Job 14:15

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 14:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.
Job 14:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou shall call, and I will answer thee, etc.] Either at death, when the soul of than is required of him, and he is summoned out of time into eternity, and has sometimes previous notice of it; though not by a prophet, or express messenger from the Lord, as Hezekiah had, yet by some disease and distemper or another, which has a voice, a call in it to expect a remove shortly; and a good man that is prepared for it, he answers to this call readily and cheerfully; death is no king of terrors to him, he is not reluctant to it, yea, desirous of it; entreats his dismission in peace, and even longs for it, and rejoices and triumphs in the views of it: or else at the resurrection, when Christ shall…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“namely, at the resurrection (Joh 5:28; Psa 17:15). have a desire to--literally, "become pale with anxious desire:" the same word is translated "sore longedst after" (Gen 31:30; Psa 84:2), implying the utter unlikelihood that God would leave in oblivion the "creature of His own hands so fearfully and wonderfully made." It is objected that if Job knew of a future retribution, he would make it the leading topic in solving the problem of the permitted afflictions of the righteous. But, (1) He did not intend to exceed the limits of what was clearly revealed; the doctrine was then in a vague form only; (2) The doctrine of God's moral government in this life, even independently of the future,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee - This is language taken from courts of justice. It refers, probably, not to a future time, but to the present. “Call thou now, and I will respond.” It expresses a desire to come at once to trial; to have the matter adjusted before he should leave the world. He could not bear the idea of going out of the world under the imputations which were lying on him, and he asked for an opportunity to vindicate himself before his Maker; compare the notes at Job 9:16. Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands - To me, one of thy creatures. This should, with more propriety, be rendered in the imperative, “do thou have a desire.” It is the expression of an…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Answer thee - Thou shalt call my soul to thyself: and I will chearfully answer, Here I am: knowing thou wilt have a desire to the work of thy hands - A love for the soul which thou hast made, and new - made by thy grace. Job 14:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shalt call: Job 13:22; Psa 50:4, Psa 50:5; Th1 4:17; Jo1 2:28 thou wilt have: Job 7:21, Job 10:3, Job 10:8; Psa 138:8; Pe1 4:19 Job 14:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification