Job 14:4

4 Who can bring [nathan] a clean [tahowr] thing out of an unclean [tame']? not one ['echad]. KJV-Interlinear

4 'Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! NASB

Who or what is the unclean and who or what is the clean thing that Job is referring to?

The human race.

Job is referring to himself. He has already admitted that he is a sinner. Job has already stated that the nature of man, in general, is corruption. This includes himself, his friends who are sitting with him, everyone who has been born from a momma.

And who among them, who among all of humanity, can change the fundamental nature of the human race? No one.

No one who has been born from corruption, can change his own state, or that of anyone else.

Job gets no argument.

The implication here is that there is no one except God, who can change the fundamental principles of this universe, especially sinful man.

Man is born into this world with death hanging over his head. From the very beginning of ones life, helplessness exists, and it continues throughout ones entire earthly lifespan.

From the very beginning of ones life, work is placed as a burden on the individual throughout ones life. Even babies have to nurse, to eat, in order to survive.

However, no amount of innocence, no amount of work, no amount of penance, no amount of trickery or deceit, no amount of sincerity, no amount of good intentions, nothing in this world is at mans disposal by which he can wipe out his sins, or prevent his certain death.

Man is corruption, and corruption cannot eliminate its own putridness.

Now is the time to post a prayer.