Job 14:22

“But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.”

Immediate Context

The preceding line reads “His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” The titled verse reads “But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.” The following line reads “Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,” Together, these lines show how Job 14:22 functions within its immediate canonical and literary sequence.

Reading the Verse

The verse belongs to biblical wisdom literature, where concise statements invite slow and exact reading. Its wording should be examined for comparison, contrast, cause, consequence, or observation, without turning the saying into a promise broader than the text supports.

The sentence centres on “But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.” Every part of the study must remain accountable to that statement. The text should be allowed to set the subject, vocabulary, and limits of interpretation.

Biblical Significance

Wisdom texts train readers to view conduct, speech, work, suffering, and relationships in the light of God’s order. Their compact form makes accuracy especially important: changing the wording or importing a neighbouring saying can change the lesson.

Application

A wise response is to identify the behaviour or reality actually described, test one’s own conduct against it, and apply the principle with humility. The verse should shape judgment without being stretched beyond its stated scope.

Read in this setting, Job 14:22 speaks through its own wording and context. Its claims, emphasis, and appropriate application all begin with the KJV text printed above.