Job 14:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In a metaphorical sense, it is said that in the age to come, sin, which is symbolically referred to as 'the sea', will be vanquished; the adversary along with his temptations will come to an end, and those who have died will not be lost, but will await the resurrection.

A lifeless body becomes akin to a barren canyon of a river, where the present life—when the soul resides within the body—can be compared to both the sea and the river. The sea’s waters are salty, while the river’s are sweet. In this life, we often experience trials as well as moments of deep peace and tenderness, reflecting the varied nature of existence paralleled to the sea and the river.

Yet, the subsequent passage raises a challenging question: “So a man will lie down and not get up.” Why then do we strive so diligently if there is no rising after the Resurrection? And why is it stated that he “shall not rise” when it is also proclaimed, “We shall all rise again, but we shall not all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51)? Furthermore, we encounter the assertion, “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). When the Truth clearly states, “All that are in the tombs shall hear His voice and shall come forth; those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29), a deeper meaning is revealed in the following words. It notes that “While the heavens are, they shall not awake, nor shall they be raised from their sleep” (Job 14:12).

This suggests that the dead will not awaken until the culmination of the world. The speaker is not declaring total absence of resurrection, but rather that it will occur only after the heavens have fallen. Additionally, it is significant to observe the shift in terminology after referring to man as dead; here the term used is “sleep,” indicating that he will not awaken from this sleep until the heavens collapse. Thus, it is implied that, like the tree that dies yet sprouts anew, man—a sinner who strays from a righteous path—is designated as such; yet the end of the flesh is described as sleep, conveying hope in resurrection. Just as a person is quickly roused from sleep, so shall they be resurrected in an instant by the Creator’s will. The term “death” induces great fear in fragile minds, whereas “sleep” incites less dread. This is why Paul, in his teachings, reassures his disciples by saying, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

Thus, it is intriguing that the apostle refers to “the death” of the Lord, while for the servants of the Lord, he speaks of “sleep.” He tailors his message carefully to meet the understanding of those with fragile hearts, merging his profound teaching with comforting language. He boldly acknowledges the death of Christ, who is known to have risen, yet refrains from using the term death for those awaiting resurrection, instead referring to them as asleep to instill the hope of revival. The blessed Job, fully aware and confident that those who have departed in the flesh will indeed be awakened to life, chooses to refer to them as asleep rather than dead.

This realization prompts Job not only to seek relief from his afflictions but also to inquire of God regarding their origins. Meanwhile, Job’s friends, sharing the belief in human sinfulness, limit their understanding to a direct correlation between earthly prosperity and moral integrity. They interpret every misfortune as divine retribution for sin, and in the absence of clear transgressions, they are quick to suspect Job of hidden faults.