English Standard Version
Job 21:15
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
Job 21:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
- New International Version (NIV)Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’
- New Living Translation (NLT)Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?’
Context of Job 21:15
13They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. 14They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?' 16Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
Read all of Job 21Job 21:15 word by word
מַה־שַׁדַּ֥י כִּֽי־נַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ וּמַה־נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל כִּ֣י נִפְגַּע־בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 21:15
- Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go."
- Psalms 12:4those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?"
- Proverbs 30:9lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
- Hosea 13:6but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.
- Job 34:9For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'
- Job 35:3that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'
- Isaiah 30:11leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel."
- Malachi 1:13But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord.
- Isaiah 45:19I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right.
- Matthew 7:7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
- John 16:24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Commentaries on Job 21:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15What is the Almighty - What allegiance do we owe to him? We feel no obligation to obey him; and what profit can we derive from prayer? We are as happy as flesh and blood can make us: our kingdom is of this world; we wish for no other portion than that which we have. Those who have never prayed as they ought know nothing of the benefits of prayer.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? - compare for similar expressions, Exodus 5:2; Proverbs 30:9. The meaning here is, “What claim has the Almighty, or who is he, that we should be bound to obey and worship him? What authority has he over us? Why should we yield our will to his, and why submit to his claims?” This is the language of the human heart everywhere. Man seeks to deny the authority of God over him, and to feel that he has no claim to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light of God and religion, as if because they have so much…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. (Compare Jr 2:20; Pr 30:9, Margin, Ex 5:2). what profit--(Job 35:3; Mal 3:14; Psa 73:13). Sinners ask, not what is right, but what is for the profit of self. They forget, "If religion cost self something, the want of it will cost self infinitely more."Read the comment
Topics related to Job 21:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 21
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries