Job 15:14
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Study Note
Study Note
'What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?' — the rhetorical question echoes Bildad's similar challenge in Job 25:4 and anticipates the 'born of woman' language of Galatians 4:4, where the same phrase signals Christ's full entry into the human condition. Within Job's theological universe, the challenge is meant to silence Job by appealing to universal human unworthiness — but God's direct speech in Job 38–41 never engages this ground, instead overwhelming Job with the mystery of creation, suggesting that the friends' retribution theology has missed the actual question the book is asking.
Other Translations
What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
What <FI>is<Fi> man that he is pure, And that he is righteous, one born of woman?
What is man, that he may be clean? and how may the son of woman be upright?
Cross References
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to …
How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.