Job 14:11As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
The setting
Job continues his meditation on mortality, using the powerful imagery of dried riverbeds — common sight in the ancient Near East during drought seasons.
The emotion here: watching his own strength ebb away like water disappearing
The original word
mayim (מַיִם) — waters, the life-giving force that when gone, leaves only empty channels
Why it matters
The Jordan River and Dead Sea region would have provided Job vivid examples of seasonal water loss
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 14:11
This isn't just about death — it's about the slow, inevitable process of decline
Common misconceptionThis seems pessimistic, but Job is being brutally honest about human frailty — a necessary step before finding hope.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 14:11
Bible Genome reading
Job 14:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 14:11 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Job. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include mortality, permanence of death. Notable phrases: waters fail from the sea; river wastes and dries up.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Job 14:11 mean to you, today?
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