Job 14:8
New International Version
Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil,

New Living Translation
Though its roots have grown old in the earth and its stump decays,

English Standard Version
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,

Berean Standard Bible
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

King James Bible
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

New King James Version
Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground,

New American Standard Bible
“Though its roots grow old in the ground, And its stump dies in the dry soil,

NASB 1995
“Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

NASB 1977
“Though its roots grow old in the ground, And its stump dies in the dry soil,

Legacy Standard Bible
Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

Amplified Bible
“Though its roots grow old in the earth And its stump dies in the dry soil,

Christian Standard Bible
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump starts to die in the soil,

American Standard Version
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;

Contemporary English Version
Its roots and stump may rot,

English Revised Version
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

Good News Translation
Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground,

International Standard Version
Even if its roots have grown ancient in the earth, and its stump begins to rot in the ground,

Majority Standard Bible
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,

NET Bible
Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil,

New Heart English Bible
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

Webster's Bible Translation
Though its root shall become old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground;

World English Bible
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If its root becomes old in the earth, "" And its stem dies in the dust,

Young's Literal Translation
If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,

Smith's Literal Translation
If its root shall grow old in the earth, and its trunk shall die in the dust.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If its root be old in the earth, and its stock be dead in the dust:

Catholic Public Domain Version
If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust,

New American Bible
Even though its root grow old in the earth and its stump die in the dust,

New Revised Standard Version
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Though its root wax old in the earth and its stock die in the ground,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if its root grows old in the earth and its vegetation may die in the dust
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Laments the Finality of Death
7For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail. 8If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil, 9at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.…

Cross References
Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

Daniel 4:15-26
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth. / Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by. / This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’ ...

Isaiah 6:13
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

Hosea 14:5-7
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. / His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. / They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Mark 4:30-32
Then He asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God? With what parable shall we present it? / It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth. / But after it is planted, it grows to be the largest of all garden plants and puts forth great branches, so that the birds of the air nest in its shade.”

Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? / It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

John 15:1-6
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. / He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. / You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ...

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

Ezekiel 31:3-9
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

die in the ground

Isaiah 26:19
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

John 12:24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:36
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

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Job 14
1. Job entreats God for favor, by the shortness of life, and certainty of death
7. He waits for his change
16. By sin the creature is subject to corruption














If its roots grow old
The imagery of roots growing old suggests a deep-seated foundation that has endured over time. In Hebrew, the word for "roots" is "שָׁרָשִׁים" (sharashim), which implies a source of life and stability. Roots are essential for nourishment and growth, symbolizing the underlying strength and resilience of a person or community. In the context of Job, this phrase can be seen as a metaphor for the enduring faith and foundational beliefs that sustain a person through life's trials. Despite the passage of time and the weariness that may come with it, these roots remain a vital source of life.

in the ground
The ground, or "אֶרֶץ" (eretz) in Hebrew, represents the earth or soil, which is the nurturing environment for growth. Biblically, the ground is often seen as God's creation, a place where life is sustained and renewed. In this verse, the ground symbolizes the world in which we live, with all its challenges and opportunities for growth. It is a reminder of our connection to creation and the divine providence that sustains us.

and its stump dies
The stump, "גֶּזַע" (geza) in Hebrew, is what remains after a tree has been cut down. It signifies what is left after loss or destruction. The death of the stump can be seen as a metaphor for the end of vitality or the cessation of life as it was known. In the context of Job's suffering, this phrase reflects the apparent finality and hopelessness that can accompany profound loss. However, it also sets the stage for the possibility of renewal and resurrection, themes that are central to the Christian faith.

in the soil
The soil, "עָפָר" (afar) in Hebrew, is the dust or earth from which life springs forth. It is a symbol of humility and mortality, reminding us of our origins and our return to the earth. In the biblical narrative, soil is both a place of burial and a source of new life. This duality reflects the Christian belief in death and resurrection, where what seems to be the end is often the beginning of something new. The soil, therefore, is a place of transformation and hope, where God can bring forth life even from apparent death.

Verses 8, 9. - Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. After the stump is actually dead, suckers may be thrown up from the roots, if sufficient water be supplied to them; and these will put forth branches luxuriantly.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

its roots
שָׁרְשׁ֑וֹ (šā·rə·šōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8328: A root

grow old
יַזְקִ֣ין (yaz·qîn)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2204: To be or become old

in the ground
בָּאָ֣רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and its stump
גִּזְעֽוֹ׃ (giz·‘ōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1503: The trunk, stump of a, tree

dies
יָמ֥וּת (yā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in the soil,
וּ֝בֶעָפָ֗ר (ū·ḇe·‘ā·p̄ār)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6083: Dust, clay, earth, mud


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OT Poetry: Job 14:8 Though its root grows old (Jb)
Job 14:7
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