Job 14:12

Authorized King James Version

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So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Original Language Analysis

וְאִ֥ישׁ So man H376
וְאִ֥ישׁ So man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 1 of 12
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
שָׁכַ֗ב lieth down H7901
שָׁכַ֗ב lieth down
Strong's: H7901
Word #: 2 of 12
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
וְֽלֹא H3808
וְֽלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 3 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָ֫ק֥וּם and riseth H6965
יָ֫ק֥וּם and riseth
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 4 of 12
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 5 of 12
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
בִּלְתִּ֣י be no more H1115
בִּלְתִּ֣י be no more
Strong's: H1115
Word #: 6 of 12
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
שָׁ֭מַיִם not till the heavens H8064
שָׁ֭מַיִם not till the heavens
Strong's: H8064
Word #: 7 of 12
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָקִ֑יצוּ they shall not awake H6974
יָקִ֑יצוּ they shall not awake
Strong's: H6974
Word #: 9 of 12
to awake (literally or figuratively)
וְלֹֽא H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 10 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵ֝עֹ֗רוּ nor be raised out H5782
יֵ֝עֹ֗רוּ nor be raised out
Strong's: H5782
Word #: 11 of 12
to wake (literally or figuratively)
מִשְּׁנָתָֽם׃ of their sleep H8142
מִשְּׁנָתָֽם׃ of their sleep
Strong's: H8142
Word #: 12 of 12
sleep

Cross References

Revelation 21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.Job 3:13For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.Isaiah 65:17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.Isaiah 26:19Thy 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.Isaiah 51:6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.Acts 3:21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.Job 30:23For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.2 Peter 3:7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.Ephesians 5:14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Analysis & Commentary

'So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.' The imagery: man 'lieth down' (שָׁכַב, shakhav) and 'riseth not' (לֹא־יָקוּם, lo-yaqum), remaining unawakened 'till the heavens be no more' (עַד־בִּלְתִּי שָׁמָיִם, ad-bilti shamayim). This seems to deny resurrection, but actually affirms it won't occur until cosmic renewal. 'Sleep' (שְׁנָתָם, shenatam) as a death metaphor appears throughout Scripture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Job here glimpses, however dimly, that resurrection awaits new creation. The Reformed eschatology of new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1) fulfills this hope.

Historical Context

The phrase 'till the heavens be no more' suggests Job understood death's reversal required cosmic transformation, anticipating later biblical revelation about new creation as resurrection's context.

Questions for Reflection