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Job 21:4 Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?
<!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 21:4 Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/21-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/18_Job_21_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 21:4 - Job: God will Punish the Wicked" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Is my complaint against a man? 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Why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />As for me, <i>is</i> my complaint to man? and if <i>it were so</i>, why should not my spirit be troubled?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“As for me, <i>is</i> my complaint against man? And if <i>it were,</i> why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“As for me, is my complaint to a mortal? Or why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />As for me, is my musing to man? And why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“As for me, is my complaint to man <i>or</i> about him? And why should I not be impatient <i>and</i> my spirit troubled?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint against a human being? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint against a man? Then why shouldn’t I be impatient? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />My complaint is against God; that's why I am impatient. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? and why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Am I complaining about a person? Why shouldn't I be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />My quarrel is not with mortals; I have good reason to be impatient. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />After all, isn't my complaint against a human being? If so, why shouldn't I be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />[Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> I -- to man is my complaint? and if so, wherefore May not my temper become short?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />I, is my complaint to man? and then wherefore shall not my spirit be shortened?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Is my complaint toward any human being? Why should I not be impatient? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />I will utter my complaint to men, why my spirit is distressed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />I shall speak my words to a son of man: ‘why is my spirit distressed?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />What! is my reproof of man? and why should I not be angry?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/21-4.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=3190" 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/21.htm">Job: God will Punish the Wicked</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/595.htm" title="595: he·’ā·nō·ḵî (Art:: Pro-1cs) -- I. Sometimes; a primitive pro. I.">Is my</a> <a href="/hebrew/7879.htm" title="7879: śî·ḥî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Complaint, musing. From siyach; a contemplation; by implication, an utterance.">complaint</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: wə·’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: lə·’ā·ḏām (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">against a man?</a> <a href="/hebrew/4069.htm" title="4069: mad·dū·a‘ (Interrog) -- Why? for what reason?. Or madduaa; from mah and the passive participle of yada'; what known?; i.e. why?.">Then why</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">should I not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7307.htm" title="7307: rū·ḥî (N-csc:: 1cs) -- Breath, wind, spirit. From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7114.htm" title="7114: ṯiq·ṣar (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- To dock off, curtail, to harvest. A primitive root; to dock off, i.e. Curtail; especially to harvest.">be impatient?</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.…<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="/job/7-11.htm">Job 7:11</a></span><br />Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-1.htm">Job 10:1</a></span><br />“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/23-2.htm">Job 23:2</a></span><br />“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/30-20.htm">Job 30:20-21</a></span><br />I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me. / You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/6-2.htm">Job 6:2-3</a></span><br />“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales. / For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/9-27.htm">Job 9:27-28</a></span><br />If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’ / I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/16-6.htm">Job 16:6</a></span><br />Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/19-7.htm">Job 19:7</a></span><br />Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/30-24.htm">Job 30:24</a></span><br />Yet no one stretches out his hand against a ruined man when he cries for help in his distress.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/77-3.htm">Psalm 77:3-4</a></span><br />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="/psalms/142-2.htm">Psalm 142:2</a></span><br />I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/38-6.htm">Psalm 38:6</a></span><br />I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/39-2.htm">Psalm 39:2-3</a></span><br />I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred. / My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/55-2.htm">Psalm 55:2</a></span><br />Attend to me and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and distraught<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/102-1.htm">Psalm 102:1-2</a></span><br />A prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come before You. / Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?</p><p class="hdg">is my complaint</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-11.htm">Job 7:11-21</a></b></br> Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/10-1.htm">Job 10:1,2</a></b></br> My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/1-16.htm">1 Samuel 1:16</a></b></br> Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.</p><p class="hdg">if it were</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/6-26.htm">2 Kings 6:26,27</a></b></br> And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/42-11.htm">Psalm 42:11</a></b></br> Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, <i>who is</i> the health of my countenance, and my God.</p><p class="hdg">troubled.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/6-9.htm">Exodus 6:9</a></b></br> And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/10-1.htm">Complaint</a> <a href="/ezra/7-10.htm">Directed</a> <a href="/job/4-5.htm">Impatient</a> <a href="/job/19-7.htm">Outcry</a> <a href="/job/20-5.htm">Short</a> <a href="/job/11-2.htm">Shouldn't</a> <a href="/job/20-3.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-7.htm">Temper</a> <a href="/job/20-2.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/job/18-3.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-59.htm">Wondered</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/23-2.htm">Complaint</a> <a href="/job/32-14.htm">Directed</a> <a href="/micah/2-7.htm">Impatient</a> <a href="/job/23-2.htm">Outcry</a> <a href="/job/24-24.htm">Short</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-19.htm">Shouldn't</a> <a href="/job/22-29.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/proverbs/14-17.htm">Temper</a> <a href="/job/21-6.htm">Troubled</a> <a href="/job/21-7.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/psalms/48-5.htm">Wondered</a><div class="vheading2">Job 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/21-1.htm">Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/21-7.htm">Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/21-16.htm">Sometimes their destruction is manifest</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/21-21.htm">The happy and unhappy are alike in death</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/21-27.htm">The judgment of the wicked is in another world</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 /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <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/21.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/21.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Is my complaint against a man?</b><br>Job is addressing his friends, who have been offering explanations for his suffering based on human wisdom and understanding. The rhetorical question implies that his grievance is not with humans but with God. This reflects the broader theme of the book, where Job seeks to understand divine justice and the reasons for his suffering. The question highlights Job's awareness that his situation transcends human disputes and enters the realm of divine sovereignty. This phrase connects to other biblical instances where individuals question God, such as in the Psalms, where the psalmists often express their struggles and seek understanding from God.<p><b>Then why should I not be impatient?</b><br>Job's impatience stems from his deep anguish and the lack of satisfactory answers from his friends. The word "impatient" here conveys a sense of restlessness and frustration with the prolonged suffering and the silence of God. This reflects the human condition of waiting for divine intervention and understanding, a theme also seen in the lamentations of the prophets. Job's impatience can be seen as a type of Christ's own suffering and waiting for God's will to be fulfilled, as seen in the Gospels where Jesus expresses his own anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane. This phrase underscores the tension between human suffering and divine timing, a recurring theme throughout Scripture.<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, enduring immense suffering and questioning the justice of his plight.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_friends.htm">Job's Friends</a></b><br>Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to offer comfort but end up arguing that his suffering must be due to sin.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_uz.htm">The Land of Uz</a></b><br>The setting of the Book of Job, a region whose exact location is uncertain but is traditionally considered to be in the area of Edom or northern Arabia.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The ultimate authority and sovereign being, whose justice and ways are questioned by Job throughout the book.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/s/suffering_and_divine_justice.htm">Suffering and Divine Justice</a></b><br>The central theme of the Book of Job, exploring the reasons for human suffering and the nature of God's justice.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_nature_of_complaints.htm">Understanding the Nature of Complaints</a></b><br>Job's question highlights the difference between human and divine justice. When we face trials, it's natural to question and express our grievances, but we must remember that our ultimate appeal is to God, not man.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/patience_in_suffering.htm">Patience in Suffering</a></b><br>Job's impatience is a human response to prolonged suffering. As believers, we are called to develop patience, trusting in God's timing and purposes even when they are not immediately clear.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_friends_in_times_of_trouble.htm">The Role of Friends in Times of Trouble</a></b><br>Job's friends initially come to comfort him but end up misjudging his situation. This teaches us the importance of offering support without assuming we understand God's purposes in someone else's suffering.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_mystery_of_divine_justice.htm">The Mystery of Divine Justice</a></b><br>Job's struggle with understanding why the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper is a common human experience. We are reminded to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when it is not evident in our current circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_amidst_doubt.htm">Faith Amidst Doubt</a></b><br>Job's questioning does not negate his faith. It is possible to have faith while wrestling with doubt and seeking understanding from God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_21.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 21</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_job's_story_historically_accurate.htm">Is Job's story historically accurate?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_felix_in_the_bible.htm">Where is the Land of Uz located?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_god_silent_if_job's_pleas_lack_merit.htm">In light of Job 35:16, why would a merciful God remain silent if Job's pleas are without merit, given other scriptures showing God responding to human need?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_zophar_with_psalm_73.htm">How do we reconcile Zophar's rigid cause-and-effect theology in Job 20 with other biblical passages (like Psalm 73) that acknowledge the prosperity of the wicked without immediate judgment?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">Is my complaint to man?</span>--"It is not to man that I complain. I do not ask for your sympathy, and, therefore, why should ye resent an offence that is not given? If, however, I did ask it, might not my spirit with good reason be impatient? But, on the contrary, my complaint is to God; and, concerning the ways of God, I venture to ask why it is that His justice is so tardy; and this is a problem which when I remember it I am troubled, and horror taketh hold on my flesh, so difficult and arduous is it."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">As for me, is my complaint to man?</span> Do I address myself to man, pour out my complaint to him, and expect him to redress my wrongs? No; far otherwise. I address myself to God, from whom alone I can look for effectual assistance. And if it were so; rather, <span class="accented">and if so</span>, if this is the case, if my appeal is to God, and he makes me no answer, then why should not my spirit be troubled? or, <span class="accented">Why should</span> I <span class="accented">not be impatient?</span> (Revised Version). Job thinks that he has a right to be impatient, if God does not vouchsafe him an answer. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/21-4.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">Is my</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶ֭אָנֹכִי</span> <span class="translit">(he·’ā·nō·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_595.htm">Strong's 595: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">complaint</span><br /><span class="heb">שִׂיחִ֑י</span> <span class="translit">(śî·ḥî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7879.htm">Strong's 7879: </a> </span><span class="str2">A contemplation, an utterance</span><br /><br /><span class="word">against a man?</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָדָ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Then why</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֝דּ֗וּעַ</span> <span class="translit">(mad·dū·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4069.htm">Strong's 4069: </a> </span><span class="str2">Why? for what reason?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">should I not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">be impatient?</span><br /><span class="heb">תִקְצַ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiq·ṣar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7114.htm">Strong's 7114: </a> </span><span class="str2">To dock off, curtail, to harvest</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/21-4.htm">Job 21:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/21-4.htm">OT Poetry: Job 21:4 As for me is my complaint (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/21-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 21:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 21:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/21-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 21:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 21:5" /></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>