Job 21:3

KJV

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

KJV (with Strong's)

Suffer {H5375} me that I may speak {H1696}; and after {H310} that I have spoken {H1696}, mock on {H3932}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Bear with me as I speak; then, after I have spoken, you can go on mocking.

Berean Standard Bible

Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

American Standard Version

Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 21:3 encapsulates Job's desperate and defiant plea to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, demanding a moment of uninterrupted speech before they inevitably resume their relentless mockery and judgmental accusations. This verse marks a pivotal moment in the dialogue, as Job, exasperated by their simplistic theological pronouncements and unhelpful counsel, insists on articulating his profound suffering and challenging their narrow understanding of divine justice, even as he anticipates their continued derision. It powerfully underscores his deep need for genuine understanding and a fair hearing amidst his immense pain and isolation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the sharp opening of Job's final and most potent response to his friends, specifically following Zophar’s third and last speech in [Job 20](/job/20 "Job 20 - Zophar's Final Speech"). Zophar, like Eliphaz and Bildad before him, has dogmatically asserted that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of his sin, painting a vivid, albeit generalized, picture of the wicked's fleeting prosperity and inevitable downfall. Job 21:3 introduces Job's counter-argument in [Job 21](/job/21 "Job 21 - Job's Argument on the Prosperity of the Wicked"), where he directly refutes their premise by presenting compelling evidence from real life: the undeniable and often prolonged prosperity of the wicked. His plea to "suffer me that I may speak" is a desperate attempt to gain a hearing before launching into this challenging discourse, which fundamentally undermines the entire theological framework his friends have constructed. It highlights his frustration with their inability to move beyond their rigid dogma and truly listen to his unique experience.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is a profound piece of ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, grappling with the perennial problem of suffering and divine justice. The prevailing worldview among Job's friends, and indeed a common belief in the ancient world, was "retribution theology" or "Deuteronomic theology." This belief system posited a direct, immediate, and observable correlation between one's moral conduct and one's material well-being: righteousness led to prosperity, while wickedness led to suffering. While this framework has roots in biblical covenantal blessings and curses (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")), it was often applied simplistically and rigidly to individual cases, failing to account for the complexities of life, the mystery of God's sovereignty, or the existence of righteous suffering. Job's friends embody this conventional wisdom, applying it mercilessly to Job's situation, while Job himself, through his inexplicable suffering, challenges its limitations, pushing for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of God's ways that transcends human simplistic formulas.

* **Key Themes:** Job 21:3 encapsulates several core themes that resonate throughout the entire Book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully highlights the **theme of genuine listening versus superficial judgment**. Job desperately craves to be truly heard and understood, not merely dismissed or condemned by his friends, a recurring motif in his lamentations (e.g., [Job 13:5](/job/13-5 "Job 13:5 - Job's Plea for Silence")). Secondly, the verse underscores the profound **pain of misunderstanding and isolation** that accompanies severe suffering, especially when those expected to offer comfort instead deliver condemnation. Job's friends, despite their physical presence, fail to provide true empathy, leaving Job feeling utterly alone in his anguish. Finally, this verse sets the stage for Job's **bold challenge to conventional wisdom**, particularly the simplistic retribution theology. His subsequent argument about the persistent prosperity of the wicked (e.g., [Job 21:7-16](/job/21-7-16 "Job 21:7-16 - The Prosperity of the Wicked")) directly confronts the very foundation of his friends' arguments, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to truth, even when it is unpopular or unsettling.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Suffer (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ'_):** H5375. This Hebrew verb means "to lift," "to bear," but in this context, "to permit," "to allow," or "to grant." Job's use of this word is an earnest and almost desperate request for his friends to grant him a temporary cessation of their accusations and interruptions. It reveals his profound sense of being silenced and stifled, indicating a deep human need to articulate his pain and perspective without immediate rebuttal. It's a plea for space and permission to speak freely.
* **Speak (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** H1696. This primitive root primarily means "to arrange" but is widely used figuratively to mean "to speak," "to declare," or "to tell." Job's desire to "speak" is not merely to utter words, but to present a coherent argument, to articulate his experience, and to challenge the flawed logic of his friends. It signifies his need for a full and unimpeded expression of his thoughts and feelings, a stark contrast to the fragmented and accusatory dialogue he has endured thus far.
* **Mock on (Hebrew, _lâʻag'_):** H3932. This Hebrew verb signifies "to deride," "to scorn," "to scoff," or "to laugh at." Job's use of this phrase, "mock on," is saturated with bitter resignation and biting sarcasm. He anticipates that their derision is inevitable, regardless of what he says, but he insists on having his say first. It reveals the depth of his frustration with their unyielding and contemptuous attitude, highlighting the futility of reasoning with those who have already made up their minds and are unwilling to genuinely listen.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Suffer me that I may speak;":** This initial clause is a direct, almost pleading, appeal from Job to his friends. It expresses his profound frustration at being constantly interrupted, misjudged, and subjected to their unhelpful counsel. It is a desperate call for a moment of quiet, for them to pause their accusations and allow him the fundamental human right to express himself fully and without immediate rebuttal, highlighting his deep need to be heard and understood in his profound suffering.
* **"and after that I have spoken, mock on.":** This second clause reveals Job's profound resignation, defiance, and a cutting sarcasm. He is so convinced of his friends' unyielding prejudice and their inability or unwillingness to truly listen that he sarcastically grants them permission to resume their mockery *after* he has delivered his full argument. This is not genuine permission but a bitter challenge, underscoring his belief that their minds are already made up and that his words, however true or deeply felt, will ultimately fall on deaf ears, only to be met with further scorn. It is an indictment of their lack of empathy and intellectual humility.

#### Literary Devices
Job 21:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's emotional state and his relationship with his friends. The primary device is a direct **Plea**, as Job implores his friends for a moment of silence and permission to speak. This plea is immediately followed by an expression of **Defiance** and profound **Resignation**, as Job, with a strong undercurrent of **Irony** and **Sarcasm**, tells them to "mock on" after he has finished. This ironic permission highlights the futility of his situation and the deep-seated prejudice of his friends, suggesting that their minds are already made up regardless of his words. The stark contrast between his desperate need to speak and his expectation of continued derision creates a poignant sense of Job's isolation and the profound lack of empathy he experiences. The verse functions as a powerful **Anticipation** of Job's subsequent, challenging discourse, setting a tone of confrontation rather than conciliation, and underscoring the breakdown of genuine dialogue.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 21:3 profoundly connects to broader biblical themes of suffering, justice, and the nature of human counsel. It underscores the theological tension between a simplistic understanding of divine retribution and the complex reality of human experience, where the righteous often suffer and the wicked often prosper, at least for a time. Job's demand to be heard reflects a fundamental human desire for vindication and understanding from both God and fellow humans, especially when one feels unjustly accused. This verse challenges us to consider how we approach those in pain, reminding us that true compassion often begins with patient, non-judgmental listening rather than immediate theological pronouncements. It implicitly raises questions about the limits of human wisdom in interpreting God's ways and the need for humility in the face of divine mystery and human suffering.

* [Proverbs 18:13](/proverbs/18-13 "Proverbs 18:13 - Hasty Judgment")
* [James 1:19](/james/1-19 "James 1:19 - Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak")
* [Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Weep with Those Who Weep")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's desperate plea in Job 21:3 resonates deeply with the universal human experience of feeling unheard or misunderstood, especially when facing hardship or injustice. It serves as a powerful reminder that in moments of profound suffering, the most valuable gift we can offer is often not advice, theological explanation, or quick solutions, but rather the simple, empathetic act of patient listening. Job's friends, despite their presumed good intentions, failed miserably because they prioritized their rigid theological framework over Job's raw pain, leading to condemnation rather than comfort. This verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of humility and compassion in our relationships, recognizing that people in distress often need to vent their anguish and articulate their experience before they are ready to hear counsel, if at all. It also speaks to the courage required to speak one's truth, to voice one's experience even when facing a hostile audience or the expectation of ridicule, trusting that integrity in expression is valuable, regardless of the immediate reception.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what situations have you felt like Job, desperately needing to be heard but anticipating judgment or mockery from others?**
* **How does Job's plea challenge your own tendency to offer quick solutions or theological explanations to those who are suffering, rather than simply listening empathetically?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the importance of empathy, patience, and humility in our interactions with others, especially when their experiences don't fit our preconceived notions of how God works?**

### FAQ

**Why does Job tell his friends to "mock on" after he speaks?**

Answer: Job's instruction to "mock on" is not a genuine invitation but a deeply sarcastic and resigned challenge, indicative of his profound frustration. It reflects his bitter awareness that his friends are so entrenched in their simplistic retribution theology and so convinced of his guilt that, no matter what he says, their derision and judgment will inevitably continue. By saying "mock on," Job is essentially declaring, "I know you won't genuinely listen, and you'll just revert to your mockery anyway, but I insist on having my say first." It highlights his defiance and his determination to speak his truth, even if he expects it to fall on deaf ears and be met with further scorn, underscoring the futility of reasoning with those unwilling to genuinely engage with a different perspective. It's a powerful expression of his feeling misunderstood, contemptuously dismissed, and utterly alone in his anguish. His words are a lament over the brokenness of their friendship and their inability to extend true compassion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate plea to be heard, even amidst the expectation of mockery, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While Job was a righteous man suffering unjustly, his pleas were often met with human misunderstanding and divine silence (until the climactic intervention of God in [Job 38-41](/job/38-41 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job")). Jesus, however, perfectly embodied the one who suffered unjustly, bore the scorn and derision of humanity, and yet was ultimately heard and vindicated by God the Father. He was the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), enduring the ultimate mockery, rejection, and crucifixion (e.g., [Matthew 27:27-31](/matthew/27-27-31 "Matthew 27:27-31 - The Soldiers Mock Jesus")). Yet, unlike Job's friends who failed to listen, God the Father always heard His Son (e.g., [John 11:41-42](/john/11-41-42 "John 11:41-42 - Jesus Prays to the Father")). Jesus' suffering was not due to His own sin, but for the sins of humanity, a reality far beyond the limited retribution theology of Job's friends. Furthermore, Christ Himself is the ultimate listener, perfectly understanding our pleas and sufferings because He was tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin (e.g., [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our High Priest Understands Our Weaknesses")). He is also the one who perfectly speaks truth, even when it leads to His own rejection (e.g., [John 8:45](/john/8-45 "John 8:45 - Jesus Speaks Truth")). In Christ, the cry for a hearing from the unjustly suffering finds its divine answer, not in flawed human understanding, but in the perfect, redemptive plan of God, culminating in His resurrection and glorification.

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

Job 17:2

[Are there] not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

Job 16:10

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

Job 16:20

My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.

Job 13:9

Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye [so] mock him?

Job 12:4

I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.

Job 12:5

He that is ready to slip with [his] feet [is as] a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

Job 33:31

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.