Job 21:15

KJV

What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

KJV (with Strong's)

What is the Almighty {H7706}, that we should serve {H5647} him? and what profit {H3276} should we have, if we pray {H6293} 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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 21:15 profoundly articulates the cynical and utilitarian worldview of the ungodly, a perspective Job employs rhetorically to challenge the simplistic retributive theology of his friends. This verse is not Job's personal conviction, but rather his vivid portrayal of those who, observing their own prosperity despite their disregard for divine commands, question the very premise of serving God and engaging in prayer. It starkly reveals a transactional approach to the divine-human relationship, where devotion is contingent upon perceived material gain, thereby dismissing God's inherent worthiness, sovereignty, and the intrinsic value of worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Job's third and most extensive rebuttal to his friends (chapters 21-24), specifically countering Zophar's unwavering assertion that the wicked's prosperity is always fleeting and short-lived. Job vehemently refutes the simplistic retributive theology espoused by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, which posits a direct correlation between sin and suffering, and righteousness and prosperity. In [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"), Job presents a stark counter-argument rooted in his own observations: he notes that the wicked often live long, enjoy peace, accumulate wealth, and die without apparent divine judgment, even passing on their riches to their children (e.g., [Job 21:7-13](/job/21-7 "Job 21:7-13 - The Prosperity and Peace of the Wicked")). Verse 15 serves as a direct quote, a powerful rhetorical device, embodying the arrogant and dismissive attitude of these seemingly unpunished wicked individuals, who perceive no compelling reason to acknowledge or serve God if there is no immediate, tangible "profit" in it for them.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region likely situated east of Edom, suggesting a patriarchal, pre-Mosaic era. In this ancient Near Eastern context, the prevailing concept of divine justice often revolved around immediate, visible blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. This understanding was widespread, reinforced by some aspects of Israelite wisdom literature and covenant theology (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). However, Job's extraordinary experience and his keen observations challenge this conventional and often simplistic worldview, pushing the boundaries of traditional wisdom. The "profit" mentality reflected in [Job 21:15](/job/21-15 "Job 21:15 - The Utilitarian View of God") aligns with a pragmatic, almost mercantile approach to life and religion, where actions are primarily weighed by their tangible, material outcomes. This mindset, while particularly stark when applied to the divine, is a recurring human temptation across all eras.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 21:15](/job/21-15 "Job 21:15 - The Utilitarian View of God") is a pivotal expression of several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Job. Firstly, it embodies the profound **skepticism towards God's justice and sovereignty** that Job himself grapples with during his ordeal, particularly as he observes the undeniable prosperity of the wicked. This directly challenges the conventional wisdom of his friends and the prevailing theological understanding of divine retribution. Secondly, the verse highlights a **transactional or utilitarian faith**, where the value of serving God or engaging in prayer is measured solely by immediate, tangible benefits. This stands in stark contrast to a faith rooted in intrinsic reverence, love, and unconditional obedience, as exemplified by Abraham's faith (e.g., [Genesis 22:1-19](/genesis/22-1-19 "Genesis 22:1-19 - The Testing of Abraham")). Finally, it underscores the profound **mystery of suffering and divine governance**, forcing a confrontation with the reality that God's ways are often inscrutable to human understanding, a theme powerfully reinforced when God finally speaks from the whirlwind in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Challenge to Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Almighty (Hebrew, _Shadday'_):** Derived from the root H7706, this is one of the most ancient and significant names for God in the Old Testament, often translated as "Almighty" or "All-Sufficient." While it inherently conveys immense power, might, and dominion, _Shadday_ also carries connotations of God as the one who provides, sustains, and is more than enough. The rhetorical question "What is the Almighty...?" therefore challenges not only His supreme power and authority but also His inherent worthiness of service and His capacity to truly provide for His people in a way that warrants their unwavering devotion. It represents a profound dismissal of God's very nature and His rightful place as sovereign.
* **Serve (Hebrew, _ʻâbad'_):** From the root H5647, this word means "to work," "to serve," "to till," or "to be a servant." It encompasses a wide range of activities from agricultural labor to religious worship and even forced servitude. In the context of Job 21:15, "serve" refers to acts of religious devotion, obedience, and submission to God's will. The wicked's question implies that such service is a burden or an unnecessary effort unless it yields a clear, immediate, and tangible return, thereby reducing the profound act of worship to a mere quid pro quo transaction.
* **Profit (Hebrew, _yaʻal'_):** Derived from the root H3276, meaning "to ascend," "to be valuable," "to be useful," or "to be benefited." This word emphasizes a practical, advantageous, or utilitarian return. In the context of the verse, "profit" highlights a purely self-serving and materialistic motivation for engaging with the divine. The wicked individuals Job describes are not seeking spiritual growth, communion, or obedience; rather, they demand a direct, calculable benefit, reducing prayer and service to a mere transaction, devoid of genuine reverence or love for God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him?"**: This rhetorical question expresses a profound indifference, if not outright contempt, for God's sovereignty, authority, and inherent relevance. It challenges the very foundation of divine command and human obedience, implying that God is not significant enough, or His commands are not compelling enough, to warrant their submission or devotion. The underlying assumption is that if their current prosperity suggests His irrelevance or lack of immediate punitive action, then serving Him is a pointless endeavor.
* **"and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?"**: This second rhetorical question reveals a purely utilitarian and transactional approach to spirituality. It reduces prayer from an act of communion, confession, intercession, or worship to a mere means of extracting tangible benefits. The implicit assumption is that if prayer does not yield immediate, material rewards or advantages, it is a futile exercise, reflecting a self-centered faith devoid of genuine reverence, trust, or love for God.

#### Literary Devices
Job 21:15 powerfully employs **Rhetorical Questions** to convey the cynical and dismissive mindset of the wicked. These questions are not posed to elicit information but to make a forceful statement of defiance and challenge towards God's authority and relevance, underscoring their perceived self-sufficiency. The verse also utilizes **Irony**, as Job, a man of profound faith who has lost everything, is articulating the mindset of those who prosper despite their lack of faith. This highlights the perplexing nature of divine justice that Job is grappling with, creating a stark contrast between his suffering and their ease. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Antithesis** between the expected reverence and awe due to "the Almighty" and the dismissive, transactional attitude expressed by the wicked, underscoring the spiritual chasm between true worship and self-serving religiosity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 21:15 presents a stark challenge to the nature of true worship and the understanding of divine justice. It exposes the fallacy of a purely utilitarian faith, where God is viewed merely as a means to an end, rather than an end in Himself. This transactional approach fundamentally misunderstands God's character and the covenant relationship He desires with humanity, which is rooted in love, trust, and obedience, not material gain. The verse forces us to confront the uncomfortable reality that the wicked often appear to prosper, a theological dilemma explored throughout Scripture, prompting questions about God's immediate intervention and ultimate justice in a fallen world.

* [Psalm 73:1-14](/psalm/73-14 "The Psalmist's Struggle with the Prosperity of the Wicked")
* [Malachi 3:14-15](/malachi/3-15 "The Complaint of the People Against God")
* [Luke 17:10](/luke/17-10 "Unprofitable Servants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 21:15 serves as a profound mirror, prompting us to critically examine the motives underlying our own service to God and our engagement in prayer. Are we approaching God with a "what's in it for me?" attitude, seeking only personal gain, or do we serve Him out of genuine love, reverence, and recognition of His intrinsic worthiness and sovereignty? True worship and faithful service are not contingent upon immediate material benefits or earthly comforts; they are responses to God's inherent glory, boundless grace, and unwavering faithfulness. This verse reminds us that God's ways are often beyond our full comprehension, as His powerful and humbling response to Job later reveals in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "God Answers Job from the Whirlwind") onwards. It challenges believers to cultivate a faith that trusts in God's character and purposes, even when circumstances are difficult, or when the apparent injustices of the world tempt us to question His relevance or beneficence. Our devotion should stem from who God is, not merely from what He can provide, fostering a relationship built on adoration rather than transaction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are my primary motivations for serving God and engaging in prayer? Are they rooted in genuine love and reverence, or in a desire for personal gain?**
* **How do I respond when I observe the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer? Does it challenge my faith in God's justice or tempt me towards cynicism?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to view my relationship with God as transactional, expecting immediate returns for my spiritual efforts or obedience?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 21:15 represent Job's personal belief, or is he quoting someone else?**

Answer: Job 21:15 does not represent Job's personal conviction but rather a rhetorical device used by Job to articulate the cynical and impious attitude of the wicked. Throughout [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - The Prosperity of the Wicked"), Job is countering his friends' simplistic theology by observing that the wicked often prosper seemingly unpunished. He quotes this attitude to illustrate the perplexing reality that some people openly defy God and yet experience no immediate negative consequences, leading them to question God's relevance or the benefit of serving Him. Job himself, despite his profound suffering and questioning of God's justice, never abandons his belief in God's ultimate sovereignty and goodness, as evidenced by his famous declaration in [Job 19:25](/job/19-25 "Job 19:25 - Job's Redeemer Lives"), "For I know that my redeemer liveth."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 21:15, with its cynical demand for "profit" from the Almighty, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who utterly redefines the very nature of service, prayer, and divine reward. The utilitarian mindset expressed by the wicked is entirely subverted by Christ's radical call to discipleship, which begins not with the promise of material gain, but with self-denial and cross-bearing ([Matthew 16:24](/matthew/16-24 "Matthew 16:24 - Take up Your Cross and Follow Me")). Jesus Himself, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Self-Impoverishment")), demonstrating that true divine "profit" is found not in earthly accumulation but in sacrificial love, spiritual riches, and eternal life. He taught His disciples to pray not for selfish gain, but for God's will to be done and for the coming of His kingdom ([Matthew 6:9-13](/matthew/6-9-13 "Matthew 6:9-13 - The Lord's Prayer")). The ultimate "profit" in serving God is not a transactional reward but the immeasurable gift of eternal life and communion with God through Christ ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")), a gift freely given, not earned by human effort. Furthermore, the apparent prosperity of the wicked, which so perplexed Job, is ultimately judged at Christ's return, when "every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philippians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")), revealing the true and eternal profit of serving the Almighty King.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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?