The phrase "born of a woman" isn't just a poetic way to say "human." It subtly points to a shared fragility, hinting that our very origin from a "weaker vessel" (as 1 Peter 3:7 describes women) contributes to life's inherent weakness and brevity.
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not. And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one. Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just defended himself against his friends' accusations, Job now shifts his focus from his personal suffering to the universal human condition. He argues that God is dealing harshly with him by taking his frailty and short life into account, implying that all humanity shares this miserable existence.
Ever feel like life's a whirlwind, too short and too tough? Job starts this chapter by stating a universal truth about us all.
Job kicks off chapter 14 with a stark observation: 'Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.' This isn't just a complaint; it's a foundational statement about the human condition.
The Fragile Beginning
The phrase 'born of a woman' highlights our inherent weakness. Unlike the first man, Adam, who was directly formed by God, every subsequent human comes into existence through the fragile process of human birth. This origin underscores our physical and emotional vulnerability from the very start.
The Short Span
'Few of days' speaks to the brevity of life. Compared to the vastness of eternity or even the longer lifespans of earlier generations, our time on Earth is incredibly short. This isn't meant to be depressing, but to put our earthly existence into perspective.
The Constant Companion
'Full of trouble' isn't an exaggeration. Our days are packed with anxieties, pains, challenges, and heartaches. From minor worries to major crises, trouble is a constant companion throughout our lives.
Is Job just complaining about his own bad luck, or is he touching on something true for every single person?
Job's declaration in 14:1 isn't just about his personal suffering; it's a profound insight into the universal human experience. He broadens his perspective from his individual agony to the shared condition of all humanity.
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Beyond Personal Tragedy
While Job is enduring unimaginable hardship, he recognizes that his struggles, though extreme, are rooted in the basic realities of being human. He's not saying only he is troubled, but that all who are born of women share this fundamental aspect of life.
A Shared Foundation
The expression 'man that is born of a woman' emphasizes our commonality. It transcends social status, wealth, or background. Every single person, without exception, comes into this world with the same inherent limitations and vulnerabilities.
An Argument for Compassion
By stating this universal truth, Job is implicitly building a case. If all humans are frail, short-lived, and troubled, then perhaps God's response should be one of compassion rather than harsh judgment. He's highlighting our shared misery to appeal for understanding and mercy.
Understand the original words
adam · Hebrew Noun
General term for humanity, often emphasizing the frailty, mortality, and physical nature of humans as distinct from God.
rogez · Hebrew Noun
A state of distress, suffering, agitation, or toil; often used to describe the painful consequences of the fall or the inherent difficulties of life in a fallen world.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A legal term referring to a judicial investigation, trial, or sentence. In a theological sense, it often denotes God's evaluation of a person's life or moral standing.
tahor · Hebrew Adjective
State of being free from moral or ritual impurity; in a theological sense, it refers to righteousness or moral purity that satisfies God’s holy standard.
tame · Hebrew Adjective
The state of being morally impure, defiled, or corrupt; typically used in the Bible to describe human nature in its fallen condition apart from divine grace.
charats · Hebrew Verb
Refers to God’s sovereign decree or ordination of time; it implies that human existence is not accidental but is under the control and foresight of the Creator.
choq · Hebrew Noun
Statutes, boundaries, or fixed tasks assigned to an individual; it denotes the sovereignly ordained limits set by God on human life and circumstances.
This psalm echoes Job's sentiment directly, stating that human lifespans are typically seventy years, or eighty if one is strong, and these few years are often filled with toil and sorrow.
Genesis 47:9Jacob's words to Pharaoh beautifully illustrate this verse's theme, as he describes his own life as 'few and evil,' highlighting the brevity and hardship inherent in human existence.
James 4:14This New Testament passage uses a similar metaphor, comparing human life to mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes, emphasizing its transience and vulnerability.
Ecclesiastes 1:2The Preacher declares 'Vanity of vanities; all is vanity,' a sentiment that resonates deeply with Job's view of life as short and full of trouble, suggesting an overarching futility in human endeavors apart from God.
jfbJob 14:1: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."
CHAPTER 14Job 14:1-22. Job Passes from His Own to the Common Misery of Mankind.1. woman—feeble, and in the East looked down upon (Ge 2:21). Man being born of one so frail must be frail himself (Mt 11:11).few days—(Ge 47:9; Ps 90:10). Literally, "short of days." Man is the reverse of full of days and short of trouble.
clarkeJob 14:1: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."
Man - born of a woman - There is a delicacy in the original, not often observed: אדם ילוד אשה Adam yelud ishah, "Adam born of a woman, few of days, and full of tremor." Adam, who did not spring from woman, but was immediately formed by God, had many days, for he lived nine hundred and thirty years; during which time neither sin nor death had multiplied in the earth, as they were found in the days of Job. But the Adam…
The phrase "born of a woman" isn't just a poetic way to say "human." It subtly points to a shared fragility, hinting that our very origin from a "weaker vessel" (as 1 Peter 3:7 describes women) contributes to life's inherent weakness and brevity.
Having just defended himself against his friends' accusations, Job now shifts his focus from his personal suffering to the universal human condition. He argues that God is dealing harshly with him by taking his frailty and short life into account, implying that all humanity shares this miserable existence.
Having just defended himself against his friends' accusations, Job now shifts his focus from his personal suffering to the universal human condition. He argues that God is dealing harshly with him by taking his frailty and short life into account, implying that all humanity shares this miserable existence.
"“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not. And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment wi…" — The phrase "born of a woman" isn't just a poetic way to say "human." It subtly points to a shared fragility, hinting that our very origin from a "weaker vessel" (as 1 Peter 3:7 describes women) contr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
