Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

JOB 10:3KJV
Know the Bible

Job 10:3 (KJV)

What does Job 10:3 mean?

Job 10:3 describes Job questioning God, asking if it is good for God to oppress him, to despise the work of His own hands, and to favor the plans of the wicked. Job is expressing his confusion and pain, wondering why God would allow suffering for someone He created while seeming to let the wicked prosper.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly to God during his intense suffering. Job feels abandoned and mistreated, and he cannot understand why God, who made him, would allow such hardship. The verse captures Job’s struggle to reconcile his belief in a just Creator with the reality of his own misery and the apparent success of the wicked.

The Hebrew behind Job 10:3

  • The word "oppress" (עָשַׁק, ʿāshaq) means to treat harshly or exploit. Job uses this strong word to describe how he feels under God’s hand, highlighting the depth of his distress.
  • "Despise" (מָאַס, māʾas) means to reject or treat with contempt. Job is shocked at the idea that God would reject the very person He made, emphasizing the personal nature of his suffering.
  • "Work" (יְגִיעַ, yəgiʿa) refers to something produced by effort. Here, Job calls himself the "work of [God’s] hands," stressing that he is God’s own creation.
  • "Shine" (פָּנָה, pānāh) in this context means to show favor or give attention. Job is troubled by the thought that God might be giving favorable attention to the plans ("counsel," עֵצָה, ʿētsāh) of the wicked (רָשָׁע, rāshāʿ).

Why Job 10:3 matters

  • Job 10:3 clears up the misconception that Job is simply accepting his suffering; instead, he is honestly wrestling with God about injustice and confusion.
  • The verse highlights Job’s belief that God is deeply involved with His creation, making Job’s pain feel like a personal rejection rather than just bad luck.
  • This question sets the stage for the larger themes of the book: the struggle to understand suffering, the character of God, and the seeming success of the wicked compared to the righteous.

Where else these words appear

“shine” Hebrew H3313 · used in 8 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
  • Job 10:22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.
  • Psalms 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

“work” Hebrew H3018 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 31:42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
  • Psalms 78:46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
  • Jeremiah 3:24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

“good” Hebrew H2895 · used in 33 verses

  • Numbers 10:29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
  • 1 Samuel 20:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
  • Esther 7:3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

“oppress” Hebrew H6231 · used in 35 verses

  • Leviticus 6:2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
  • Psalms 103:6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
  • Isaiah 52:4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.