He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
He comes out like a flower, and is cut down: he also passes by like a shadow, and doesn't last.
The writer is saying that human life is brief and fragile, like a flower that blooms and is quickly cut down, or like a shadow that quickly passes away.
📚 Historical Context
The Book of Job is an ancient wisdom text set in the patriarchal era, likely in the Middle East, where it addresses profound questions of suffering and God's justice through the story of a righteous man named Job who faces immense trials. In Job 14, Job is expressing his deep anguish amid his afflictions, using poetic imagery to describe human life as brief and fragile, much like a flower that blooms and is quickly cut down or a shadow that fleetingly passes. This reflects the cultural awareness in ancient times of mortality and the unpredictability of life in a harsh world.
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