Lectionary Calendar
Friday, May 16th, 2025
the Fourth Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Job 14:7

When a tree is chopped down, there is always the hope that it will sprout again.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Death;   Readings, Select;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Trees;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Job;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Decrees of God;   Greatness of God;   Hypocrisy;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hope;   Job;   Life;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Sprout;   Tree;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Seal;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Branch and Bough;   Eschatology of the Old Testament (with Apocryphal and Apocalyptic Writings);   Job, Book of;   Tender;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for November 22;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
There is hope for a tree:If it is cut down, it will sprout again,and its shoots will not die.
Hebrew Names Version
"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, That the tender branch of it will not cease.
King James Version
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
English Standard Version
"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
New Century Version
"If a tree is cut down, there is hope that it will grow again and will send out new branches.
New English Translation
"But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.
Amplified Bible
"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the shoots of it will not cease nor fail, [but there is no such hope for man].
New American Standard Bible
"For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.
World English Bible
"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, That the tender branch of it will not cease.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For there is hope of a tree, if it bee cut downe, that it will yet sproute, and the branches thereof will not cease.
Legacy Standard Bible
"For there is hope for a tree,When it is cut down, that it will change back sprouting again,And its shoots will not cease.
Berean Standard Bible
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
Complete Jewish Bible
"For a tree, there is hope that if cut down, it will sprout again, that its shoots will continue to grow.
Darby Translation
For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
Easy-to-Read Version
"There is always hope for a tree. If it is cut down, it can grow again. It will keep sending out new branches.
George Lamsa Translation
For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again and its tender shoots will not cease.
Good News Translation
There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout.
Lexham English Bible
"Indeed, there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, then it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not cease;
Literal Translation
For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and its shoot will not cease.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf a tre be cutt downe, there is some hope yet, that it will sproute and shute forth the braunches againe:
American Standard Version
For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Bible in Basic English
For there is hope of a tree; if it is cut down, it will come to life again, and its branches will not come to an end.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For there is hope of a tree,
King James Version (1611)
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut downe, that it will sprout againe, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For if a tree be cut downe, there is some hope yet that it wyll sproute and shoote foorth the braunches againe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, that it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.
English Revised Version
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A tree hath hope, if it is kit doun; and eft it wexith greene, and hise braunches spreden forth.
Update Bible Version
For there is hope of a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Webster's Bible Translation
For there is hope of a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender branch will not cease.
New King James Version
"For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease.
New Living Translation
"Even a tree has more hope! If it is cut down, it will sprout again and grow new branches.
New Life Bible
"For there is hope for a tree, when it is cut down, that it will grow again, and that its branches will not stop growing.
New Revised Standard
"For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Though there is - for a tree - hope, - if it should be cut down, that, again, it will grow, and, the tender branch thereof, will not cease;
Douay-Rheims Bible
A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it growth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout.
Revised Standard Version
"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
Young's Literal Translation
For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.

Contextual Overview

7 When a tree is chopped down, there is always the hope that it will sprout again. 8 Its roots and stump may rot, 9 but at the touch of water, fresh twigs shoot up. 10 Humans are different— we die, and that's the end. 11 We are like streams and lakes after the water has gone; 12 we fall into the sleep of death, never to rise again, until the sky disappears. 13 Please hide me, God, deep in the ground— and when you are angry no more, remember to rescue me. 14 Will we humans live again? I would gladly suffer and wait for my time. 15 My Creator, you would want me; you would call out, and I would answer.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that it will sprout: Job 14:14, Job 19:10, Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 27:6, Daniel 4:15, Daniel 4:23-25

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 14:14 - as water Job 15:32 - and his branch Job 24:20 - wickedness Psalms 88:10 - shall Ecclesiastes 9:4 - General Ecclesiastes 9:10 - for Isaiah 6:13 - substance Daniel 11:7 - out of

Cross-References

Genesis 14:1
About this time, King Amraphel of Babylonia, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim
Genesis 14:8
At Siddim Valley, the armies of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela fought the armies of King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Babylonia, and King Arioch of Ellasar. The valley
Genesis 14:12
They also captured Abram's nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom. They took him and his possessions and then left.
Genesis 14:16
and Abram went after them. He brought back his nephew Lot, together with Lot's possessions and the women and everyone else who had been captured.
Genesis 16:14
That's why people call the well between Kadesh and Bered, "The Well of the Living One Who Sees Me."
Genesis 20:1
Abraham moved to the Southern Desert, where he settled between Kadesh and Shur. Later he went to Gerar, and while there
Genesis 36:16
Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These and Esau's other descendants lived in the land of Edom.
Numbers 13:26
the twelve men returned to Kadesh in the Paran Desert and told Moses, Aaron, and the people what they had seen. They showed them the fruit
Numbers 14:45
The Amalekites and the Canaanites came down from the hill country, defeated the Israelites, and chased them as far as the town of Hormah.
Numbers 20:1
The people of Israel arrived at the Zin Desert during the first month and set up camp near the town of Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,.... That is, if it be cut down to the root, and only the stump of the root is left in the ground, as the tree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel 4:15, yet the owner of it may entertain a hope that it is not utterly destroyed, but will bud out again; or "change" s its state and condition, and become flourishing again: or "renew" t itself; and its strength, and put out new shoots and branches; either it will rise up into a new body, as the laurel, as Pliny u relates, or produce new sprouts as the willow, alder tree, and others; for this is not true of every tree, though it may be of many; for it is w reported of the cypress tree, when cut down, it never sprouts out any more, unless in one place, in Aenaria; but since this is the case of some, it is sufficient to Job's purpose:

and that the tender branch thereof will not cease; from shooting out; or "its suckers will not cease" x; which may be observed frequently to grow out of the roots of trees, even of those that are cut down, such as above mentioned.

s יחליף "mutabit se", Drusius; "conditionem suam", Piscator. t "Renovat se", Schmidt. u Nat. Hist. apud Pinedam in loc. w Servius in Virgil. Aeneid. l. 3. p. 681. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 16. c. 33. x יונקתו "sugensque ejus surculus", Schultens.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For there is hope of a tree - This passage to Job 14:12, is one of exquisite beauty. Its object is to state reasons why man should be permitted to enjoy this life. A tree, if cut down, might spring up again and flourish; but not man. He died to rise no more; he is cut down and lives not again. The passage is important as expressing the prevalent sentiment of the time in which Job lived about the future condition of man, and is one that deserves a close examination. The great question is, whether Job believed in the future state, or in the resurrection of the dead? On this question one or two things are clear at the outset.

(1) He did not believe that man would spring up from the grave in any sense similar to the mode in which the sprout or germ of a tree grows up when the tree is cut down.

(2) He did not believe in the doctrine of metempsychosis, or transmigration of souls; a doctrine that was so common among the ancients.

In this respect the patriarchal religion stood aloof from the systems of paganism, and there is not to be found, that I know of, any expression that would lead us to suppose that they had ever embraced it, or had even heard of it. The general sentiment here is, that if a tree is cut down, it may be expected to shoot up again, and another tree will be found in its place - as is the case with the chestnut, the willow, the oak. But Job says that there was nothing like this to happen to man. There was no root, no germ, no seminal principle from which he would be made to live again on the earth. He was to be finally cut off, from all his pleasures and his friends here, and to go away to return no more. Still, that Job believed in his continued existence beyond the grave - his existence in the dark and gloomy world of shades, is apparent from the whole book, and indeed from the very passage before us; see Job 14:13 - compare Job 10:21-22. The image here is one that is very beautiful, and one that is often employed by poets. Thus, Moschus, in his third Idyl, as translated by Gisborne:

The meanest herb we trample in the field,

Or in the garden nurture, when its leaf

At winter’s touch is blasted, and its place

Forgotten, soon its vernal bud renews,

And from short slumber wakes to life again.

Man wakes no more! Man, valiant, glorious, wise,

When death once chills him, sinks in sleep profound.

A long, unconscious, never-ending sleep.

See also Beattie’s Hermit:

‘Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more;

I mourn, but ye woodlands, I mourn not for you;

For morn is approaching, your charms to restore,

Perfumed with fresh fragrance, and glittering with dew.

Nor yet for the ravage of winter I mourn;

Kind nature the embryo blossom will save;

But when shall spring visit the mouldering urn?

O when shall it dawn on the night of the grave?

The same image, also, has been beautifully employed by Dr. Dwight, though urged by him as an argument to prove the doctrine of the resurrection:

In those lone, silent realms of night,

Shall peace and hope no more arise?

No future morning light the tomb,

Nor day-star gild the darksome skies?

Shall spring the faded world revive?

Shall waning moons their light renew?

Again shall setting suns ascend,

And chase the darkness from our view?

The feeling of Job here is, that when man was removed from the earth, he was removed finally; that there was no hope of his revisiting it again, and that he could not be employed in the dark abode of departed spirits in the cheerful and happy manner in which he might be in this world of light. This idea is expressed, also, in a most tender manner by the Psalmist:

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead?

Shall the dead arise and praise thee?

Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave?

Or thy faithfulness in destruction?

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark?

And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Psalms 88:10-12.

And the same feelings were evinced by Hezekiah, the pious king of Israel:

For Sheol cannot praise thee;

Death cannot celebrate thee;

They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day;

The father to the children shall make known thy faithfulness.

Isaiah 38:18-19.

All these gloomy and desponding views arose from the imperfect conception which they had of the future world. It was to them a world of dense and gloomy shades - a world of night - of conscious existence indeed - but still far away from light, and from the comforts which people enjoyed on the earth. We are to remember that the revelations then made were very few and obscure; and we should deem it a matter of inestimable favor that we have a better hope, and have far more just and clear views of the employments of the future world. Yet probably our views of that world, with all the light which we have, are much further from the reality than the views of the patriarchs were from those which we are permitted to cherish. Such as they are, however, they are fitted to elevate and cheer the soul. We shall not, indeed, live again on the earth, but we shall enter a world of light and glory, compared with which all that is glorious here shall fade away. Not far distant is that blessed world; and in our trials we may look to it not with dread, as Job did to the land of shades, but with triumph and joy.

Will not cease - Will not fail, or be missing. It will spring up and live.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 14:7. For there is hope of a tree — We must not, says Calmet, understand this of an old tree, the stem and roots of which are dried up and rotted: but there are some trees which grow from cuttings, and some which, though pulled out of the earth, and having had their roots dried and withered by long exposure to the sun and wind, will, on being replanted, take root and resume their verdure. There are also certain trees, the fibres of which are so solid, that if after several years they be steeped in water, they resume their vigour, the tubes dilate, and the blossoms or flowers which were attached to them expand; as I have often witnessed in what is called the rose of Jericho. There are few trees which will not send forth new shoots, when the stock is cut down level with the earth.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile