Job 7:20

Job 7:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
• English Standard Version (ESV)If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?
• New Living Translation (NLT)If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you?

Context of Job 7:20

18that you examine them every morning and test them every moment? 19Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? 21Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

Job 7:20 word by word

חָטָ֡אתִי מָ֤ה אֶפְעַ֨ל׀ לָךְ֮ נֹצֵ֪ר הָאָ֫דָ֥ם לָ֤מָה שַׂמְתַּ֣נִי לְמִפְגָּ֣ע לָ֑ךְ וָאֶהְיֶ֖ה עָלַ֣י לְמַשָּֽׂא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have sinnedחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• what shall I doפָּעַלpâ‛al · to workH6466
• unto thee, O thou preserverנָצַרnâtsar · to watchH5341
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• why hast thou setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• me as a markמִפְגָּעmiphgâ‛ · targetH4645
• against thee, so that I am a burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · burdenH4853

Cross-references for Job 7:20

• Job 9:29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
• Job 13:26For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth.
• Job 14:16Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin.
• Job 22:5Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?
• Job 31:33if I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart
• Job 33:9‘I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
• Psalms 80:4How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?
• Nehemiah 9:6You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
• Psalms 36:6Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
• Job 7:12Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard?
• Job 6:4The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
• Job 16:12All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
• Psalms 21:12You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.
• Lamentations 3:12He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows.
• Job 7:11“Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
• Job 3:24For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.

Commentaries on Job 7:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20I have sinned; what shall I do - Dr. Kennicott contends that these words are spoken to Eliphaz, and not to God, and would paraphrase them thus: "You say I must have been a sinner. What then? I have not sinned against thee, O thou spy upon mankind! Why hast thou set up me as a butt or mark to shoot at? Why am I become a burden unto thee? Why not rather overlook my transgression, and pass by mine iniquity? I am now sinking to the dust! To-morrow, perhaps, I…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20I have sinned - חטאתי châṭâ'tı̂y This is a literal translation, and as it stands in the common version it is the language of a penitent - confessing that he had erred, and making humble acknowledgment of his sins. That such a confession became Job, and that he would be willing to admit that he was a sinner, there can be no doubt; but the connection seems rather to require a different sense - a sense implying that though he had sinned, yet his offences…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-21Verses 17-21 Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man. But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the concern he is in about his sins. The best men have to complain of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of it. God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Saviour of the souls of all that believe; but probably Job meant the Observer of men, whose…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Watcher of mankind: Instead of praising God for his goodness shown in careful attention, Job accused God of hostile surveillance. This actually describes Satan's actions (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 25:21; Proverbs 24:12; Job 1:7). Why comes from the language of grief (see study note on 3:11–24). Your target: See 6:4; Lamentations 3:12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. I have sinned--Yet what sin can I do against ("to," Job 35:6) thee (of such a nature that thou shouldst jealously watch and deprive me of all strength, as if thou didst fear me)? Yet thou art one who hast men ever in view, ever watchest them--O thou Watcher (Job 7:12; Da 9:14) of men. Job had borne with patience his trials, as sent by God (Job 1:21; 2:10); only his reason cannot reconcile the ceaseless continuance of his mental and bodily pains with…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 7:20

• Prayer
• Repentance
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Complain
• Dust
• Preserver
• Terrify
• Wearisome
• Burden
• Mark
• Text of the Old Testament

Commentaries on Job 7

• 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