Job 7:20

Job 7:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
• New International Version (NIV)If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?
• English Standard Version (ESV)If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?

Context of Job 7:20

18You never leave us alone. You test us every moment of every day. 19You never look the other way. You never leave me alone, even for a moment. You carefully watch what people do. Even if I have done something wrong, it should not cause any trouble for you. So why do you choose to punish me? 21You should agree to forgive my sins. You should say that I am not guilty. I will soon die and I will go into my grave. Then you will carefully look for me, but I will not be there.’

Job 7:20 word by word

חָטָ֡אתִי מָ֤ה אֶפְעַ֨ל׀ לָךְ֮ נֹצֵ֪ר הָאָ֫דָ֥ם לָ֤מָה שַׂמְתַּ֣נִי לְמִפְגָּ֣ע לָ֑ךְ וָאֶהְיֶ֖ה עָלַ֣י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• what shall I doפָּעַלpâ‛al · to workH6466
• unto thee, O thou preserverנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• why hast thou setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• me as a markמִפְגָּעmiphgâ‛ · targetH4645
• against thee, so that I am a burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853

Cross-references for Job 7:20

• Job 9:29So, if I am guilty, it is useless to do anything about it.
• Job 13:26You write down things to accuse me. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.
• Job 14:16You would watch me carefully, but you would not make a note of my sins.
• Job 22:5No! It is because you are a very wicked person. You have done too many evil things for anyone to count them. That is why he is punishing you.
• Job 31:33I do not try to hide my sins, as some people do.
• Job 33:9“I am not guilty. I have not done anything that is wrong. I am pure and clean.
• Psalms 80:4Lord God Almighty, we, your people, are praying to you. How long will you continue to be angry with us?
• Nehemiah 9:6Only you are the Lord. You made the sky and the heavens above the sky. You made all the stars, the earth and everything on it. You made the seas and everything in them. You give life to everything. The great crowd of angels in heaven bend down low to worship you.
• Psalms 36:6Your justice is like the strongest mountains. You always do what is right, more than the seas are deep. You take care of people and animals and you keep them safe.
• Job 7:12Why do you have to watch me, God, like a guard? Do you think that I am a dangerous monster from the sea?
• Job 6:4Almighty God has shot his arrows into me. Their poison is now deep inside me. God has sent me many troubles that make me afraid.
• Job 16:12I was living in peace, but then God destroyed me. He took hold of my neck and he shook me to pieces. He decided to shoot his arrows at me.
• Psalms 21:12No! You shoot your arrows at them, so that they turn round and they run away!
• Lamentations 3:12God is like a soldier with a bow and arrows. He used his bow to shoot at me.
• Job 7:11So I must continue to speak. I will tell you how upset I am. I am angry because of what has happened to me. So I must complain.
• Job 3:24I am crying instead of eating. My tears pour out like a river of water.

Commentaries on Job 7:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20I have sinned; what shall I do - Dr. Kennicott contends that these words are spoken to Eliphaz, and not to God, and would paraphrase them thus: "You say I must have been a sinner. What then? I have not sinned against thee, O thou spy upon mankind! Why hast thou set up me as a butt or mark to shoot at? Why am I become a burden unto thee? Why not rather overlook my transgression, and pass by mine iniquity? I am now sinking to the dust! To-morrow, perhaps, I…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20I have sinned - חטאתי châṭâ'tı̂y This is a literal translation, and as it stands in the common version it is the language of a penitent - confessing that he had erred, and making humble acknowledgment of his sins. That such a confession became Job, and that he would be willing to admit that he was a sinner, there can be no doubt; but the connection seems rather to require a different sense - a sense implying that though he had sinned, yet his offences…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man. But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the concern he is in about his sins. The best men have to complain of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of it. God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Saviour of the souls of all that believe; but probably Job meant the Observer of men, whose…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Watcher of mankind: Instead of praising God for his goodness shown in careful attention, Job accused God of hostile surveillance. This actually describes Satan's actions (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 25:21; Proverbs 24:12; Job 1:7). Why comes from the language of grief (see study note on 3:11–24). Your target: See 6:4; Lamentations 3:12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. I have sinned--Yet what sin can I do against ("to," Job 35:6) thee (of such a nature that thou shouldst jealously watch and deprive me of all strength, as if thou didst fear me)? Yet thou art one who hast men ever in view, ever watchest them--O thou Watcher (Job 7:12; Da 9:14) of men. Job had borne with patience his trials, as sent by God (Job 1:21; 2:10); only his reason cannot reconcile the ceaseless continuance of his mental and bodily pains with…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 7:20

• Prayer
• Repentance
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Complain
• Dust
• Preserver
• Terrify
• Wearisome
• Burden
• Mark
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on Job 7

• 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