Job 20:4

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“I must reply because I am greatly disturbed. 3I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply. “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth, 5the triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary? 6Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds,

Job 20:4 word by word

הֲזֹ֣את יָ֭דַעְתָּ מִנִּי־עַ֑ד מִנִּ֤י שִׂ֖ים אָדָ֣ם עֲלֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• this of oldעַד‛ad · perpetuityH5703
• since manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• was placedשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• upon earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Job 20:4

• Job 8:8“Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.
• Job 15:10On our side are aged, gray-haired men much older than your father!
• Job 32:7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’
• Genesis 1:28Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
• Genesis 9:1Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth.
• Psalms 115:16The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.

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

• Death
• Hypocrisy
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Rain
• Short
• Adam in the Old Testament
• Zophar

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