Job 3 · Verse 20

Job 3:20

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Job 3:20, King James Version

Job 3:20 in other translations

BSBWhy is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,
WEB“Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,
ASVWherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;
YLTWhy giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?
DARBYWherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,
BBEWhy does he give light to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul;
WebsterWhy is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

What does Job 3:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Job 3:20-26. He Complains of Life because of His Anguish.

20. 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.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Wherefore is light given - Why is life granted to him who is incapable of enjoying it, or of performing its functions?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 3:20-26
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. Job's way was hid; he knew not wherefore God contended with him. The afflicted and tempted Christian knows something of this heaviness; when he has been looking too much at the things that are seen, some chastisement of his heavenly Father will give him a taste of this disgust of life, and a glance at these dark regions of despair. Nor is there any help until God shall restore to him the joys of his salvation. Blessed be God, the earth is full of his goodness, though full of man's wickedness. This life may be made tolerable if we attend to our duty. We look for eternal mercy, if willing to receive Christ as our Saviour.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 3:20 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.

לָ֤מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
יִתֵּ֣ןyi.Tendoes someone giveH5414
לְעָמֵ֣לle.'a.Melto a suffererH6001
א֑וֹר'orlightH216
וְ֝חַיִּ֗יםve.chai.Yimand lifeH2416
לְמָ֣רֵיle.Ma.reito [people] bitter ofH4751
נָֽפֶשׁ\׃Na.feshsoulH5315

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

Cross references for Job 3:20

  • Jeremiah 20:18

    Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

  • Job 7:15-16

    So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

  • 1 Samuel 1:10

    And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

  • Proverbs 31:6

    Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

  • Job 6:9

    Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

  • 2 Kings 4:27

    And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

  • Job 33:30

    To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

  • Job 3:16

    Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

  • Job 33:28

    He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
6:9; 7:15,16; Jer 20:18
light.
16; 33:28,30
the bitter.
7:15,16; 1Sa 1:10; 2Ki 4:27; Pr 31:6

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

Context

  • Job 3:19

    The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

  • Job 3:20

    Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

  • Job 3:21

    Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

Read all of Job 3

Job 3:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué se da luz al trabajado, y vida á los de ánimo en amargura,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi la lumière est-elle donnée au misérable, et la vie à ceux qui ont l’amertume dans l’âme,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Warum gibt er dem Mühseligen Licht, und Leben denen, die bitterer Seele sind;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quare misero data est lux, et vita his qui in amaritudine animæ sunt: