Job 21:17

Job 21:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
• New King James Version (NKJV)“How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?

Context of Job 21:17

15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’ 16But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked. “Yet how often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does calamity come upon them, the fate God allots in his anger? 18How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gale? 19It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’ Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!

Job 21:17 word by word

כַּמָּ֤ה׀ נֵר־רְשָׁ֘עִ֤ים יִדְעָ֗ךְ וְיָבֹ֣א עָלֵ֣ימוֹ אֵידָ֑ם חֲ֝בָלִ֗ים יְחַלֵּ֥ק בְּאַפּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• How oft is the candleנֵרnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
• of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
• put outדָּעַךְdâ‛ak · to put outH1846
• comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• their destructionאֵיד'êyd · calamityH343
• distributethחָלַקchâlaq · to divideH2505
• sorrowsחֵ֫בֶלchebel chêbel · painH2256
• in his angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639

Cross-references for Job 21:17

• Job 18:5“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.
• Proverbs 13:9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
• Proverbs 20:20If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
• Proverbs 24:20for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
• Matthew 25:8The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
• Psalms 32:10Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
• Psalms 90:7We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
• Luke 12:46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
• Romans 2:8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Commentaries on Job 21:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? - The candle or lamp is often used, both as the emblem of prosperity and of posterity. Oftentimes the rejoicing of the wicked is short; and, not unfrequently, his seed is cut off from the earth. The root is dried up, and the branch is withered. God distributeth sorrows in his anger - He must be incensed against those who refuse to know, serve, and pray unto him. In his anger, therefore, he portions out to each…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? - Margin, “lamp.” A light, or a lamp, was an image of prosperity. There is, probably, an allusion here to what had been maintained by Bildad, Job 18:5-6, that the light of the wicked would be extinguished, and their dwellings made dark; see the notes at those verses. Job replies to this by asking how often it occurred. He inquires whether it was a frequent thing. By this, he implies that it was not universal…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 Job had described the prosperity of wicked people; in these verses he opposes this to what his friends had maintained about their certain ruin in this life. He reconciles this to the holiness and justice of God. Even while they prosper thus, they are light and worthless, of no account with God, or with wise men. In the height of their pomp and power, there is but a step between them and ruin. Job refers the difference Providence makes between…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17the lamp of the wicked put out: Job disagreed with Bildad and the standard perspective of wisdom (18:5–6, 18; Proverbs 13:9; 20:20; 24:20; see God’s comments at Job 38:15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Job in this whole passage down to Job 21:21 quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments. In Job 21:22 he proceeds to refute them. "How oft is the candle" (lamp), &c., quoting Bildad's sentiment (Job 18:5, 6), in order to question its truth (compare Mt 25:8). how oft--"God distributeth," &c. (alluding to Job 20:23, 29). sorrows--Umbreit translates "snares," literally, "cords,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 21:17

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Death
• Sin
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Candle
• Inspiration
• Lamp; Lampstand

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