Job 21:15

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?’
• English Standard Version (ESV)What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray 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?’

Context of Job 21:15

13They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 14So they say to God, ‘Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?’ 16But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me! 17“How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?

Job 21:15 word by word

מַה־שַׁדַּ֥י כִּֽי־נַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ וּמַה־נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל כִּ֣י נִפְגַּע־בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
• that we should serveעָבַד‛âbad · to serve: ministerH5647
• him? and what profitיָעַלya‛al · to gainH3276
• should we have, if we prayפָּגַעpâga‛ · to fall onH6293

Cross-references for Job 21:15

• Exodus 5:2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel!”
• Psalms 12:4They say, “We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?”
• Proverbs 30:9lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.
• Hosea 13:6When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!
• Job 34:9For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’
• Job 35:3But you say, ‘What will it profit you,’ and, ‘What do I gain by not sinning?’
• Isaiah 30:11Turn aside from the way, stray off the path. Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.”
• Malachi 1:13You also say, ‘How tiresome it is.’ You turn up your nose at it,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and instead bring what is stolen, lame, or sick. You bring these things for an offering! Should I accept this from you?” asks the Lord.
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.
• Matthew 7:7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.
• John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.

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

• Amusements and Worldly Pleasures
• Character
• Infidelity
• Prayer
• Prayerlessness
• Rich, the
• Scoffing
• Skepticism
• Vanity
• Wicked (People)
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Intercession

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