Revised Literal Translation
Job 21:15
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
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 spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Read all of Job 21Job 21:15 word by word
מַה־שַׁדַּ֥י כִּֽי־נַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ וּמַה־נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל כִּ֣י נִפְגַּע־בּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Job 21:15
- Exodus 5:2And Pharaoh said, Who is Yhwh, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not Yhwh, neither will I let Israel go.
- Psalms 12:4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
- Proverbs 30:9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Yhwh? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
- Hosea 13:6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
- Job 34:9For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
- Job 35:3For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?
- Isaiah 30:11Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
- Malachi 1:13Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Yhwh of Armies; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith Yhwh.
- Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I Yhwh speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
- Matthew 7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
- John 16:24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
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
In the dictionaries
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
Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL
Commentaries