The Meaning of Job 14:16 Explained

Job 14:16

KJV: For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

YLT: But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.

Darby: For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

ASV: But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For now thou numberest  my steps:  dost thou not watch  over my sin? 

What does Job 14:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 14:1-22 - Shall Man Live Again?
Continuing his appeal, Job looks from his own case to the condition of mankind generally, Job 14:1-6. All men are frail and full of trouble, Job 14:12; why should God bring a creature so weak into judgment with Him? Job 14:3. The sinfulness of man is universal-not one can be proved clean before God, Job 14:4. Since man is so frail Job pleads that he may not have such unwonted affliction, but may get some pleasure, Job 14:6, r.v., out of his brief day.
The anticipation of death as total extinction strengthens Job's appeal, Job 14:7-12. Of a tree there is hope that, if cut down, it will sprout again, Job 14:7-9. But at present Job sees no such hope for man. He dies, and is done with, as waters "fail from the sea," Job 14:10-12. This is a gloomy, despairing thought, and one against which the mind rebels as soon as uttered. Against the belief that death is the end of all things every man's better nature revolts. Hence the picture of another life beyond the present immediately rises to Job, Job 14:13-15. It may be only a yearning desire, for Job still asks the question, Job 14:14. Yet this desire, as that for a Daysman, Job 9:32-34, both suggested by the heart's despair, is equally answered by the gospel.
The hope for a future life is made stronger by the apparent injustices that exist now, Job 14:16-22. God's treatment of Job appears to be so severe that Job must perish under His hand, Job 14:18-22. A future life is surely necessary to remedy the inequalities of the present. Evidently this is not the place and time of judgment. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 14

1  Job entreats God for favor, by the shortness of life, and certainty of death
7  He waits for his change
16  By sin the creature is subject to corruption

What do the individual words in Job 14:16 mean?

For now my steps You number but not do watch over my sin
כִּֽי־ עַ֭תָּה צְעָדַ֣י תִּסְפּ֑וֹר לֹֽא־ תִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹר עַל־ ؟ חַטָּאתִֽי

עַ֭תָּה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
צְעָדַ֣י  my  steps 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צַעַד  
Sense: step, pace, stride.
תִּסְפּ֑וֹר  You  number 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: סָפַר 
Sense: to count, recount, relate.
לֹֽא־  but  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִ֝שְׁמ֗וֹר  do  watch 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
؟ חַטָּאתִֽי  my  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.