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 my blood, and let there be no place for my cry! 19Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights. My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend! 22For years [few] in number shall pass, — and 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: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;
• Job 12:4I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright [man].
• Job 17:2Are there not mockers around me? and doth [not] mine eye abide in their provocation?
• Psalms 109:4For my love they are mine adversaries; but I [give myself unto] prayer.
• Psalms 142:2I pour out my plaint before him; I shew before him my trouble.
• Hosea 12:4Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us,
• Luke 6:11But they were filled with madness, and they spoke together among themselves what they should do to Jesus.
• Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up both supplications and entreaties to him who was able to save him out of death, with strong crying and tears; (and having been heard because of his piety;)

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