Job 3:20

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לָ֤מָּה יִתֵּ֣ן לְעָמֵ֣ל א֑וֹר וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים לְמָ֣רֵי נָֽפֶשׁ׃

Transliteration

lāmmâ yittēn ləʿāmēl ʾôr wəḥayyîm ləmārê nāpeš

Grammar Details

*lāmmâ*: interrogative adverb - why
*yittēn*: verb, Qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he gives
*ləʿāmēl*: preposition + verb, Qal participle, masculine singular - to toiling one
*ʾôr*: noun, masculine singular - light
*wəḥayyîm*: conjunction + noun, masculine plural - and life
*ləmārê*: preposition + adjective, masculine plural construct - to bitter ones of
*nāpeš*: noun, feminine singular - soul

Word Meanings

*yittēn*: he gives/one gives/God gives
*ʿāmēl*: toiling one/one in misery/suffering one
*ʾôr*: light/daylight/life
*ḥayyîm*: life/lifetime/living
*mārê*: bitter ones of/anguished ones of
*nāpeš*: soul/life/person/self

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

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Job 7:15-16 : 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones. 16 I loathe [my life]; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.
Jer 20:18 : 18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Prov 31:6 : 6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:
1 Sam 1:10 : 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.
2 Kgs 4:27 : 27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and Jehovah hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
Job 3:16 : 16 Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.
Job 6:9 : 9 Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Job 33:28 : 28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
Job 33:30 : 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Job 3:21-23
3 verses
83%
21Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22Who 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?
Job 21:25
76%
25And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.
Eccl 5:17
75%
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
Job 33:28
75%
28He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
Lam 3:6
75%
6He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
Job 33:30
75%
30To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
Lam 3:39
75%
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Lam 3:1-2
2 verses
75%
1I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
2He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
Job 3:19
74%
19The small and the great are there: And the servant is free from his master.
Ps 143:3
74%
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
Ps 107:10
73%
10Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
Eccl 2:26
73%
26For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Job 38:19
72%
19Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
Job 10:20-22
3 verses
72%
20Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
21Before I go whence I shall not return, [Even] to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
22The land dark as midnight, [The land] of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.
Eccl 5:20
72%
20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.
Job 33:19-20
2 verses
72%
19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;
20So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.
Lam 3:15
72%
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood.
Job 30:25-26
2 verses
72%
25Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26When I looked for good, then evil came; And when I waited for light, there came darkness.
Job 10:1
72%
1My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 14:22
72%
22But his flesh upon him hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth.
Eccl 2:17
72%
17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Eccl 3:12
72%
12I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.
Job 3:9
72%
9Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark: Let it look for light, but have none; Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning:
Eccl 2:23
72%
23For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
Job 9:18
71%
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.
Job 7:3
71%
3So am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Eccl 3:10
71%
10I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.
Job 10:3
71%
3Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?
Job 7:11
71%
11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 21:17
71%
17How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?
Isa 38:15
71%
15What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
Eccl 8:6
71%
6for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:
Job 3:4
71%
4Let that day be darkness; Let not God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine upon it.
Eccl 7:3
71%
3Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
Job 3:16-17
2 verses
71%
16Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.
17There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.
Lam 3:19
70%
19Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Job 21:4
70%
4As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
Job 15:20
70%
20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.
Job 18:6
70%
6The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out.
Job 33:22
70%
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
Eccl 3:22
70%
22Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?
Eccl 11:8
70%
8Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.