איוב, פרק י״ד, פסוק י׳

Human existence is defined by its absolute finality, standing in sharp contrast to the natural world. While a tree can be cut down and still sprout new growth, a person's departure from life leaves an empty void, with no chance for physical renewal or return to this world. Often, this end comes when a person is in the prime of their life, full of strength and power [מלבי״ם]. Yet, the progression of this end presents a logical puzzle, as it describes a person passing away and subsequently becoming weak. To explain how one can weaken after death, one approach suggests that the events are simply stated out of chronological order; a person first falls ill and loses strength, and only afterward passes away [מנחת שי, רמב״ן בשם יש מפרשים]. Alternatively, this weakness is not a typical physical frailty but signifies complete destruction and breaking [רמב״ן, רלב״ג]. Following death, the body decays and wastes away entirely [רמב״ן]. Unlike a tree whose roots remain strong even after its branches are severed, human strength is eradicated completely and can never regrow [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג, מצודת דוד].

The description of mortality then repeats itself poetically, a style often used in statements of warning or rebuke [רמב״ן]. Beyond mere repetition, this highlights a different kind of passing. While the initial focus was on a sudden end during the peak of youth and vigor, this stage reflects a death that comes from the natural exhaustion and frailty of old age [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, the person disappears entirely, leaving nothing of their physical self behind in the world [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond the physical reality of death, there is a profound spiritual lesson regarding the journey of the soul. A person should strive to correct their mistakes during their current lifetime rather than relying on the chance to fix them in a future reincarnation. When a soul returns to this world for a second time, its spiritual strength is inherently diminished. If a person was overpowered by negative desires in their first life when their soul was pure, it will be much harder to resist those same urges in a subsequent life after they have already taken root. God grants humanity free will, but if a soul continues to weaken across multiple lifetimes, it faces the ultimate danger of losing its spiritual perfection entirely and being permanently cut off from existence [אלשיך].