets up a comparison between the hope found in nature and the despair Job feels about his own situation.

The Hebrew behind Job 14:7

• "hope" (תִּקְוָה, tiqvah) means expectation or something to look forward to. Job uses this word to highlight the possibility of renewal for the tree, which he feels is missing for people.
• "tree" (עֵץ, ‘ets) is the ordinary word for a tree, used here as a symbol of something living that can recover after being cut down.
• "down" (כָּרַת, karath) means to cut off or cut down, emphasizing the severity of the tree’s situation—yet even then, hope remains.
• "again" (חָלַף, chalaph) carries the sense of renewal or sprouting again, pointing to the tree’s ability to recover after being cut.
• "branch" (יֹנֶקֶת, yoneqet) refers to a tender shoot or new growth, showing that even after loss, new life can emerge.
• "cease" (חָדַל, chadal) means to stop or come to an end, stressing that the tree’s ability to put out new shoots does not end even after being cut down.

Why Job 14:7 matters

• Job 14:7 clarifies that Job is not just talking about trees, but using them as a picture to highlight the difference between the natural world’s cycles of renewal and what he sees as the finality of human death.
• The verse draws attention to Job’s deep sense of hopelessness about his own situation, making his later longing for hope and restoration even more striking.
• Understanding the imagery helps readers see how Job is wrestling with big questions about suffering, loss, and whether there is any hope after disaster.