Job 21:15

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מַה־שַׁדַּ֥י כִּֽי־נַֽעַבְדֶ֑נּוּ וּמַה־נּ֝וֹעִ֗יל כִּ֣י נִפְגַּע־בּֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

mah-šadday kî-naʿabdennû û-mah-nôʿîl kî nipgaʿ-bô

Grammar Details

*mah*: interrogative pronoun - what
*šadday*: noun masculine singular - Almighty
*kî*: conjunction - if/when
*naʿabdennû*: Qal imperfect, 1st person common plural with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - we should serve him
*û-mah*: conjunctive waw + interrogative pronoun - and what
*nôʿîl*: Hiphil imperfect, 1st person common plural - we should profit/gain
*nipgaʿ*: Qal imperfect, 1st person common plural - we meet/encounter
*bô*: preposition with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - with him

Word Meanings

*šadday*: Almighty/All-sufficient (divine name)
*ʿābad*: to work/serve
*yāʿal*: to gain/profit/avail
*pāgaʿ*: to meet/encounter/intercede/entreat

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Exod 5:2 : 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.
Job 34:9 : 9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.
Mal 1:13-14 : 13 Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.
Matt 7:7 : 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
John 16:24 : 24 Hitherto {G737} have ye asked {G3756} nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.
Job 35:3 : 3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
Ps 12:4 : 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: Who is lord over us?
Prov 30:9 : 9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.
Isa 30:11 : 11 get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Isa 45:19 : 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Hos 13:6 : 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.

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