Darby Bible
Job 3:20
20Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,
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 prisoners together are at ease; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. 19The small and great are there, and the bondman freed from his master. Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul, 21Who long for death, and it [cometh] not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; 22Who rejoice even exultingly and are glad when they find the grave? —
Read all of Job 3Job 3:20 word by word
לָ֤מָּה יִתֵּ֣ן לְעָמֵ֣ל א֑וֹר וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Job 3:20
- Job 6:9And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
- Job 7:15So that my soul chooseth strangling, death, rather than my bones.
- Jeremiah 20:18Wherefore came I forth from the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed in shame?
- Job 3:16Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that have not seen the light.
- Job 33:28He hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall see the light.
- 1 Samuel 1:10and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Jehovah, and wept much.
- 2 Kings 4:27And she came to the man of God to the mountain, and caught him by the feet; and Gehazi drew near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her, and Jehovah has hidden it from me, and has not told me.
- Proverbs 31:6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter of soul:
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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Commentaries