Job 21:15 kjv
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Job 21:15 nkjv
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?'
Job 21:15 niv
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'
Job 21:15 esv
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
Job 21:15 nlt
Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him?
What good will it do us to pray?'
Job 21 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 3:14 | You have said, "It is vain to serve God. What profit...?" | Complaining about God's perceived lack of reward. |
| Jer 12:1 | Why does the way of the wicked prosper? | Questioning God's justice regarding wicked prosperity. |
| Psa 73:11 | And they say, "How does God know...? Is there knowledge...?" | Wicked scoff at God's awareness or concern. |
| Isa 55:2 | Why do you spend money for what is not bread...? | Investing in things without true spiritual sustenance. |
| Lk 17:10 | We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty. | Service to God is duty, not for gain. |
| 1 Tim 6:5 | Supposing that godliness is a means of gain. | Warning against treating godliness as financial profit. |
| Job 22:17 | Who said to God, 'Depart from us'... | Rejection of God's presence and authority. |
| Jer 2:31 | We are lords; we will come no more to you. | People declaring independence from God. |
| Mt 6:24 | You cannot serve God and mammon. | Incompatible loyalties: God vs. worldly profit. |
| Heb 11:6 | He who comes to God must believe that He is... | Faith is seeking God Himself, not just His benefits. |
| Rom 11:35-36 | Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? | God is sovereign; we cannot obligate Him. |
| Acts 17:25 | Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything. | God is self-sufficient; He needs nothing from us. |
| Psa 50:14-15 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows... | Serving God in humility and seeking Him in need. |
| Jn 6:26-27 | You seek Me not because you saw signs, but because you ate... | Seeking Christ for physical gain, not spiritual truth. |
| Psa 73:3-5 | For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity.. | The allure and challenge of the wicked's success. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; | True wisdom starts with reverent worship. |
| Prov 9:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... | Foundation of spiritual understanding. |
| Psa 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." | The underlying attitude of one who rejects God's rule. |
| Rom 1:21 | For although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God... | General human rebellion against acknowledging God. |
| Is 1:18 | "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD... | God calls for humble relationship, not calculation. |
| Tit 1:16 | They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him... | Denying God by their actions and seeking selfish gain. |
| Php 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. | Abandoning worldly "profit" for Christ's sake. |
| Mt 7:21 | Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the... | Mere profession without true submission is worthless. |
Job 21 verses
Job 21 15 Meaning
Job 21:15 encapsulates the defiant mindset of the wicked who question the value of serving God. It represents a pragmatic, materialistic rejection of faith, implying that God is only worth acknowledging if He provides immediate, tangible profit or benefit. This statement, uttered hypothetically by Job on behalf of the unrighteous, portrays a transactional view of the divine, reducing worship and prayer to a cost-benefit analysis.
Job 21 15 Context
Job 21:15 appears within Job's third response to his friends (chapters 21-27), specifically rebutting Zophar's earlier speech which rigidly asserted that the wicked would inevitably face swift and visible ruin. Job, based on his observations of life, argues that this simplistic retribution theology does not align with reality. In chapter 21, Job presents a strong counter-argument, highlighting that the wicked often prosper throughout their lives, live peacefully, die comfortably, and pass on wealth to their children without apparent immediate divine judgment. Verse 15 is Job speaking for the wicked, summarizing their defiant rationale for rejecting God. It reveals the worldview of those who are comfortable in their sin and see no pragmatic reason to seek or serve God, as their prosperity suggests God is either irrelevant or easily ignored.
Job 21 15 Word analysis
- What is: (מָה, mah - interrogative pronoun). Used here not merely as a question but expressing contempt, disdain, or challenge. It implies a sense of triviality or irrelevance regarding the object of the question. The rhetorical nature challenges the very significance or existence of the Almighty.
- the Almighty: (שַׁדַּי, Shaddai). This is a foundational name for God, emphasizing His power, self-sufficiency, and absolute sovereignty, particularly in covenant contexts of provision and judgment. The wicked's use of Shaddai in this context, questioning His authority and worth, highlights their profound rebellion against the very Being who holds ultimate power and blessing. It's a direct affront to divine majesty.
- that we should serve him: (נַעֲבָדֶנּוּ, na'avadennu from עָבַד, 'avad). The root means "to work, serve, worship, labor for, obey." Here, it signifies active devotion, submission, and spiritual service. The wicked disdain such service, viewing it as pointless when no visible benefit is perceived. They challenge the very notion that God merits their obedience or worship.
- And what profit: (מַה־יּוֹעִיל, mah-yo'il from יָעַל, ya'al). "What profit" literally translates to "what will it benefit?" The root implies utility, gain, or advantage. This reveals the transactional nature of the wicked's perspective: they evaluate religious devotion purely in terms of material or immediate tangible gain. If service does not yield this, it is deemed useless.
- should we have, if we pray: (נִתְפַּלֵּל, nitpalel from פָּלַל, palal). The root signifies "to intercede, pray, make supplication, judge." Prayer implies dependence, humility, and a seeking after divine intervention or relationship. For the wicked, prayer is reduced to a means of achieving a desired outcome, rather than an act of worship or communion. If it doesn't "work" for profit, it's useless.
Words-group analysis:
- "What is the Almighty, that we should serve him?": This phrase questions the intrinsic worth, authority, and necessity of God in their lives. It's a defiant declaration of independence and spiritual indifference. It represents a worldview that deems God insignificant in the face of their own self-reliance and observed prosperity. It is a polemic against the idea that God demands inherent obedience or that He is intrinsically worthy of worship regardless of immediate benefits.
- "And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?": This second part focuses on the transactional aspect. Prayer, a fundamental act of faith, is stripped of its spiritual value and seen purely through a materialistic lens. If devotion and petition don't lead to personal advantage (wealth, comfort, ease), they are dismissed as fruitless and absurd. This reflects a deep spiritual blindness and a rejection of relational faith for utilitarian self-interest.
Job 21 15 Bonus section
This verse serves as a crucial theological insight into human resistance against God's rule. It highlights the tendency for humanity, when granted prosperity, to forget its dependence on God and challenge His authority based on perceived lack of practical benefit from spiritual disciplines. It is a timeless expression of the carnal mind that prioritizes earthly gain over eternal spiritual reality. The prosperity of the wicked, which Job highlights throughout this chapter, creates a philosophical dilemma for many, leading to this very question of God's relevance. It challenges believers to consider why they serve God—is it for personal gain, or out of a humble recognition of His holiness and grace? This verse is a warning against a purely pragmatic, rather than worshipful, approach to faith.
Job 21 15 Commentary
Job 21:15 profoundly articulates the utilitarian theology of the ungodly. This verse is not Job's own belief, but a stark depiction of the mindset prevalent among those who reject God because they see no immediate, personal advantage in serving Him. The "profit" they seek is materialistic and tangible, whether it be wealth, health, or protection from suffering. They reduce faith and divine relationship to a mere transaction: "What do I get out of this?" This perspective denies God's inherent sovereignty, His unmerited grace, and the spiritual nature of true worship. It subtly criticizes the underlying assumption of Job's friends, whose own strict retribution theology implicitly suggests a benefit-driven reason for piety. True service and prayer, as taught elsewhere in Scripture, are acts of humble obedience, trust, and loving relationship, irrespective of immediate material rewards. This verse stands as a chilling illustration of human rebellion, where perceived self-interest overrides divine truth and justice.