Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy a person’s hope. New Living Translation as water wears away the stones and floods wash away the soil, so you destroy people’s hope. English Standard Version the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man. Berean Standard Bible as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope. King James Bible The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. New King James Version As water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So You destroy the hope of man. New American Standard Bible Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy a man’s hope. NASB 1995 Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy man’s hope. NASB 1977 Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So Thou dost destroy man’s hope. Legacy Standard Bible Water wears away stones; Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You make man’s hope perish. Amplified Bible Water wears away the stones, Its floods and torrents wash away the soil of the earth, So You [O Lord] destroy the hope of man. Christian Standard Bible as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so you destroy a man’s hope. Holman Christian Standard Bible as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil from the land, so You destroy a man’s hope. American Standard Version The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man. Contemporary English Version streams wear away stones and wash away soil. And you destroy our hopes! English Revised Version The waters wear the stones; the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man. GOD'S WORD® Translation [so] water wears away stone, floods wash away soil from the land, and you destroy a mortal's hope. Good News Translation Water will wear down rocks, and heavy rain will wash away the soil; so you destroy our hope for life. International Standard Version Water wears away stones; floods wash away topsoil from the land— but you destroy the hope of human beings just like that! Majority Standard Bible as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man?s hope. NET Bible as water wears away stones, and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man's hope. New Heart English Bible The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man. Webster's Bible Translation The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. World English Bible The waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWaters have worn away stones, "" Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, "" And You have destroyed the hope of man. Young's Literal Translation Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed. Smith's Literal Translation The waters rubbed the stones: thou wilt overflow the flowings of the dust of the earth; and thou didst destroy the hope of man. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWaters wear away the stones, and with inundation the ground by little and little is washed away: so in like manner thou shalt destroy man. Catholic Public Domain Version Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man. New American Bible And water wears away stone, and floods wash away the soil of the land— so you destroy the hope of mortals! New Revised Standard Version the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of mortals. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe waters wear away the stones and wash away the soil of the earth; so thou destroyest the hope of man. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The waters wear away stone or a clod of the dust of the Earth. You have destroyed the hope of man OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; So Thou destroyest the hope of man. Brenton Septuagint Translation The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong overflow a heap of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job Laments the Finality of Death…18But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place, 19as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope. 20You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.… Cross References Psalm 39:11 You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah Isaiah 40:7-8 The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” James 4:14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Psalm 90:5-6 You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning— / in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. / For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. / So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Isaiah 64:6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ... 1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, Psalm 103:15-16 As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more. Ecclesiastes 1:4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 2 Peter 3:10-12 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. / Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness / as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail. Hebrews 1:10-12 And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. / You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.” Psalm 102:25-27 In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them, and they will be passed on. / But You remain the same, and Your years will never end. 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away. Treasury of Scripture The waters wear the stones: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man. washest. Genesis 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. Genesis 7:21-23 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: … destroyest Job 19:10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. Job 27:8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Psalm 30:6,7 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved… Jump to Previous Crushed Destroy Destroyed Destroyest Dust Earth End Floods Force Grow Hope Overflowing Overflowings Small Soil Stones Thereof Torrents Wash Washed Washest Water Waters Wear Wears WornJump to Next Crushed Destroy Destroyed Destroyest Dust Earth End Floods Force Grow Hope Overflowing Overflowings Small Soil Stones Thereof Torrents Wash Washed Washest Water Waters Wear Wears WornJob 14 1. Job entreats God for favor, by the shortness of life, and certainty of death7. He waits for his change 16. By sin the creature is subject to corruption as water wears away the stones This phrase illustrates the gradual and persistent nature of erosion, a natural process well understood in the ancient Near East. The imagery of water wearing away stones is a powerful metaphor for the relentless passage of time and the inevitability of change. In biblical context, stones often symbolize strength and permanence, yet even they are subject to the forces of nature. This can be seen as a reflection of human life, which, despite its perceived strength, is ultimately fragile and transient. The imagery is reminiscent of other biblical passages that speak to the power of water, such as in Isaiah 40:7-8, where the frailty of human life is compared to grass that withers. and torrents wash away the soil so You destroy a man’s hope Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. He is the speaker in this verse, expressing his lament and struggle to understand God's ways. 2. God The omnipotent Creator, whom Job addresses in his lament. Job is wrestling with understanding God's role in human suffering and the apparent destruction of hope. 3. Nature The imagery of water, stones, and torrents is used to illustrate the relentless and erosive power of natural forces, symbolizing the gradual wearing away of hope. 4. Suffering The broader context of Job's trials, which include loss of family, health, and wealth, serving as the backdrop for his reflections on the fragility of human hope. 5. Hope A central theme in this verse, representing the human desire for a future and the struggle to maintain it in the face of adversity. Teaching Points The Erosion of HopeJust as natural forces can wear down the strongest stones, life's trials can erode our hope if we are not anchored in faith. God's Sovereignty in Suffering Job's lament acknowledges God's control over life's circumstances, challenging us to trust in His wisdom even when we don't understand His ways. The Role of Lament in Faith Expressing our struggles and doubts to God, as Job does, is a vital part of a genuine relationship with Him. Lament can lead to deeper faith and understanding. The Temporary Nature of Earthly Trials While suffering can feel overwhelming, it is temporary in light of eternity. Our hope should be rooted in the eternal promises of God. Renewal of Hope through Faith Despite the erosion of hope, faith in God's character and promises can renew and sustain us through life's challenges.Verse 19. - The waters wear the stones. The power of the soft element of water, by continual washing or dripping, to wear away the hardest stone, has often been noticed, and is a frequent topic in poetry. Deep ravines have been worn in course of time, through broad and lofty mountain ranges by rivers, the stone yielding little by little to the action of the water, until at last a broad chasm is made. So the continual wearing action of calamity often lays low the prosperous. Thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; rather, as in the Revised Version, the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth; i.e. "overflows of water, inundations, floods, not only make a way through rocks, but often carry off great tracts of rich soil, hurrying the alluvium down to the sea, and leaving in its place a marsh or a waste." And thou destroyest the hope of man. Even thus from time to time does God ruin and destroy the hopes of a prosperous man. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew as waterמַ֗יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen wears away שָׁ֥חֲקוּ (šā·ḥă·qū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7833: To rub away, beat fine, pulverize stones אֲבָנִ֤ים ׀ (’ă·ḇā·nîm) Noun - feminine plural Strong's 68: A stone and torrents סְפִיחֶ֥יהָ (sə·p̄î·ḥe·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 5599: Something, falling off, a self-sown crop, a freshet wash away תִּשְׁטֹֽף־ (tiš·ṭōp̄-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 7857: To gush, to inundate, cleanse, to gallop, conquer the soil, עֲפַר־ (‘ă·p̄ar-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6083: Dust, clay, earth, mud so You destroy הֶאֱבַֽדְתָּ׃ (he·’ĕ·ḇaḏ·tā) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish a man’s אֱנ֣וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 582: Man, mankind hope. וְתִקְוַ֖ת (wə·ṯiq·waṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8615: A cord, expectancy Links Job 14:19 NIVJob 14:19 NLT Job 14:19 ESV Job 14:19 NASB Job 14:19 KJV Job 14:19 BibleApps.com Job 14:19 Biblia Paralela Job 14:19 Chinese Bible Job 14:19 French Bible Job 14:19 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 14:19 The waters wear the stones (Jb) |
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