God’s Word Translation
Job 36:21
21Be careful! Don’t turn to evil, because you have chosen evil instead of suffering.
Job 36:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
- New International Version (NIV)Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Context of Job 36:21
19Will your riches save you from having to suffer? Will all your mighty strength help you? 20Don’t look forward to the night, when people disappear from their places. Be careful! Don’t turn to evil, because you have chosen evil instead of suffering. 22“God does great things by his power. Is there any teacher like him? 23Who can tell him which way he should go? Who can say to him, ‘You did wrong’?
Read all of Job 36Job 36:21 word by word
הִ֭שָּׁמֶר אַל־תֵּ֣פֶן אֶל־אָ֑וֶן כִּֽי־עַל־זֶ֝֗ה בָּחַ֥רְתָּ מֵעֹֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 36:21
- Psalms 66:18If I had thought about doing anything sinful, the Lord would not have listened ⌞to me⌟.
- Ezekiel 14:4“So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet ⌞to ask for my help⌟. I, the Lord, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve.
- Matthew 5:29“So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.
- Job 34:7What person is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
- Job 35:3when you ask, ‘What benefit is it to you?’ and, ‘What would I gain by sinning?’
- Daniel 3:16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “We don’t need to answer your last question.
- Daniel 6:10When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went to his house. An upper room in his house had windows that opened in the direction of Jerusalem. Three times each day he got down on his knees and prayed to his God. He had always praised God this way.
- Matthew 13:21Since he doesn’t have any root, he lasts only a little while. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, he immediately falls ⌞from faith⌟.
- Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me.
- Acts 5:40The council took his advice. They called the apostles, beat them, ordered them not to speak about the one named Jesus, and let them go.
- Hebrews 11:25He chose to suffer with God’s people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while.
- 1 Peter 3:17After all, if it is God’s will, it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong.
- 1 Peter 4:15If you suffer, you shouldn’t suffer for being a murderer, thief, criminal, or troublemaker.
Commentaries on Job 36:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Regard not iniquity - It is sinful to entertain such wishes; it is an insult to the providence of God. He sends affliction; he knows this to be best for thee: but thou hast preferred death to affliction, thereby setting thy wisdom against the wisdom of God. Many in affliction, long for death; and yet they are not prepared to appear before God! What madness is this! If he takes them at their wish, they are ruined for ever. Affliction may be the means of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Take heed, regard not iniquity - That is, be cautious that in the view which you take of the divine government, and the sentiments which you express, you do not become the advocate of iniquity. Elihu apprehended this from the remarks in which he had indulged, and regarded him as having become the advocate of the same sentiments which the wicked held, and as in fact manifesting the same spirit. It is well to put a man who is afflicted on his guard against…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu thinks Job needed this…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. regard--literally, "turn thyself to." iniquity--namely, presumptuous speaking against God (Job 34:5, and above, see on Job 36:17, 18). rather than--to bear "affliction" with pious patience. Men think it an alleviation to complain against God, but this is adding sin to sorrow; it is sin, not sorrow, which can really hurt us (contrast He 11:25).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 36:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 36
- 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
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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