Job 16:3

Job 16:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
• New International Version (NIV)Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

Context of Job 16:3

1Then Job replied: 2“I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all! Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you. 5But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Job 16:3 word by word

הֲקֵ֥ץ לְדִבְרֵי־ר֑וּחַ א֥וֹ מַה־יַּ֝מְרִֽיצְךָ֗ כִּ֣י תַעֲנֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Shall vainרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• have an endקֵץqêts · endH7093
• or what emboldenethמָרַץmârats · be sickH4834
• thee that thou answerestעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030

Cross-references for Job 16:3

• Job 6:26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?
• Job 8:2“How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind?
• Job 15:2“Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?
• Job 20:3When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer.
• Job 32:3With Job’s three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.
• Matthew 22:46No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.

Commentaries on Job 16:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Vain words - Literally, words of air. What emboldeneth thee - Thou art totally ignorant of the business; what then can induce thee to take part in this discussion?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Shall vain words? - Margin, As in Hebrew words of wind; that is, words which were devoid of thought-light, trifling. This is a retort on Eliphaz. He had charged Job Job 15:2-3 with uttering only such words. Such forms of expression are common in the East. “His promise, it is only wind.” “Breath, breath: all breath.” Roberts. Or what emboldeneth thee? - “What provokes or irritates thee, that thou dost answer in this manner? What have I said, that has given…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. "Words of wind," Hebrew. He retorts upon Eliphaz his reproach (Job 15:2). emboldeneth--literally, "What wearies you so that ye contradict?" that is, What have I said to provoke you? &c. [Schuttens]. Or, as better accords with the first clause, "Wherefore do ye weary yourselves contradicting?" [Umbreit].Read the comment

Topics related to Job 16:3

• Persecution
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Comforter
• Foul
• Plead
• Scorn
• Provocation; Provoke

Commentaries on Job 16

• 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