Discovery BoxJob 14:7 
ContextThe Inevitability of Death
14:7 “But there is hope for 1 a tree: 2
If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
and its new shoots will not fail.
Job 31:40
Context31:40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat,
and in place of barley, weeds!” 3
The words of Job are ended.
1 tn The genitive after the construct is one of advantage – it is hope for the tree.
2 sn The figure now changes to a tree for the discussion of the finality of death. At least the tree will sprout again when it is cut down. Why, Job wonders, should what has been granted to the tree not also be granted to humans?
3 tn The word בָּאְשָׁה (bo’shah, from בָּאַשׁ [ba’as, “to have a foul smell”]) must refer to foul smelling weeds.
