Job 36 · Verse 21

Job 36:21

Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Job 36:21, King James Version

Job 36:21 in other translations

BSBBe careful not to turn to iniquity, for this you have preferred to affliction.
WEBTake heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
ASVTake heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
YLTTake heed--do not turn unto iniquity, For on this thou hast fixed Rather than on affliction.
DARBYTake heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
BBETake care not to be turned to sin, for you have taken evil for your part in place of sorrow.
WebsterTake heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

What does Job 36:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. regard--literally, "turn thyself to." iniquity--namely, presumptuous speaking against God (Job 34:5, and above, see on Job 36:17, 18). rather than--to bear "affliction" with pious patience. Men think it an alleviation to complain against God, but this is adding sin to sorrow; it is sin, not sorrow, which can really hurt us (contrast He 11:25).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Regard not iniquity - It is sinful to entertain such wishes; it is an insult to the providence of God. He sends affliction; he knows this to be best for thee: but thou hast preferred death to affliction, thereby setting thy wisdom against the wisdom of God. Many in affliction, long for death; and yet they are not prepared to appear before God! What madness is this! If he takes them at their wish, they are ruined for ever. Affliction may be the means of their salvation; the wished-for death, of their eternal destruction.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 36:15-23

Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu…

Read the full comment on Job 36:15-23 →

Job 36:21 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.

הִ֭שָּׁמֶרHi.sha.mertake heedH8104
אַל\־'al-may notH408
תֵּ֣פֶןTe.fenyou turnH6437
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אָ֑וֶן'A.venwickednessH205
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
עַל\־'al-<on>H5921
זֶ֝֗הZehthisH2088
בָּחַ֥רְתָּba.Char.tayou have chosenH977
מֵעֹֽנִי\׃me.'O.nimore than afflictionH6040

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

Cross references for Job 36:21

  • Psalms 66:18

    If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

  • Hebrews 11:25

    Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

  • 1 Peter 3:17

    For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Daniel 3:16-18

    Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

  • Daniel 6:10

    Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  • 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?

  • Matthew 5:29-30

    And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

  • Acts 5:40-41

    And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • Ezekiel 14:4

    Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

  • Job 34:7-9

    What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
regard.
Ps 66:18; Eze 14:4; Mt 5:29,30
this.
34:7-9; 35:3; Da 3:16-18; 6:10; Mt 13:21; 16:24; Ac 5:40,41
Heb 11:25; 1Pe 3:17; 4:15,16

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

Context

  • Job 36:20

    Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

  • Job 36:21

    Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

  • Job 36:22

    Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

Read all of Job 36

Job 36:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Guárdate, no tornes á la iniquidad; pues ésta escogiste más bien que la aflicción.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Prends garde à toi! Ne te tourne pas vers l’iniquité, car c’est ce que tu as choisi plutôt que l’affliction.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Hüte dich, wende dich nicht zum Frevel, denn das hast du dem Elend vorgezogen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Cave ne declines ad iniquitatem: hanc enim cœpisti sequi post miseriam.