New International Version
Job 3:20
20“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,
Job 3:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter?
Context of Job 3:20
18Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout. 19The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners. “Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, 21to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, 22who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
Read all of Job 3Job 3:20 word by word
לָ֤מָּה יִתֵּ֣ן לְעָמֵ֣ל א֑וֹר וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 3:20
- Job 6:9that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
- Job 7:15so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine.
- Jeremiah 20:18Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
- Job 3:16Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
- Job 33:28God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
- 1 Samuel 1:10In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
- 2 Kings 4:27When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”
- Proverbs 31:6Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
Commentaries on Job 3:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Wherefore is light given - Why is life granted to him who is incapable of enjoying it, or of performing its functions?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery? - The word “light” here is used undoubtedly to denote “life.” This verse commences a new part of Job‘s complaint. It is that God keeps people alive who would prefer to die; that he furnishes them with the means of sustaining existence, and actually preserves them, when they would consider it an inestimable blessing to expire. Schultens remarks, on this part of the chapter, that the tone of Job‘s complaint…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-26Verses 20-26 Job was like a man who had lost his way, and had no prospect of escape, or hope of better times. But surely he was in an ill frame for death when so unwilling to live. Let it be our constant care to get ready for another world, and then leave it to God to order our removal thither as he thinks fit. Grace teaches us in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be willing to die, and in the midst of its greatest crosses, to be willing to live…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Job compared light to life (33:30; see John 1:4; 8:12). Bitter might mean: “Angry” (Judges 18:25). “Fierce” (2 Samuel 17:8). “Anguish” (Job 7:11). Desperate (Proverbs 31:6). “Distress” (1 Samuel 1:10; 22:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-2620. Wherefore giveth he light--namely, God; often omitted reverentially (Job 24:23; Ec 9:9). Light, that is, life. The joyful light ill suits the mourners. The grave is most in unison with their feelings.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 3:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 3
- 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
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