Job 14:1–2
Job compares human life to a flower that withers and a shadow that flees
Study it word by word1A human being born of woman is short of days and sated with turmoil.
2Like a flower he comes out and withers; he flees like the shadow and does not stand.
In its context
…
3Even on such a one you open your eyes, and me you bring into judgment with you?
4Who will bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
Its words in the original
- אָדָםadam· human being, man, Adam
The Hebrew word "adam". It has three uses: (1) humanity in general, men and women alike: "human beings" (Genesis 1:27); (2) a particular man; in Genesis 2-4, the first man, "the man"; (3) the personal name of that first man, "Adam". In Hebrew "adam" sounds like "adamah", the ground he was formed from (Genesis 2:7).
- יְלוּדyelud· bear, father
Give birth, bear children; said of the father, "father" or "beget". In some forms, help at a birth (midwife) or be born.
- אִשָּׁהisha· woman, wife
Woman; with a possessive ("his woman"), wife. In Hebrew it is "ishah", which sounds like "ish", man.
- קְצַרketsar· short
Short. "Short of hand" means without strength, unable to do anything (2 Kings 19:26). "Short of spirit" or "of anger" is the impatient one (Proverbs 14:17, 29); "short of days," one who lives a short time (Job 14:1).
- יָמִיםyamim· day
Day: the hours of light, or a whole day from one evening to the next. Also an indefinite time or age ("in the day that...", "in those days").
- שְׂבַעseva· satisfied, full
Satisfied, full, having enough; of an old man, full of days, with a complete life. Also of having too much of trouble.
- רֹגֶזrogez· turmoil, agitation
Agitation, restlessness, turmoil: the state of what trembles or has no rest. It can also be anger or the rumbling of thunder.
- צִיץtsits· plate, flower
Flower. Also the shining plate of gold that the high priest wore on his forehead.
- יָצָאyatsa· go out, bring out
Go out, come out. In the causative form, "make go out", "bring out", "lead out", "produce".
- יִּמָּלyimal· be circumcised, cut off
Be circumcised (see "circumcise"); also be cut down, wither.
- יִּבְרַחyivrach· flee
Flee, run away suddenly. Said of a bar, pass through from end to end.
- צֵּלtsel· shade, shadow
Shade, shadow. Figuratively, protection.
- יַעֲמוֹדyaamod· stand
Stand; stay, remain, endure. "Stand before" someone is to serve him or be in his presence. In another form of the verb, set up, place, appoint.