Job 3:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job asks why life and light are given to those who suffer and whose souls are bitter with grief.
What Does Job 3:20 Mean?
Job turns from describing death to a sharp question about life itself. Why is light given to the miserable, he asks, why is life given to those bitter in soul? Light here stands for life, the gift of seeing another day. Job cannot understand why such a gift should be forced upon a person whose every day is agony.
This question, why does God sustain a life that has become unbearable, is one of the most honest cries in all of Scripture. Job does not pretend to have peace he lacks. Yet the gift of life, even in misery, remains in the hands of a God who has not finished His work. The believer can trust that the Lord who gives light has not given it in vain, and that in Christ even the bitterest soul may find that its days were held in mercy all along.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 3:20
What does Job 3:20 mean?
Job asks why life and light are given to those who suffer and whose souls are bitter with grief.