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Job 3:23
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Why is life given to a man whose path is hidden,whom God has hedged in?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, Whom God has hedged in?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
They cannot see where they are going. God has hidden the road ahead.
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?
"Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has shut off?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, Whom God has hedged in?
Why is the light giuen to the man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,And whom God has hedged in?
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
Why do I go on living when God has me surrounded, and I can't see the road?
"My sighing serves in place of my food, and my groans pour out in a torrent;
To the man whose way is hidden, and whom +God hath hedged in?
But God keeps their future a secret and builds a wall around them to protect them.
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?
God keeps their future hidden and hems them in on every side.
Why does he give light to a man whose way is hidden, and God has fenced him in all around?
To a man whose way is hidden, God has made a hedge about him.
To the man whose waye is hyd, which God kepeth backe from him.
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in?
To a man whose way is veiled, and who is shut in by God?
From whom their endes are hyd, and consealed by God?
To a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Why is light giuen to a man, whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Death is rest to such a man, for God has hedged him in.
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Whi is liyt youun to a man, whos weie is hid, and God hath cumpassid hym with derknessis?
To a [noble] man whose way is hid, And whom God has hedged in.
[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?
Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God has built a wall?
Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in?
To a man, whose way is concealed, And GOD hath straitly enclosed him?
To a man whose way is hidden, and God hath surrounded him with darkness?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has hedged in?
To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?
"Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
whose way: Isaiah 40:27
hedged in: Job 12:14, Job 19:8, Psalms 31:8, Lamentations 3:7, Lamentations 3:9, Hosea 2:6
Reciprocal: Job 40:2 - he that reproveth
Cross-References
no shrub or plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground,
"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
And [later] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept the flocks [of sheep and goats], but Cain cultivated the ground.
"When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast]."
And Noah began to farm and cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard.
After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid,.... Some of the Jewish writers connect this with Job 3:22, thus; "who rejoice [and] are glad when they find a grave for a man", c. but it should be observed that such are said to rejoice at finding a grave, not for others, but for themselves the words stand in better connection with Job 3:20, from whence the supplement is taken in our version and others; and so it is a continuation or repetition of the expostulation why light and life, or the light of the living, should be given to persons as before described, and here more largely; and Job himself is principally designed, as is generally thought, whose way, according to him, was hid from the Lord, neglected and not cared for by him but overlooked and slighted, and no regard had to the injuries done him, as the church also complains, Isaiah 40:27; or front whom the way of the Lord was hid; his way in the present afflictive dispensations of Providence, the causes and reasons of which he could not understand; not being conscious of any notorious sin committed, indulged, and continued in, that should bring these troubles on him: or the good and right way was hid from him in which he should walk; he was at a loss to know which was that way, since by his afflictions he was ready to conclude that the way he had been walking in was not the right, and all his religion was in vain; and according to this sense he laboured under the same temptation as Asaph did, Psalms 73:13; or his way of escape out of his present troubles was unknown to him; he saw no way open for him, but shut up on every side: or there was no way for others to come to him, at least they cared not for it; he who had used to have a large levee, some to have his counsel and advice, and to be instructed by him, others to ask relief of him, and many of the highest rank and figure to visit, caress, and compliment him; but now all had forsaken him, his brethren and acquaintance, and his kinsfolk and familiar friends kept at a distance from him, as if they knew not the way to him:
and whom God hath hedged in? not with the hedge of his power, providence, and protection, as before; but with thorns and afflictions, and in such manner as he could not get out, or extricate himself; all avenues and ways of escape being blocked up, see Lamentations 3:7; though, after all, the words may be considered as a concession, and as descriptive of a man the reverse of himself, and be supplied thus; "indeed light may be given to a man", a mighty man, as the word e signifies, a man strong, hale, and robust; "whose way is hid", or "covered" f; who is hid in the secret of God's presence, and in the pavilion of his power; who dwells in his secret place, and under the shadow of the Almighty, Psalms 31:20; who is under the shelter of his providence, preserved from diseases of body, and protected from the plunder and depredations of enemies, and enjoys great affluence and prosperity, as his three friends about him did, and whom he may point at: "and whom God hath hedged in"; as he had formerly set a hedge about him in his providence, though now he had plucked it up; see Job 1:10.
e לגבר "emphatice ponitur saepe, ut notetur praepollentia", Coccei. Lexic in rad גבר. f נסתרה "tecta", Cocceius; "velo septa est", Schultens.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Why is light given “to a man uhose way is hid?” That is, who does not know what way to take, and who sees no escape from the misery that surrounds him.
Whom God hath hedged in - See Notes, Job 1:10. The meaning here is, that God had surrounded him as with a high wall or hedge, so that he could not move freely. Job asks with impatience, why light, that is, life, should be given to such a man? Why should he not be permitted to die? This closes the complaint of Job, and the remaining verses of the chapter contain a statement of his sorrowful condition, and of the fact that he had now been called to suffer all that he had ever apprehended. - In regard to the questions here proposed by Job Job 3:20-23, we may remark, that; there was doubtless much impatience on his part, and not a little improper feeling. The language shows that Job was not absolutely sinless; but let us not harshly blame him. What he says, is a “statement” of feelings which often pass through the mind, though they are not often expressed. Who, in deep and protracted sorrows, has not found such questions rising up in his soul - questions which required all his energy and all his firmness of principle, and all the strength which he could gain by prayer, to suppress? To the questions themselves, it may be difficult to give an answer; and it is certain that none of the friends of Job furnished a solution of the difficulty. When it is asked, why man is kept in misery on earth, when he would be glad to be released by death, perhaps the following, among others, may be the reasons:
(1) Those sufferings may be the very means which are needful to develope the true state of the soul. Such was the case with Job.
(2) They may be the proper punishment of sin in the heart, of which the individual was not fully aware, but which may be distinctly seen by God. There may be pride, and the love of ease, and self-confidence, and ambition, and a desire of reputation. Such appear to have been some of the besetting sins of Job.
(3) They are needful to teach true submission, and to show whether a man is willing to resign himself to God.
(4) They may be the very things which are necessary to prepare the individual to die. At the same time that people often desire death, and feel that it would be a relief, it might be to them the greatest possible calamity. They may be wholly unprepared for it. For a sinner, the grave contains no rest; the eternal world furnishes no repose.
One design of God in such sorrows may be, to show to the wicked how “intolerable” will he future pain, and how important it is for them to be ready to die. If they cannot bear the pains and sorrows of a few hours in this short life. how can they endure eternal sufferings? If it is so desirable to be released from the sorrows of the body here, - if it is felt that the grave, with all that is repulsive in it, would be a place of repose, how important is it to find some way to be secured from everlasting pains! The true place of release from suffering for a sinner, is not the grave; it is in the pardoning mercy of God, and in that pure heaven to which he is invited through the blood of the cross. In that holy heaven is the only real repose from suffering and from sin; and heaven will be all the sweeter in proportion to the extremity of pain which is endured on earth.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 3:23. To a man whose way is hid — Who knows not what is before him in either world, but is full of fears and trembling concerning both.
God hath hedged in? — Leaving him no way to escape; and not permitting him to see one step before him.
There is an exact parallel to this passage in Lamentations 3:7; Lamentations 3:9: He hath hedged me about that I cannot get out. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone. Mr. Good translates the verse thus: To the man whose path is broken up, and whose futurity God hath overwhelmed. But I cannot see any necessity for departing from the common text, which gives both an easy and a natural sense.
