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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 3:20 Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/3-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/18_Job_03_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 3:20 - Job Laments His Birth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul," /><script type="application/javascript" 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src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/3-19.htm" title="Job 3:19">◄</a> Job 3:20 <a href="/job/3-21.htm" title="Job 3:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter <i>in</i> soul;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Why is light given to one burdened with grief, And life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Why is light given to him who is troubled, And life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Why is the light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter in soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to those whose existence is bitter, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Why does God let me live when life is miserable and so bitter? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Why give light to one in misery and life to those who find it so bitter,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Why let people go on living in misery? Why give light to those in grief <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Why does God give light to the sufferer or life to the bitter person:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Why does He give light to the miserable, and life to the bitter soul?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Wherefore shall light be given to him toiling, and life to the bitter of soul?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to them that are in bitterness of soul? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to the toilers, life to the bitter in spirit? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />“Why is light given to one in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Why is light given to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Why is light given to sufferers and life to the bitter of soul<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Wherewith is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in griefs?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/3-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=494" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm">Job Laments His Birth</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: lām·māh (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: ’ō·wr (N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">is light</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: yit·tên (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">given</a> <a href="/hebrew/6001.htm" title="6001: lə·‘ā·mêl (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Toiling, a laborer, sorrowful. From amal; toiling; concretely, a laborer; figuratively, sorrowful.">to the miserable,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: wə·ḥay·yîm (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">and life</a> <a href="/hebrew/4751.htm" title="4751: lə·mā·rê (Prep-l:: Adj-mpc) -- Bitter, bitterness. Or marah; from marar; bitter; also bitterness, or bitterly.">to the bitter</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: nā·p̄eš (N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">of soul,</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a></span><br />Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/4-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 4:1-3</a></span><br />Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter. / So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. / But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-1.htm">Lamentations 3:1-9</a></span><br />I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. / He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. / Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-3.htm">Psalm 88:3-6</a></span><br />For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/13-1.htm">Psalm 13:1-2</a></span><br />For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? / How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/22-1.htm">Psalm 22:1-2</a></span><br />For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning? / I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/42-9.htm">Psalm 42:9-11</a></span><br />I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?” / Like the crushing of my bones, my enemies taunt me, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” / Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/77-2.htm">Psalm 77:2-4</a></span><br />In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted. / I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah / You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-10.htm">Isaiah 38:10-14</a></span><br />I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. / My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/1-8.htm">2 Corinthians 1:8-9</a></span><br />We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-8.htm">2 Corinthians 4:8-10</a></span><br />We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. / We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-22.htm">Romans 8:22-23</a></span><br />We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. / Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-24.htm">Romans 7:24</a></span><br />What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-38.htm">Matthew 26:38-39</a></span><br />Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” / Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-33.htm">Mark 14:33-36</a></span><br />He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” / Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;</p><p class="hdg">Wherefore.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/6-9.htm">Job 6:9</a></b></br> Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-15.htm">Job 7:15,16</a></b></br> So that my soul chooseth strangling, <i>and</i> death rather than my life… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/20-18.htm">Jeremiah 20:18</a></b></br> Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?</p><p class="hdg">light.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-16.htm">Job 3:16</a></b></br> Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants <i>which</i> never saw light.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/33-28.htm">Job 33:28,30</a></b></br> He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light… </p><p class="hdg">the bitter.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-15.htm">Job 7:15,16</a></b></br> So that my soul chooseth strangling, <i>and</i> death rather than my life… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/1-10.htm">1 Samuel 1:10</a></b></br> And she <i>was</i> in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/4-27.htm">2 Kings 4:27</a></b></br> And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul <i>is</i> vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid <i>it</i> from me, and hath not told me.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/2-12.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/job/3-16.htm">Light</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-59.htm">Miserable</a> <a href="/job/3-10.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/esther/4-13.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-16.htm">Suffers</a> <a href="/job/3-10.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/job/3-12.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-34.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/7-11.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/job/3-23.htm">Light</a> <a href="/job/16-2.htm">Miserable</a> <a href="/job/4-8.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/job/6-7.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/job/15-20.htm">Suffers</a> <a href="/job/3-26.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/job/10-2.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/job/15-3.htm">Wherewith</a><div class="vheading2">Job 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-1.htm">Job curses the day and services of his birth.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-13.htm">The ease of death.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-20.htm">He complains of life, because of his anguish.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Why is light given to the miserable</b><br>In this phrase, "light" symbolizes life and understanding. Job is questioning why life is granted to those who are suffering intensely. This reflects Job's deep anguish and confusion about his circumstances. In biblical context, light often represents God's presence and guidance (<a href="/psalms/27.htm">Psalm 27:1</a>). Job's lament echoes the sentiments found in other wisdom literature, such as Ecclesiastes, where the futility of life is pondered. The "miserable" refers to those who are experiencing profound suffering, aligning with Job's own situation after losing his wealth, health, and family. This question highlights the struggle to understand God's justice and purpose in allowing suffering.<p><b>and life to the bitter of soul</b><br>Here, "life" is synonymous with existence or the continuation of one's earthly journey. The "bitter of soul" describes individuals who are deeply troubled or in despair, much like Job himself. This phrase captures the emotional and spiritual turmoil that can accompany severe trials. In the broader biblical narrative, bitterness of soul is seen in figures like Hannah (<a href="/1_samuel/1-10.htm">1 Samuel 1:10</a>) and Naomi (<a href="/ruth/1-20.htm">Ruth 1:20</a>), who also experienced deep personal anguish. This part of the verse underscores the theme of questioning God's providence and the purpose of life amidst suffering. It invites reflection on the hope and redemption that can be found in God, even when circumstances seem dire, pointing ultimately to the hope fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who offers rest for the weary and heavy-laden (<a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">Matthew 11:28</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest to understand the reasons behind it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/u/uz.htm">Uz</a></b><br>The land where Job lived. It is often associated with the region east of Israel, though its exact location is uncertain.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_lament.htm">Job's Lament</a></b><br>This chapter marks the beginning of Job's lament, where he curses the day of his birth and questions the purpose of his suffering.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_suffering.htm">Understanding Suffering</a></b><br><a href="/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20</a> invites us to grapple with the reality of suffering in a fallen world. It challenges us to seek God's presence and wisdom even when answers are not immediately apparent.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_lament.htm">The Role of Lament</a></b><br>Lament is a biblical response to suffering. It provides a way to express our deepest pains and questions to God, trusting that He hears and understands our cries.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_search_for_purpose.htm">The Search for Purpose</a></b><br>In times of despair, like Job, we may question the purpose of our existence. This verse encourages us to seek God's purpose and light, even when life feels bitter.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/compassion_for_the_suffering.htm">Compassion for the Suffering</a></b><br>Job's lament reminds us to be compassionate towards those who are suffering. We are called to support and comfort others, recognizing the depth of their pain.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_job_3_align_with_god's_justice.htm">How can Job’s complaint in Job 3 align with a just and sovereign God, if he questions the value of his own birth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_christians_experience_depression.htm">Can Christians experience depression?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_divine_arrows_explain_job's_suffering.htm">In Job 6:4, how could divine arrows filled with poison be reconciled with any natural or historical cause of Job’s suffering? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_job_3's_despair_contradict_james_5_11.htm">Does the despair expressed in Job 3 contradict later biblical accounts (e.g., James 5:11) that describe Job as patient and steadfast?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Wherefore is light given.</span>--Comp. the connection between life and light in <a href="/psalms/36-9.htm" title="For with you is the fountain of life: in your light shall we see light.">Psalm 36:9</a> and <a href="/john/1-4.htm" title="In him was life; and the life was the light of men.">John 1:4</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery?</span> Why, Job asks, is the miserable man forced to continue on the earth and see the light to-day? Why is he not sent down at once to the darkness of the grave? Surely this would have been better. Man often speaks as if he were wiser than his Maker, and could have much improved the system of the universe, if he had had the arranging of it; but he scarcely means what he says commonly. Such talk is, however, foolish, as is all captious questioning concerning the ways of God. The proper answer to all such questioning is well given by Zophar in <a href="/job/11-7.htm">Job 11:7, 8</a>, "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 (<span class="accented">Sheol</span>); what canst thou know?" And life unto the bitter in soul (see the comment on ver. 11, <span class="accented">ad fin.</span>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/3-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Why</span><br /><span class="heb">לָ֤מָּה</span> <span class="translit">(lām·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is light</span><br /><span class="heb">א֑וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> </span><span class="str2">Illumination, luminary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">given</span><br /><span class="heb">יִתֵּ֣ן</span> <span class="translit">(yit·tên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the miserable,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְעָמֵ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(lə·‘ā·mêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6001.htm">Strong's 6001: </a> </span><span class="str2">Toiling, a laborer, sorrowful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and life</span><br /><span class="heb">וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḥay·yîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> </span><span class="str2">Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the bitter</span><br /><span class="heb">לְמָ֣רֵי</span> <span class="translit">(lə·mā·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4751.htm">Strong's 4751: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bitter, bitterness, bitterly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of soul,</span><br /><span class="heb">נָֽפֶשׁ׃</span> <span class="translit">(nā·p̄eš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/3-20.htm">OT Poetry: Job 3:20 Why is light given to him who (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/3-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 3:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 3:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/3-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 3:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 3:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>