Job 35 · Verse 3

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?
Job 35:3, King James Version

Job 35:3 in other translations

BSBFor you ask, ‘What does it profit me, and what benefit do I gain apart from sin?’
WEBthat you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
ASVThat thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? And, What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
YLTFor thou sayest, ‘What doth it profit Thee! What do I profit from my sin?'
DARBYFor thou hast asked of what profit it is unto thee: what do I gain more than if I had sinned?
BBEWhat profit is it to me, and how am I better off than if I had done wrong?
WebsterFor thou saidst, What advantage will it be to thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

What does Job 35:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Rather, explanatory of "this" in Job 35:2, "That thou sayest (to thyself, as if a distinct person) What advantage is it (thy integrity) to thee? What profit have I (by integrity) more than (I should have) by my sin?" that is, more than if I had sinned (Job 34:9). Job had said that the wicked, who use these very words, do not suffer for it (Job 21:13-15); whereby he virtually sanctioned their sentiments. The same change of persons from oblique to direct address occurs (Job 19:28; 22:17).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 What advantage will it be unto thee? - As if he had said to God, "My righteousness cannot profit thee, nor do I find that it is of any benefit to myself." Or perhaps Elihu makes here a general assertion, which he afterwards endeavors to exemplify: Thou hast been reasoning how it may profit thee, and thou hast said, "What profit shall I have in righteousness more than in sin?"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 35:1-8

Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us, and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach, either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful that we have better than we deserve.

Read the full comment on Job 35:1-8 →

Job 35:3 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.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
תֹ֭אמַרTo.maryou sayH559
מַה\־mah-what?H4100
יִּסְכָּן\־yis.kon-will it be of useH5532
לָ֑ךְLakhto you
מָֽה\־mah-what?H4100
אֹ֝עִ֗יל'o.'Ilwill I profitH3276
מֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי\׃Me.cha.ta.Tifrom sin myH2403

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

Cross references for Job 35:3

  • Job 34:9

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

  • Malachi 3:14

    Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

  • Job 9:21-22

    Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

  • Psalms 73:13

    Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

  • Job 31:2

    For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

  • Job 9:30-31

    If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

  • Job 10:15

    If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

  • Job 21:15

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
what advantage.
9:21,22; 10:15; 21:15; 31:2; 34:9; Ps 73:13; Mal 3:14
If I be cleansed from my sin. or, by it more than by my sin.

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

Context

  • Job 35:2

    Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

  • 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?

  • Job 35:4

    I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

Read all of Job 35

Job 35:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque dijiste: ¿Qué ventaja sacarás tú de ello? ¿ó qué provecho tendré de mi pecado?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car tu as demandé quel profit tu en as: Quel avantage en ai-je de plus que si j’avais péché?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn du fragst, was sie dir nütze; was gewinne ich mehr, als wenn ich gesündigt hätte? -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixisti enim: Non tibi placet quod rectum est: vel quid tibi proderit, si ego peccavero?