Job 36:21

Job 36:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
• New International Version (NIV)Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.

Context of Job 36:21

19Can your wealth or all your mighty effort keep you from distress? 20Do not long for the night, when people vanish from their homes. Be careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction. 22Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? 23Who has appointed His way for Him, or told Him, ‘You have done wrong’?

Job 36:21 word by word

הִ֭שָּׁמֶר אַל־תֵּ֣פֶן אֶל־אָ֑וֶן כִּֽי־עַל־זֶ֝֗ה בָּחַ֥רְתָּ מֵעֹֽנִי׃Read the interlinear

• Be carefulשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: carefulH8104
• notאַל'al · notH408
• to turnפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• iniquityאָ֫וֶן'âven · evil: wickednessH205
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• ·עַל‛al · uponH5921
• thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• you have preferredבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• to afflictionעֳנִי‛ŏnîy · afflictionH6040

Cross-references for Job 36:21

• Psalms 66:18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
• Ezekiel 14:4Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry,
• Matthew 5:29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
• Job 34:7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
• Job 35:3For you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’
• Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
• Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
• Matthew 13:21But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
• Matthew 16:24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
• Acts 5:40At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
• Hebrews 11:25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
• 1 Peter 3:17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
• 1 Peter 4:15Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler.

Commentaries on Job 36:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Regard not iniquity - It is sinful to entertain such wishes; it is an insult to the providence of God. He sends affliction; he knows this to be best for thee: but thou hast preferred death to affliction, thereby setting thy wisdom against the wisdom of God. Many in affliction, long for death; and yet they are not prepared to appear before God! What madness is this! If he takes them at their wish, they are ruined for ever. Affliction may be the means of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Take heed, regard not iniquity - That is, be cautious that in the view which you take of the divine government, and the sentiments which you express, you do not become the advocate of iniquity. Elihu apprehended this from the remarks in which he had indulged, and regarded him as having become the advocate of the same sentiments which the wicked held, and as in fact manifesting the same spirit. It is well to put a man who is afflicted on his guard against…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu thinks Job needed this…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. regard--literally, "turn thyself to." iniquity--namely, presumptuous speaking against God (Job 34:5, and above, see on Job 36:17, 18). rather than--to bear "affliction" with pious patience. Men think it an alleviation to complain against God, but this is adding sin to sorrow; it is sin, not sorrow, which can really hurt us (contrast He 11:25).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 36:21

• Holiness
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Ascribe
• Elihu
• Esteem
• Hang
• God

Commentaries on Job 36

• 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
• EGW Writings