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Selected Verse: Job 3:20 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Job 3:20 |
King James |
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
HE COMPLAINS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF HIS ANGUISH. (Job 3:20-26)
Wherefore giveth he light--namely, God; often omitted reverentially (Job 24:23; Ecc 9:9). Light, that is, life. The joyful light ill suits the mourners. The grave is most in unison with their feelings. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery? - The word "light" here is used undoubtedly to denote "life." This verse commences a new part of Job's complaint. It is that God keeps people alive who would prefer to die; that he furnishes them with the means of sustaining existence, and actually preserves them, when they would consider it an inestimable blessing to expire. Schultens remarks, on this part of the chapter, that the tone of Job's complaint is considerably modified. He has given vent to his strong feelings, and the language here is more mild and gentle. Still it implies a reflection on God. It is not the language of humble submission. It contains an implied charge of cruelty and injustice; and it laid the foundation for some of the just reproofs which follow.
And life unto the bitter in soul - Who are suffering bitter grief. We use the word "bitter" yet to denote great grief and pain. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
20 Why is light given to the wretched,
And life to the sorrowful in soul?
21 Who wait for death, and he comes not,
Who dig after him more than for treasure,
22 Who rejoice with exceeding joy,
Who are enraptured, when they can find the grave?
23 To the man whose way is hidden,
And whom Eloah hath hedged round?
The descriptive partt. Job 3:21, Job 3:22, are continued in predicative clauses, which are virtually relative clauses; Job 3:21 has the fut. consec., since the sufferers are regarded as now at least dead; Job 3:22 the simple fut., since their longing for the grave is placed before the eye (on this transition from the part. to the verb. fin., vid., Ges. 134, rem. (2). Schlottm. and Hahn wrongly translate: who would dig (instead of do dig) for him more than for treasure. אלי־גיל (with poetical אלי instead of אל) might signify, accompanied by rejoicing, i.e., the cry and gesture of joy. The translation usque ad exultationem, is however, more appropriate here as well as in Hos 9:1. With Job 3:23 Job refers to himself: he is the man whose way of suffering is mysterious and prospectless, and whom God has penned in on all sides (a fig. like Job 19:8; comp. Lam 3:5). סכך, sepire, above, Job 1:10, to hedge round for protection, here: forcibly straiten. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Light - The light of life. Bitter - Unto those to whom life itself is bitter and burdensome. Life is called light, because it is pleasant and serviceable for walking and working; and this light is said to be given us, because it would be lost, if it were not daily renewed to us by a fresh gift. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Wherefore is light given - Why is life granted to him who is incapable of enjoying it, or of performing its functions? |
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
5 He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
1 Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;