God’s Word Translation
Job 7:20
20If I sin, what can I ⌞possibly⌟ do to you since you insist on spying on people? Why do you make me your target? I’ve become a burden even to myself.
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
18⌞What is he⌟ that you should inspect him every morning and examine him every moment? 19Why don’t you stop looking at me long enough to let me swallow my spit? If I sin, what can I ⌞possibly⌟ do to you since you insist on spying on people? Why do you make me your target? I’ve become a burden even to myself. 21Why don’t you forgive my disobedience and take away my sin? Soon I’ll lie down in the dust. Then you will search for me, but I’ll be gone!”
Read all of Job 7Job 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 9:29I’ve already been found guilty. Why should I work so hard for nothing?
- Job 13:26You write down bitter accusations against me. You make me suffer for the sins of my youth.
- Job 14:16Though now you count my steps, you will not keep ⌞a record of⌟ my sins.
- Job 22:5“Aren’t you really very wicked? Is there no end to your wrongdoing?
- Job 31:33“If I have covered my disobedience like Adam and kept my sin to myself,
- Job 33:9⌞You said,⌟ ‘I’m pure—without any rebellious acts ⌞against God⌟. I’m clean; I have no sin.
- Psalms 80:4O Lord God, commander of armies, how long will you smolder in anger against the prayer of your people?
- Nehemiah 9:6You alone are the Lord. You made heaven, the highest heaven, with all its armies. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to them all, and the armies of heaven worship you.
- Psalms 36:6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God, your judgments like the deep ocean. You save people and animals, O Lord.
- Job 7:12“Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have set a guard over me?
- Job 6:4because the arrows of the Almighty ⌞have found their target⌟ in me, and my spirit is drinking their poison. God’s terrors line up in battle against me.
- Job 16:12I was at ease, and he shattered me. He grabbed me by the back of the neck and smashed ⌞my skull⌟. He set me up as his target,
- Psalms 21:12They turn their backs ⌞and flee⌟ because you aim your bow at their faces.
- Lamentations 3:12He has drawn his bow and made me the target for his arrows.
- Job 7:11So I won’t keep my mouth shut, but I will speak from the distress that is in my spirit and complain about the bitterness in my soul.
- Job 3:24“When my food is in front of me, I sigh. I pour out my groaning like 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
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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