Job 3:20

King James 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

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Job 7:15-16 : 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; 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 labour 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 those that be of heavy hearts.
1 Sam 1:10 : 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
2 Kgs 4:27 : 27 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 is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
Job 3:16 : 16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
Job 6:9 : 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Job 33:28 : 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
Job 33:30 : 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to 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%
21Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Job 21:25
76%
25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
Eccl 5:17
75%
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
Job 33:28
75%
28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
Lam 3:6
75%
6He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.
Job 33:30
75%
30To bring back his soul from the pit, to 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 brought me into darkness, but not into light.
Job 3:19
74%
19The small and 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 darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Ps 107:10
73%
10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Eccl 2:26
73%
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight 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 is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Job 38:19
72%
19Where is the way where light dwelleth? 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 the shadow of death;
22A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
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 the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
Lam 3:15
72%
15He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken 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 poor?
26When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
Job 10:1
72%
1My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
Job 14:22
72%
22But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
Eccl 2:17
72%
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl 3:12
72%
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
Job 3:9
72%
9Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
Eccl 2:23
72%
23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also 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 vanity, 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 in it.
Job 10:3
71%
3Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine 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 the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! 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 in the bitterness of my soul.
Eccl 8:6
71%
6Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
Job 3:4
71%
4Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, 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 better.
Job 3:16-17
2 verses
71%
16Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
17There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
Lam 3:19
70%
19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Job 21:4
70%
4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
Job 15:20
70%
20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
Job 18:6
70%
6The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
Job 33:22
70%
22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
Eccl 3:22
70%
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
Eccl 11:8
70%
8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.