Christian Standard Bible
Job 3:20
20Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter,
Job 3:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
- New International Version (NIV)“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,
Context of Job 3:20
18The captives are completely at rest; they do not hear a taskmaster’s voice. 19Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master. Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter, 21who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure, 22who are filled with much joy and are glad when they reach the grave?
Read all of Job 3Job 3:20 word by word
לָ֤מָּה יִתֵּ֣ן לְעָמֵ֣ל א֑וֹר וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 3:20
- Job 6:9that he would decide to crush me, to unleash his power and cut me off!
- Job 7:15so that I prefer strangling — death rather than life in this body.
- Jeremiah 20:18Why did I come out of the womb to see only struggle and sorrow, to end my life in shame?
- Job 3:16Or why was I not hidden like a miscarried child, like infants who never see daylight?
- Job 33:28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will continue to see the light.”
- 1 Samuel 1:10Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.
- 2 Kings 4:27When she came up to the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone — she is in severe anguish, and the Lord has hidden it from me. He hasn’t told me.”
- Proverbs 31:6Give beer to one who is dying and wine to one whose life is bitter.
Commentaries on Job 3:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Wherefore is light given - Why is life granted to him who is incapable of enjoying it, or of performing its functions?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery? - The word “light” here is used undoubtedly to denote “life.” This verse commences a new part of Job‘s complaint. It is that God keeps people alive who would prefer to die; that he furnishes them with the means of sustaining existence, and actually preserves them, when they would consider it an inestimable blessing to expire. Schultens remarks, on this part of the chapter, that the tone of Job‘s complaint…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-26Verses 20-26 Job was like a man who had lost his way, and had no prospect of escape, or hope of better times. But surely he was in an ill frame for death when so unwilling to live. Let it be our constant care to get ready for another world, and then leave it to God to order our removal thither as he thinks fit. Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest crosses, to be willing to live…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Job compared light to life (33:30; see John 1:4; 8:12). Bitter might mean: “Angry” (Judges 18:25). “Fierce” (2 Samuel 17:8). “Anguish” (Job 7:11). Desperate (Proverbs 31:6). “Distress” (1 Samuel 1:10; 22:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2620. Wherefore giveth he light--namely, God; often omitted reverentially (Job 24:23; Ec 9:9). Light, that is, life. The joyful light ill suits the mourners. The grave is most in unison with their feelings.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 3:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 3
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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