Job 3:20

KJV

¶ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter [in] soul;

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore is light {H216} given {H5414} to him that is in misery {H6001}, and life {H2416} unto the bitter {H4751} in soul {H5315};

Complete Jewish Bible

"So why must light be given to the miserable and life to the bitter in spirit?

Berean Standard Bible

Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,

American Standard Version

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:20 encapsulates the profound despair of Job, who, having lost everything and afflicted with grievous physical suffering, questions the very purpose of continued existence for those steeped in misery. His rhetorical query expresses a yearning for the cessation of life, viewing "light" and "life" not as blessings but as prolonged torment for a "bitter soul" that longs for the peace of oblivion. This verse marks the beginning of Job's extended lament, setting the stage for the intense theological and existential debates that follow in the book.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3:20 is situated within Job’s initial, extended lament, which immediately follows seven days of silent mourning with his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar). Chapters 1 and 2 detail Job's immense prosperity, his blameless character, and the catastrophic trials inflicted upon him by Satan, with God's permission. Job 3 opens with Job cursing the day of his birth, expressing a desire to have never existed or to have died at birth. Verses 11-19 articulate his longing for the quiet peace of the grave, where the wicked cease troubling and the weary find rest. Verse 20, therefore, serves as a direct continuation of this desperate plea, shifting from a wish for non-existence to a poignant question about why life is sustained for those who find it unbearable. It sets the tone for the entire dialogue, framing the central problem of suffering for the righteous.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a location generally understood to be outside of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia. This suggests a non-Israelite setting, though the theological themes are universal. The cultural context reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, where suffering was often linked to sin, and prosperity to righteousness—a premise Job's experience profoundly challenges. The act of sitting in ashes and scraping oneself with a potsherd (Job 2:8) was a common ancient Near Eastern expression of extreme grief and humiliation. The arrival of friends to mourn with the afflicted was a customary practice, yet their initial silence for seven days underscores the overwhelming nature of Job's calamity, indicating a level of suffering that defied immediate words of comfort. Job's lament, therefore, is a culturally recognizable expression of deep anguish within a world grappling with the problem of evil and divine justice.
* **Key Themes:** Job 3:20 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Foremost is the theme of **profound human suffering and despair**, as Job articulates the raw agony of existence when life becomes an unbearable burden. This verse highlights the **paradox of life as a curse**, where the very gifts of "light" and "life" (associated with blessing and joy in the ancient world) become instruments of prolonged torment for the "bitter in soul." It implicitly raises questions about **divine providence and justice**, challenging the conventional wisdom of the time that linked suffering directly to sin, and foreshadowing the deeper theological discussions about God's sovereignty and wisdom that unfold later in the book (e.g., [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job")). Furthermore, Job's longing for death is not a desire for evil or self-destruction, but a desperate yearning for **rest and cessation of pain**, a theme echoed in his desire to be with the "kings and counselors of the earth" who are at peace in the grave ([Job 3:14](/job/3-14 "Job 3:14 - Job's Desire for Rest")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Light (Hebrew, _ʾôr_):** In biblical thought, "light" is fundamentally associated with life, creation, knowledge, joy, and the presence of God (e.g., [Genesis 1:3](/genesis/1-3 "Genesis 1:3 - God Creates Light"); [Psalm 36:9](/psalms/36-9 "Psalm 36:9 - God is the Fountain of Life and Light")). Job's rhetorical question, "Wherefore is light given...?" turns this positive association on its head, viewing continued existence (symbolized by light) as a cruel prolongation of suffering rather than a blessing. It underscores his profound disillusionment with life itself.
* **Misery (Hebrew, _ʿāmāl_):** This word denotes toil, trouble, sorrow, and painful labor. It implies a deep, pervasive suffering that is not merely physical but also emotional and spiritual. For Job, his entire existence has become defined by this intense "misery," making life itself a burden. The word suggests a wearisome, burdensome experience, not just a fleeting moment of pain.
* **Bitter in soul (Hebrew, _mar nephesh_):** This powerful idiom describes a state of deep internal anguish, sorrow, and resentment. The "soul" (nephesh) here refers to the whole person, the seat of emotions, will, and life itself. To be "bitter in soul" means one's very being is steeped in profound grief, hopelessness, and possibly a sense of injustice. It goes beyond mere sadness to a state where life itself tastes bitter, devoid of joy or hope.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery,"**: This opening clause is a rhetorical question, expressing Job's bewildered and anguished protest. He is not seeking an answer from his friends, but voicing his deep confusion and frustration directly to the universe, or implicitly, to God. The "light" symbolizes life and existence, and Job questions why this gift is continued for someone whose entire being is consumed by "misery" (ʿāmāl), implying that life has become a curse rather than a blessing.
* **"and life unto the bitter [in] soul;"**: This is a parallel clause, reinforcing and intensifying the first. "Life" (chayyim) is synonymous with "light" in this context, emphasizing continued existence. The phrase "bitter in soul" (mar nephesh) describes the internal state of profound anguish, resentment, and hopelessness that Job experiences. The question is not just why physical life continues, but why the inner being, the "soul," is forced to endure such a bitter, agonizing existence when it longs for release.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:20 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Rhetorical Question**, as Job poses a question not for an answer, but to express his intense frustration, despair, and bewilderment at the continuation of life in the face of overwhelming suffering. This question is laden with **Irony**, as "light" and "life," typically seen as ultimate blessings, are presented as instruments of prolonged torment for the afflicted. There is clear **Parallelism** between the two clauses ("light given to him that is in misery" and "life unto the bitter in soul"), where the second line reiterates and amplifies the sentiment of the first, using synonymous terms ("light" / "life"; "misery" / "bitter in soul") to deepen the sense of anguish. The phrase "bitter in soul" is also an example of **Metaphor** or **Idiom**, vividly conveying the internal, pervasive nature of Job's emotional and spiritual pain.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:20 stands as a stark biblical testament to the reality of profound human despair, challenging simplistic notions of divine justice and the meaning of suffering. It highlights that even the righteous can experience such depths of anguish that they question the very gift of life. Theologically, it forces us to confront the mystery of suffering, acknowledging that God's ways are often inscrutable and that pain is not always a direct consequence of sin. It validates the raw, unvarnished cries of those who suffer, reminding us that lament is a legitimate form of prayer and expression before God, even when it involves questioning His providence. This verse sets the stage for the book's larger exploration of God's sovereignty, human wisdom, and the ultimate vindication of faith despite unanswered questions.

* [Psalm 73:13-14](/psalms/73-13 "Psalm 73:13-14 - Asaph's Struggle with the Prosperity of the Wicked")
* [Lamentations 3:1-6](/lamentations/3-1 "Lamentations 3:1-6 - Jeremiah's Lament of Affliction")
* [Ecclesiastes 2:17](/ecclesiastes/2-17 "Ecclesiastes 2:17 - The Futility of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's raw and unfiltered lament in Job 3:20 offers invaluable insights for contemporary believers and for those ministering to the suffering. It grants permission for honest expression of pain, validating the experience of profound despair even for those who are righteous. We learn that faith is not the absence of doubt or pain, but often the willingness to bring our deepest questions and bitterest complaints before God. This verse challenges us to cultivate radical empathy for those who are "bitter in soul," resisting the urge to offer trite answers or spiritualize away their agony. Instead, like Job's friends in their initial silence, we are called to sit with the suffering, to listen, and to acknowledge the depth of their pain without judgment. It reminds us that God is big enough to handle our questions, our anger, and our despair, and that true spiritual maturity often involves wrestling with the mysteries of suffering rather than demanding easy answers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's lament challenge your assumptions about what it means to be a person of faith?**
* **When have you, or someone you know, felt "bitter in soul" and questioned the purpose of life? How did you respond?**
* **What is the difference between expressing despair to God and losing faith in God?**
* **How can we better minister to those who are experiencing profound misery, allowing them space for their honest lament?**

### FAQ
**Does Job's question imply he wants to commit suicide?**

Answer: While Job expresses a profound desire for the cessation of life and wishes he had never been born, his words in Job 3:20 and the surrounding verses (e.g., [Job 3:11-19](/job/3-11 "Job 3:11-19 - Job's Wish for Death at Birth")) do not explicitly suggest a desire for self-inflicted death. Rather, they convey a desperate longing for death to come naturally, as a release from unbearable suffering, a return to the quiet of the grave where "the weary are at rest" ([Job 3:17](/job/3-17 "Job 3:17 - The Rest of the Grave")). His lament is a cry of anguish and a protest against the continuation of life in misery, not a plan for ending it by his own hand.

**Is it okay for a believer to feel such despair and question God?**

Answer: The book of Job, and specifically verses like Job 3:20, affirm that it is indeed acceptable for a believer to experience profound despair and even to voice questions and laments to God. The Bible is replete with examples of righteous individuals, from Job to Jeremiah ([Jeremiah 20:14-18](/jeremiah/20-14 "Jeremiah 20:14-18 - Jeremiah Curses His Birth")) and the psalmists ([Psalm 88](/psalms/88 "Psalm 88 - A Psalm of Utter Despair")), who expressed intense suffering, doubt, and even anger towards God. These expressions are not condemned but are presented as raw, honest prayers. God is big enough to handle our darkest emotions and deepest questions. The key is that Job, despite his lament, never curses God directly or abandons his faith, ultimately finding a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's agonizing question in Job 3:20—why life persists for the "bitter in soul"—finds its ultimate, albeit paradoxical, Christ-centered fulfillment not in the absence of suffering, but in the Son of God who fully embraced it. Jesus, the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")), entered into the depths of human misery far beyond Job's experience. On the cross, He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), giving voice to an existential bitterness of soul that encompassed the sin and suffering of all humanity. Yet, unlike Job's desire for the cessation of life, Christ's endurance of "light" and "life" in misery was for a redemptive purpose: to conquer death, sin, and despair, and to offer true, eternal life to those who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")). Through His voluntary suffering, Christ transforms the meaning of misery, demonstrating that even in the darkest valleys, God is present, and that suffering can be a pathway to profound spiritual victory and ultimate glory ([Romans 8:17-18](/romans/8-17 "Romans 8:17-18 - Suffering with Christ for Glory")). He is the answer to Job's question, not by removing the possibility of suffering, but by entering into it and redeeming it, offering a hope that transcends the bitterest of souls ([2 Corinthians 1:3-5](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-5 - God of All Comfort")).

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

Jeremiah 20:18

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Job 7:15

So that my soul chooseth strangling, [and] death rather than my life.

Job 7:16

I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

Proverbs 31:6

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

1 Samuel 1:10

And she [was] in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

Job 6:9

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

2 Kings 4:27

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul [is] vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid [it] from me, and hath not told me.