Job 37 · Verse 20

Job 37:20

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Job 37:20, King James Version

Job 37:20 in other translations

BSBShould He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
WEBWill it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
ASVShall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
YLTIs it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up.
DARBYShall it be told him if I would speak? if a man so say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
BBEHow may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?
WebsterShall it be told him that I speak? If a man shall speak, surely he will be swallowed up.

What does Job 37:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told Him. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (Job 13:3, 18-22). if ... surely he shall be swallowed up--The parallelism more favors Umbreit, "Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) that he is (without cause) being destroyed?"

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? - Shall I dare to whisper even before God? And suppose any one were to accuse me before him for what I have spoken of him, though that has been well intended, how should I be able to stand in his presence? I should be swallowed up in consternation, and consumed with the splendor of his majesty. But in what state art thou? What hast thou been doing? Thou hast arraigned God for his government of the world; thou hast found fault with the dispensations of his providence; thou hast even charged him with cruelty! What will become of Thee?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 37:14-20

Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts, So 4:16. The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine government. Those who, through grace, know much of God…

Read the full comment on Job 37:14-20 →

Job 37:20 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.

הַֽיְסֻפַּר\־hay.su.par-¿ will it be recountedH5608
ל֭וֹloto him
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
אֲדַבֵּ֑ר'a.da.BerI will speakH1696
אִֽם\־'im-or?H518
אָ֥מַר'A.mardid he sayH559
אִ֝֗ישׁ'IshanyoneH376
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
יְבֻלָּֽע\׃ye.vu.La'he will be swallowed upH1104

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

Cross references for Job 37:20

  • Matthew 12:36-37

    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

  • Job 11:7-8

    Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

  • Job 6:3

    For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

  • Psalms 139:4

    For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Shall it.
Ps 139:4; Mt 12:36,37
surely.
6:3; 11:7,8

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

Context

  • Job 37:19

    Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

  • Job 37:20

    Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

  • Job 37:21

    And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

Read all of Job 37

Job 37:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Será preciso contarle cuando yo hablaré? Por más que el hombre razone, quedará como abismado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Lui racontera-t-on que je parle? Si quelqu’un lui parle, il sera sûrement englouti.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Soll ihm gemeldet werden, daß ich reden wolle? Wenn jemand zu ihm spricht, er wird gewiß verschlungen werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis narrabit ei quæ loquor? etiam si locutus fuerit homo, devorabitur.