Job 16:20

Job 16:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
• New International Version (NIV)My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
• English Standard Version (ESV)My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
• New King James Version (NKJV)My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God.

Context of Job 16:20

18O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have noresting-place. 19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high. My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God, 21That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor! 22For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Job 16:20 word by word

מְלִיצַ֥י רֵעָ֑י אֶל־אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַ דָּלְפָ֥ה עֵינִֽי׃Read the interlinear

• friendsרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• eyeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• Godאֱלֹהַּ'ĕlôahh 'ĕlôahh · godH433

Cross-references for Job 16:20

• Job 16:4I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
• Job 12:4I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
• Job 17:2Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.
• Psalms 109:4For my love they are my adversaries: But Igive myself untoprayer.
• Psalms 142:2I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble.
• Hosea 12:4yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,
• Luke 6:11But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
• Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,

Commentaries on Job 16:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20My friends scorn me - They deride and insult me, but my eye is towards God; I look to him to vindicate my cause.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20My friends scorn me - Margin “are my scorners.” That is, his friends had him in derision and mocked him, and he could only appeal with tears to God. Mine eye poureth out tears unto God - Despised and mocked by his friends, he made his appeal to one who he knew would regard him with compassion. This shows that the heart of Job was substantially right. Notwithstanding, all his passionate exclamations; and notwithstanding, his expressions, when he was urged…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 Job's condition was very deplorable; but he had the testimony of his conscience for him, that he never allowed himself in any gross sin. No one was ever more ready to acknowledge sins of infirmity. Eliphaz had charged him with hypocrisy in religion, but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in this he was pure, though not from all infirmity. He had a God to go to, who he doubted not took full notice of all his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21my witness is in heaven: Job wished for a kind third party to be "a mediator" between him and God (see 9:32–35). Job wanted a heavenly advocate who would eventually stand on the earth (16:19; compare Zechariah 3:1; Job 19:25; compare 1 Samuel 24:15; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Hebrew, "are my scorners"; more forcibly, "my mockers--my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox [Umbreit]. God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 16:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Friendship

In the dictionaries

• God
• Comforter
• Foul
• Plead
• Scorn
• Bildad
• Death

Commentaries on Job 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary