A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it growth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout.
כִּ֤י יֵ֥שׁ לָעֵ֗ץ תִּ֫קְוָ֥ה אִֽם־יִ֭כָּרֵת וְע֣וֹד יַחֲלִ֑יף וְ֝יֹֽנַקְתּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א תֶחְדָּֽל׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He illustrates that humanity is in a state of greater despair than all creation, including trees, rivers, and the ocean.
Through a figurative expression, "to the tree there is hope," it is implied that hope is directed towards humanity.
In this passage, the revered Job serves both as a teacher and a prophet. Through the imagery of a tree revitalized into life, he anticipates his restoration to a previous condition. Simultaneously, Job prophesies a complete transformation of humanity. Grateful for the sweetness of baptismal waters, humankind will experience renewal. Adorned with fresh leaves, human nature will recover the splendor it once possessed. Ultimately, it will be replanted through the death of the Lord.
For there remains a promise for the tree, even when it is felled, to revive and bring forth new growth; its delicate shoots will emerge once more. Although its roots may be aged in the soil and its stump appear lifeless in the dust, by sensing the presence of water, it produces new shoots and unfolds leaves, reverting to the state it once enjoyed at planting. But what about man, when he is dead, bereft of everything? Job 14:7-10.
Now, because the written word clearly states these truths, we should delve into the spiritual implications rather than merely the surface meanings. In Scripture, the term ‘tree’ can represent various concepts: at times it relates to the cross, at other times to the righteous, the unrighteous, or even the incarnate Wisdom of God. The cross is conveyed by the term ‘tree’ when it is stated, “Let us put wood into his bread” (Jer. 11:19); here, putting wood into bread signifies the application of the Cross to our Lord’s Body. Furthermore, the term ‘tree’ may denote a righteous or unrighteous person, as indicated when the Lord proclaims through the prophet: “I the Lord bring down the lofty tree, and I elevate the humble tree” (Ezek. 17:24), affirming the truth that those who seek to elevate themselves will face humility, while those who embrace humility shall be elevated (Lk. 14:11). As it is further articulated, “If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it shall remain” (Eccl. 11:3). Thus, on the day of death, the righteous man will lean mercifully toward joy, symbolized as ‘falling to the south,’ while the unrighteous will be cast down, inclined towards despair, reminiscent of the fallen angel who aspired to ascend to the heights of heaven but instead said, “I will sit on the mount of the assembly, in the far reaches of the north” (Isaiah 14:13).
Additionally, the incarnate Wisdom of God is symbolized by the ‘Tree,’ as illustrated by the words: “It is a tree of life to those who embrace it” (Prov. 3:18). She herself states, “If they do these things to the green tree, what will happen to the dry?” (Lk. 23:31). Therefore, in this context, while the tree is shown to hold greater promise than man, what might ‘man’ signify, if not the carnal being, and what does the term ‘tree’ imply, if not the life of the righteous? The hope of the tree, even when it is cut, lies in its potential to become vibrant once again. When confronted with the harsh trials of mortality, the righteous man may struggle to remain steadfast in the truth, yet through the renewal of eternal life, he is revitalized; those who have found their place in this faith will flourish even more. Its new growth are often seen as emerging from the suffering of the righteous, wherein all the faithful draw closer in love for the heavenly realm, gaining the vigor of spiritual existence while rejoicing in the trials they bravely endure for God’s name. Thus, it follows:
Although humanity may resemble a tree that, when cut down, produces new shoots from its roots, the hope of resurrection (7-12) is not enough to support a person in times of distress. Thus, they may wish for their suffering to end sooner, for just as the strongest stones are eroded by the relentless flow of water, so too is human patience eventually worn away (13-22). It becomes evident from the discussions thus far that Job, acknowledging the sinful nature of humanity and the influence of God’s Providence on one’s joy or sorrow, concludes from his own experiences that a person’s fate cannot be solely attributed to their moral conduct but instead relies on deeper, hidden decrees of God.
This understanding compels him not only to seek God's intervention for his anguish but also to question the reasons behind it. Meanwhile, Job’s friends, sharing the belief in human sinfulness, restrict their outlook to a rigid connection between earthly joy and virtue. They interpret every calamity as a direct consequence of sin, and when no overt transgressions are evident, they are quick to suspect Job of hidden wrongdoings.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS