Job 3:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

[ Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

לְ֭גֶבֶר אֲשֶׁר־דַּרְכּ֣וֹ נִסְתָּ֑רָה וַיָּ֖סֶךְ אֱל֣וֹהַּ בַּעֲדֽוֹ׃

Transliteration

ləgeber ʾăšer-darkô nistārâ wayyāsek ʾĕlôah baʿădô

Grammar Details

*ləgeber*: preposition + noun, masculine singular - to man
*ʾăšer-darkô*: relative pronoun + noun, feminine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - whose way
*nistārâ*: verb, Niphal perfect, 3rd feminine singular - is hidden
*wayyāsek*: conjunction + verb, Hiphil imperfect consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he hedges in
*ʾĕlôah*: noun, masculine singular - God
*baʿădô*: preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - around him

Word Meanings

*geber*: man/mighty man/strong man
*darkô*: his way/his path/his journey
*nistārâ*: is hidden/is concealed
*wayyāsek*: and he hedges in/and he encloses/and he fences
*ʾĕlôah*: God/deity
*baʿădô*: around him/about him/for him

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 19:8 : 8 He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.
Lam 3:7 : 7 He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.
Isa 40:27 : 27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice [due] to me is passed away from my God?
Lam 3:9 : 9 He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.
Hos 2:6 : 6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths.
Job 12:14 : 14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Job 19:6 : 6 Know now that God hath subverted me [in my cause], And hath compassed me with his net.
Job 19:12 : 12 His troops come on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent.
Ps 31:8 : 8 And thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.
Ps 88:8 : 8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

Job 3:20-22
3 verses
83%
20Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;
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?
Job 38:19-20
2 verses
78%
19Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?
Job 19:8
76%
8He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.
Job 23:17
75%
17Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
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.
Lam 3:6-7
2 verses
75%
6He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
7He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.
Job 29:3
74%
3When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;
Lam 3:9
74%
9He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.
Job 24:1
73%
1Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?
Job 38:24
73%
24By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
Job 23:9
73%
9On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
Job 15:23
73%
23He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
Job 3:3-4
2 verses
73%
3Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night which said, There is a man-child conceived.
4Let that day be darkness; Let not God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine upon it.
Job 42:3
72%
3Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 13:24
72%
24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?
Job 3:9-10
2 verses
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:
10Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, Nor hid trouble from mine eyes.
Job 14:3
72%
3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with thee?
Job 3:24
72%
24For my sighing cometh before I eat, And my groanings are poured out like water.
Job 25:3
72%
3Is there any number of his armies? And upon whom doth not his light arise?
Job 22:11
72%
11Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.
Job 3:16
71%
16Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.
Job 18:6
71%
6The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out.
Job 6:13
71%
13Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
Job 11:10
71%
10If he pass through, and shut up, And call unto judgment, then who can hinder him?
Job 37:19-20
2 verses
71%
19Teach us what we shall say unto him; [For] we cannot set [our speech] in order by reason of darkness.
20Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
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 14:13
71%
13Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
Job 21:4
71%
4As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?
Lam 3:39
71%
39Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?
Isa 59:9
71%
9Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
Isa 40:27
71%
27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice [due] to me is passed away from my God?
Job 28:12
70%
12But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Job 33:28
70%
28He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
Job 33:30
70%
30To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
Job 27:9
70%
9Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?
Job 10:20
70%
20Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
Job 10:18
70%
18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.
Job 34:29
70%
29When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:
Job 38:2
70%
2Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
Job 15:12
70%
12Why doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes flash,
Job 24:13
70%
13These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.
Job 24:23
70%
23[ God] giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.