Job 21 · Verse 15

Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Job 21:15, King James Version

Job 21:15 in other translations

BSBWho is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
WEBWhat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
ASVWhat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
YLTWhat is the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?'
DARBYWhat is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
BBEWhat is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
WebsterWhat is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?

What does Job 21:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. (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."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 What 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 21:7-16

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…

Read the full comment on Job 21:7-16 →

Job 21:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַה\־mah-what?H4100
שַׁדַּ֥יsha.Dai[is the] AlmightyH7706
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
נַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּna.'av.De.nuwe will serve himH5647
וּמַה\־u.mah-and what?H4100
נּ֝וֹעִ֗ילno.'Ilwill we gainH3276
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
נִפְגַּע\־nif.ga'-we will entreatH6293
בּֽוֹ\׃bo<in> <the> him

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 21:15

  • Exodus 5:2

    And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

  • Job 34:9

    For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

  • Malachi 1:13-14

    Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; 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 the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

  • Psalms 12:4

    Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

  • Isaiah 30:11

    Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

  • Proverbs 30:9

    Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

  • Job 35:3

    For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

  • Isaiah 45:19

    I 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 the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

  • Hosea 13:6

    According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

  • Matthew 7:7

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
What is.
Ex 5:2; Ps 12:4; Pr 30:9; Ho 13:6
and what.
34:9; 35:3; Isa 30:11; Mal 1:13,14
if we.
Isa 45:19; Mt 7:7; Joh 16:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 21:14

    Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

  • Job 21:15

    What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

  • Job 21:16

    Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Read all of Job 21

Job 21:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Quién es el Todopoderoso, para que le sirvamos? ¿y de qué nos aprovechará que oremos á él?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Qu’est-ce que le Tout-puissant pour que nous le servions, et que nous profitera-t-il de nous adresser à lui?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was ist der Allmächtige, daß wir ihm dienen sollten, und was nützt es uns, daß wir ihn angehen? -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis est Omnipotens, ut serviamus ei? et quid nobis prodest si oraverimus illum?