New English Translation
Job 20:4
4“Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,
Job 20:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
- New International Version (NIV)“Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since mankind was placed on the earth,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth,
Context of Job 20:4
2“This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back – because of my feelings within me. 3When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer. “Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth, 5that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. 6Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,
Read all of Job 20Job 20:4 word by word
הֲזֹ֣את יָ֭דַעְתָּ מִנִּי־עַ֑ד מִנִּ֤י שִׂ֖ים אָדָ֣ם עֲלֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 20:4
- Job 8:8“For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors;
- Job 15:10The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men far older than your father.
- Job 32:7I said to myself, ‘Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.’
- Genesis 1:28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”
- Genesis 9:1Then God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
- Psalms 115:16The heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind.
Commentaries on Job 20:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Knowest thou not this of old - This is a maxim as ancient as the world; it began with the first man: A wicked man shall triumph but a short time; God will destroy the proud doer. Since man was placed upon earth - Literally, since Adam was placed on the earth; that is, since the fall, wickedness and hypocrisy have existed; but they have never triumphed long. Thou hast lately been expressing confidence in reference to a general judgment; but such is thy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Knowest thou not this of old - That is, dost thou not know that this has always happened from the beginning of the world, or that this is the invariable course of events. His purpose is to show that it was the settled arrangement of Providence that the wicked would be overtaken with signal calamity. It was “so” settled that Job ought not to be surprised that it had occurred in “his” case. Zophar goes on to show that though a wicked man might rise high in…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-29SECOND SERIES. 2. Therefore--Rather, the more excited I feel by Job's speech, the more for that very reason shall my reply be supplied by my calm consideration. Literally, "Notwithstanding; my calm thoughts (as in Job 4:13) shall furnish my answer, because of the excitement (haste) within me" [Umbreit].Read the comment
Topics related to Job 20:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 20
- 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
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