Job 14:6 – “So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
In Job 14:6, Job is pleading with God to turn His attention away from humanity, allowing people to live out their brief lives in relative peace. Job compares human life to that of a hired laborer, someone who works hard for a set period and hopes to be left alone until their work is done. He is essentially asking for a reprieve from God’s scrutiny, a break from the suffering and trials that have marked his life.
Job is speaking from a place of deep pain, wanting to be spared from more suffering and difficulty. His request reflects his exhaustion—he feels like he has labored enough in life and now seeks relief from God’s constant gaze. This verse captures Job’s sense of being overwhelmed, not just by his personal suffering, but by the weight of being a mortal human under the eye of a sovereign God.
Historical Context
Job 14:6 is part of a larger lament in which Job contemplates the brevity and difficulty of human life. Job has lost almost everything—his wealth, his health, and his family—and he is struggling to understand why a righteous person like himself would face such intense suffering. In Job’s time, it was commonly believed that suffering was a result of personal sin, but Job challenges this assumption as he knows he has been faithful to God.
In the ancient world, laborers often worked for a set period of time, usually under difficult conditions. Job’s comparison of human life to a hired laborer reflects the common experience of hard work with little rest or reward, further emphasizing the trials of life.
Theological Implications
This verse reflects a key theological tension that appears throughout the book of Job: how can a loving, just God allow righteous people to suffer? Job, in his humanity, is questioning why God would continue to subject him to suffering when life itself is already difficult and short. Job feels like a laborer, working hard and enduring suffering, but he’s asking for a break, some measure of relief.
Theologically, this verse highlights the reality of human suffering in a fallen world. It acknowledges that life is often filled with hardship, but it also suggests that our time on earth is limited and temporary. While Job doesn’t see it at the moment, there is hope beyond his present suffering. The Bible teaches that God’s purposes are ultimately good, even when we don’t understand them in the moment (Romans 8:28).
Literary Analysis
Job 14:6 uses metaphor and imagery to communicate Job’s deep weariness. By comparing life to that of a hired laborer, Job emphasizes the hard, grueling nature of human existence. In the ancient world, hired laborers were not typically treated with great kindness—they worked hard, often under difficult conditions, for a set wage. Job is saying that life feels like hard labor, and he just wants to be left alone to finish his time.
The structure of this verse—pleading with God to “look away” and “let him alone”—also conveys Job’s desperation. It’s an emotional cry for relief. The language is simple, yet it captures the profound depth of human suffering and the desire for rest.
Biblical Cross-References
- Psalm 39:13: “Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.” Like Job, the psalmist here expresses a similar plea for God to give some relief from suffering.
- Isaiah 40:31: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” While Job feels weary, the Bible offers a promise of renewed strength for those who trust in God.
- James 5:11: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Job’s suffering, though intense, is ultimately met with God’s compassion.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
For Christians today, Job 14:6 serves as a reminder that it’s okay to bring our pain, frustration, and exhaustion to God. Job is brutally honest with God about how he feels, and this shows that we can do the same. When life feels overwhelming or we are burdened by suffering, we can cry out to God, knowing that He hears us, even when we feel He is distant.
At the same time, this verse encourages believers to trust in God’s timing and plan. Job feels like a hired laborer who just wants to be left alone, but God’s purposes for our lives go beyond what we can see. There is hope even in the midst of suffering, and Christians are called to trust that God’s plan is good, even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
Although Job is asking God to look away, this verse still speaks to God’s intimate involvement in human life. God’s attention is constant, and He never leaves us or forsakes us, even when we feel overwhelmed. Job doesn’t yet understand the full picture, but God’s love is present even in the midst of his suffering.
God’s love is not always expressed in immediate relief from hardship, but in His presence with us through the trials. He knows our limits and our struggles, and His love sustains us even when we feel like we can’t go on. Job’s request for relief reminds us that God knows our needs, and His love will ultimately bring rest and healing.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
Job 14:6 points to a deeper truth that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as Job felt like a hired laborer in a difficult world, Jesus came to take on the burden of humanity’s sin and suffering. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” While Job sought relief from his suffering, Jesus offers true rest for our souls.
Jesus also endured suffering on our behalf, becoming the ultimate “laborer” who worked for our salvation. He took on the weight of sin and death, and through His death and resurrection, He offers us eternal rest and peace with God. In Christ, we find the fulfillment of Job’s longing for relief from the burdens of life.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- In what ways have you felt like Job—overwhelmed and exhausted by the difficulties of life?
- How does this verse encourage you to bring your pain and struggles to God in prayer?
- How can you find comfort in knowing that God is always with you, even when you feel burdened?
- What does Jesus’ invitation to “come to me” in Matthew 11:28 mean for you personally?
- How can you trust in God’s timing and purposes when you are going through seasons of hardship or suffering?