King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for [this] I make haste.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"My thoughts are pressing me to answer; I feel such an urge to speak!
Berean Standard Bible:
“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.
American Standard Version:
Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Therefore do my thoughts{H5587} cause me to answer{H7725}, and for this I make haste{H2363}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 14:29
- ¶ [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Psalms 31:22
- For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
Job 13:19
- Who [is] he [that] will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
James 1:19
- ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Romans 10:2
- For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Psalms 39:2
- I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, [even] from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
Psalms 39:3
- My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] spake I with my tongue,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 20:2
Job 20:2 is a part of the dialogue within the Book of Job, which is one of the Wisdom Books in the Old Testament. The book is named after its central character, Job, a man known for his righteousness and piety. The narrative deals with the problem of theodicy, the question of why a just God permits the suffering of the innocent.
In the context of Job 20:2, the speaker is Zophar, one of Job's three friends who come to comfort him after he has lost his wealth, his children, and his health. These friends engage in a series of speeches, attempting to explain Job's suffering. They initially show sympathy but eventually accuse Job of wrongdoing, suggesting that his misfortunes are a punishment for sin.
The verse itself reflects Zophar's eagerness to respond to Job's preceding arguments. Zophar is essentially saying that the urgency of the matter compels him to speak without delay. His thoughts are so stirred by the discussion that he feels the need to reply swiftly. This urgency may indicate a strong conviction in his own position or an impassioned desire to correct what he perceives as Job's mistaken beliefs about his own innocence and God's justice.
Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian exile, which means it was composed sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. It reflects the intellectual and theological debates of the time, particularly those concerning divine justice and human suffering. The dialogue form used in the book allows for a complex exploration of these themes, with Job and his friends presenting various perspectives on the nature of God and the human condition.
In summary, Job 20:2 captures the intensity of the debate between Job and his friends, highlighting Zophar's impulse to respond promptly to Job's defense of his own righteousness. The verse is situated within a larger discourse on why the righteous suffer and how humans should understand the justice of God, themes that continue to resonate in discussions of theology and philosophy.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5587
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָעִף
Transliteration: çâʻiph
Pronunciation: saw-eef'
Description: or שָׂעִף; from סָעַף; divided (in mind), i.e. (abstractly) a sentiment; opinion. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H2363
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חוּשׁ
Transliteration: chûwsh
Pronunciation: koosh
Description: a primitive root; to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with excitement or enjoyment; (make) haste(-n), ready.