King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Complete Jewish Bible:
What is Shaddai, that we should serve him? What do we gain if we pray to him?'
Berean Standard Bible:
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
American Standard Version:
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
What is the Almighty{H7706}, that we should serve{H5647} him? and what profit{H3276} should we have, if we pray{H6293} unto him?
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 5:2
- And Pharaoh said, Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Job 34:9
- For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
Malachi 1:13
- Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness [is it]! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought [that which was] torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
Malachi 1:14
- But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.
Psalms 12:4
- Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?
Proverbs 30:9
- Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].
Job 35:3
- For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? [and], What profit shall I have, [if I be cleansed] from my sin?
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Commentary for Job 21:15
Job 21:15 is a verse that captures a poignant moment in the dialogue of the Book of Job, a complex work that wrestles with the themes of theodicy, human suffering, and the nature of divine justice. The verse is part of a speech by Job, who, in the midst of his intense suffering, questions the value of serving God and the efficacy of prayer. The historical context of the Book of Job is somewhat uncertain, with scholars placing its composition anywhere from the time of the Patriarchs (c. 2000–1500 BCE) to the post-exilic period (after 539 BCE).
In this particular verse, Job challenges the traditional understanding of God's power and human obligation. The question "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?" reflects Job's frustration and confusion as he grapples with the disconnect between his piety and his undeserved suffering. Job's query is not a denial of God's existence or power but rather a deeply anguished expression of doubt about the relationship between God and humanity. The second part of the verse, "and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" continues this theme, as Job questions whether there is any tangible benefit to prayer and devotion if the righteous suffer while the wicked often prosper.
The Book of Job as a whole addresses the problem of evil and the belief that good actions will necessarily lead to good outcomes. Job's friends argue that his suffering must be a punishment for sin, but Job maintains his innocence and insists on the integrity of his moral conduct. In Job 21:15, Job's words highlight the tension between faith in a just God and the reality of unjust suffering, a tension that remains a central philosophical and theological issue to this day. The verse encapsulates the human struggle to reconcile belief in a powerful and benevolent deity with the existence of undeserved pain and misfortune.
*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: H7706
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁדַּי
Transliteration: Shadday
Pronunciation: shad-dah'-ee
Description: from שָׁדַד; the Almighty; Almighty. - Strong's Number: H5647
There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַד
Transliteration: ʻâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper, - Strong's Number: H3276
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יַעַל
Transliteration: yaʻal
Pronunciation: yaw-al'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited); [idiom] at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able). - Strong's Number: H6293
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּגַע
Transliteration: pâgaʻ
Pronunciation: paw-gah'
Description: a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity; come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light (upon), meet (together), pray, reach, run.