Job 3:20

“Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, etc.] That labours under various calamities and afflictions, as Job did, being stripped of his substance, deprived of his children, and now in great pain of body and distress of mind; who, since he died not so soon as he wished he had, expostulates why his life is protracted; for that is what he means by light, as appears from the following clause, even the light of the living, or the light of the world; which though sweet and pleasant to behold to a man in health, yet not to one in pain of body and anguish of mind, as he was, who chose rather to be in the dark and silent grave; this he represents as a gift, as indeed life is, and the gift…”

“HE COMPLAINS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF HIS ANGUISH. (Job 3:20-26) Wherefore giveth he light--namely, God; often omitted reverentially (Job 24:23; Ecc 9:9). Light, that is, life. The joyful light ill suits the mourners. The grave is most in unison with their feelings.”

“Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery? - The word “light” here is used undoubtedly to denote “life.” This verse commences a new part of Job’s complaint. It is that God keeps people alive who would prefer to die; that he furnishes them with the means of sustaining existence, and actually preserves them, when they would consider it an inestimable blessing to expire. Schultens remarks, on this part of the chapter, that the tone of Job’s complaint is considerably modified. He has given vent to his strong feelings, and the language here is more mild and gentle. Still it implies a reflection on God. It is not the language of humble submission. It contains an implied charge of cruelty…”

“Light - The light of life. Bitter - Unto those to whom life itself is bitter and burdensome. Life is called light, because it is pleasant and serviceable for walking and working; and this light is said to be given us, because it would be lost, if it were not daily renewed to us by a fresh gift. Job 3:21”

“3:20 Job equated light with life (33:30; see John 1:4; 8:12). • Bitter might mean “short-tempered” (Judg 18:25), “enraged” (2 Sam 17:8), “anguish” (Job 7:11), “distress” (Prov 31:6), or “discontented” (1 Sam 1:10; 22:2).”

“Wherefore: Job 6:9, Job 7:15, Job 7:16; Jer 20:18 light: Job 3:16, Job 33:28, Job 33:30 the bitter: Job 7:15, Job 7:16; Sa1 1:10; Kg2 4:27; Pro 31:6 Job 3:21”

“20 Why is light given to the wretched, And life to the sorrowful in soul? 21 Who wait for death, and he comes not, Who dig after him more than for treasure, 22 Who rejoice with exceeding joy, Who are enraptured, when they can find the grave? 23 To the man whose way is hidden, And whom Eloah hath hedged round? The descriptive partt. Job 3:21, Job 3:22, are continued in predicative clauses, which are virtually relative clauses; Job 3:21 has the fut. consec., since the sufferers are regarded as now at least dead; Job 3:22 the simple fut., since their longing for the grave is placed before the eye (on this transition from the part. to the verb. fin., vid., Ges. 134, rem. (2). Schlottm. and Hahn…”