Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
3:20 Job equated light with life (33:30; see John 1:4; 8:12). • Bitter might mean “short-tempered” (Judg 18:25), “enraged” (2 Sam 17:8), “anguish” (Job 7:11), “distress” (Prov 31:6), or “discontented” (1 Sam 1:10; 22:2).
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
3:20 Job equated light with life (33:30; see John 1:4; 8:12). • Bitter might mean “short-tempered” (Judg 18:25), “enraged” (2 Sam 17:8), “anguish” (Job 7:11), “distress” (Prov 31:6), or “discontented” (1 Sam 1:10; 22:2).
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
“Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
Why does he give light to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul;