Job 7:20

Authorized King James Version

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I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

Original Language Analysis

חָטָ֡אתִי I have sinned H2398
חָטָ֡אתִי I have sinned
Strong's: H2398
Word #: 1 of 13
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
מָ֤ה H4100
מָ֤ה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 2 of 13
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
אֶפְעַ֨ל׀ what shall I do H6466
אֶפְעַ֨ל׀ what shall I do
Strong's: H6466
Word #: 3 of 13
to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise
לָךְ֮ H0
לָךְ֮
Strong's: H0
Word #: 4 of 13
נֹצֵ֪ר unto thee O thou preserver H5341
נֹצֵ֪ר unto thee O thou preserver
Strong's: H5341
Word #: 5 of 13
to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
הָ֫אָדָ֥ם of men H120
הָ֫אָדָ֥ם of men
Strong's: H120
Word #: 6 of 13
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
לָ֤מָה H4100
לָ֤מָה
Strong's: H4100
Word #: 7 of 13
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
שַׂמְתַּ֣נִי why hast thou set H7760
שַׂמְתַּ֣נִי why hast thou set
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 8 of 13
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לְמִפְגָּ֣ע me as a mark H4645
לְמִפְגָּ֣ע me as a mark
Strong's: H4645
Word #: 9 of 13
an object of attack
לָ֑ךְ H0
לָ֑ךְ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 10 of 13
וָאֶהְיֶ֖ה H1961
וָאֶהְיֶ֖ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 11 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עָלַ֣י H5921
עָלַ֣י
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 12 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ against thee so that I am a burden H4853
לְמַשָּֽׂא׃ against thee so that I am a burden
Strong's: H4853
Word #: 13 of 13
a burden; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire

Analysis & Commentary

Job asks God directly: 'I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?' Even while maintaining innocence of great transgression, Job acknowledges human sinfulness. The question 'why hast thou set me as a mark against thee' captures the mystery of why God would target finite humans.

Historical Context

Job's willingness to hypothetically accept sin while questioning proportionate punishment reveals the book's central tension: human sinfulness versus divine justice. The title 'preserver of men' acknowledges God's sustaining power even while questioning His purposes.

Questions for Reflection