Job 3:20
<< Job 3:20 >>
New International Version (©1984)
"Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter?

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Why give light to one in misery and life to those who find it so bitter,

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

American King James Version
Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

American Standard Version
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

Bible in Basic English
Why does he give light to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul?

Darby Bible Translation
Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,

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

Webster's Bible Translation
Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

World English Bible
"Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,

Young's Literal Translation
Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?

Geneva Study Bible

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

(n) He shows that the benefits of God are not comfortable, unless the heart is joyful, and the conscience quieted.

Wesley's Notes

3:20 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.


Jeremiah 20:18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame? (NASB ©1995)

Bitter Light Miserable Misery Soul Suffers Trouble Wherefore Wherewith


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

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

Bible Gateway: Job Chapter 3 Verse 20 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: and bitter given him in is life light misery of soul suffers the those to who Why

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ;© 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.All Rights Reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

OT Poetry: Job 3:20 Why is light given to him who (Jb) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

Job 3:20 Bible Software
Job 3:20 Biblia Paralela
Job 3:20 Chinese Bible
Job 3:20 French Bible
Job 3:20 German Bible
Job 3:20 Danish Bible
Job 3:20 Swedish Bible
Job 3:20 Norwegian Bible
Job 3:20 Multilingual Bible

Online Bible