Job 21 3

Job 21:3 kjv

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

Job 21:3 nkjv

Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have spoken, keep mocking.

Job 21:3 niv

Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

Job 21:3 esv

Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.

Job 21:3 nlt

Bear with me, and let me speak.
After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.

Job 21 verses

Job 21 3 Meaning

Job 21:3 is an urgent plea from Job to his friends, begging them to extend patient understanding rather than premature judgment and ridicule. He demands the courtesy of a full hearing for his argument. He declares that after he has spoken his full mind, they can resume their mockery. This implies Job believes his forthcoming words will either be so profound as to silence them or so unconventional they will invite even more scorn, but he insists they listen first before casting further judgment.

Job 21 3 Context

Job 21:3 is found within Job's third response to his friends, specifically to Bildad's second speech in chapter 18. Bildad had again affirmed the traditional belief that the wicked invariably suffer calamity and their memory is wiped out. Job 21 stands as a powerful rebuttal, challenging this simplistic retribution theology by directly appealing to observable reality: the wicked often prosper and live long lives without experiencing the severe consequences that Bildad and the others described. Job's demand in verse 3 for a full and patient hearing underscores his frustration with his friends' unyielding and unobservant dogmatism. Historically and culturally, Job's friends represented a prevalent ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition that equated righteousness with prosperity and wickedness with suffering, a worldview that Job's unique, unparalleled suffering severely tested. Job's words in this verse constitute a direct polemic against their premature and uncompassionate judgments rooted in this rigid theology, appealing instead for empathy and intellectual honesty.

Job 21 3 Word analysis

• Bear with me: The Hebrew is הָאזִנ֖וּ (haʾa-zinû), an imperative form of the verb אָזַן (ʾāzan), meaning "to give ear," "to listen," "to hearken." It's an emphatic call to serious and attentive listening, not mere hearing. The translation "bear with me" conveys the sense of patience required, suggesting that Job expects his words might be difficult for them to accept, challenging their preconceptions. It is an appeal for respectful and open-minded engagement.

• and I will speak: וְאָנֹכִ֖י אֲדַבֵּֽר (wəʾa-nō-ḵî ʾă-ḏab-bêr). The conjunction "and" links this action directly to their attentive listening. "I" (אָנֹכִי, ʾanōḵî) is an emphatic pronoun, stressing that it is he who will speak, not someone else. "Speak" (אֲדַבֵּר, ʾă-ḏab-bêr) comes from דָּבַר (davar), implying a coherent, reasoned, and weighty discourse, not idle chatter. It signifies an intentional communication of significant truth.

• and after I have spoken: וְאַחַ֖ר דַּבְּרִ֥י (wəʾa-ḥar dab-bĕ-rî). This phrase specifies the condition under which they may act: after he has concluded his comprehensive argument. It sets a temporal boundary, insisting his entire message must be heard before any reaction.

• mock on: תַּלְעִֽיגֽוּ (talʿîḡū). An imperative from the verb לָעַג (laʿag), meaning "to mock," "to scorn," "to scoff," "to ridicule." This is a stark challenge. Job is saying, "Listen to me completely, and then (and only then), if you still feel the need, go ahead and mock." It suggests that their current mockery is ill-informed and unjust, but if his truth is still insufficient for them, he almost gives them permission to continue in their folly, highlighting his deep frustration and desperation for a fair hearing. This also underlines Job's conviction that his words will be powerful enough to potentially silence them.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Bear with me, and I will speak": This phrase highlights Job's deep desire for genuine understanding and open dialogue, a plea for his friends to suspend their preconceived notions and allow him to present his case fully. It's a foundational request for respectful engagement in discourse, crucial in the face of heated debate and hardened opinions.
  • "and after I have spoken, mock on": This grouping creates a dramatic and confrontational tone. It serves as Job's final desperate gambit for a hearing. He challenges them: complete your judgment only after you have given me the courtesy of presenting my full argument. It's a defiant challenge, expressing his profound frustration with their intellectual arrogance and unyielding adherence to their theology despite its contradiction with his lived experience.

Job 21 3 Bonus section

The Hebrew root אָזַן (ʾāzan), used for "bear with me," often has a nuance of placing attention, a mental 'weighing' of what is heard. It’s more active than merely hearing with one's ears (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ). Job is asking them not just to passively hear but to thoughtfully consider his words, a vital distinction that underscores the intellectual and spiritual nature of the dispute between him and his friends. This active listening is precisely what his friends have failed to provide throughout the dialogues, persistently applying their dogma regardless of Job's protests. His use of this verb, therefore, highlights the intellectual and moral failure of his companions to engage empathetically with his suffering and arguments.

Job 21 3 Commentary

Job 21:3 encapsulates Job's profound anguish and frustration with his friends. Having endured their judgmental counsel based on rigid theology, Job begs for a temporary cessation of their mockery, demanding the simple courtesy of an unimpeded hearing. He asks for patience, asserting his right to fully articulate his complex and painful experience. The phrase "mock on" after he speaks is a cutting challenge. It implies that if, after his comprehensive exposition (which includes observations about the prosperity of the wicked, challenging their core doctrine), they still find cause for derision, they are welcome to it – but their present mockery is baseless. This verse underscores the deep chasm between Job's lived reality and his friends' theoretical constructs. It speaks to the universal human desire to be truly heard, especially in suffering, and serves as a powerful call for empathetic listening before judgment is cast. Practically, it reminds us to lend a full ear before offering advice or condemnation, especially to those in distress.