Job 30:20

I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer; when I stand up, You merely look at me.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Job speaks these words directly to God during his deepest suffering, immediately after describing his reduction to dust and just before complaining that God ruthlessly opposes him.

The words — The Hebrew אֲשַׁוַּ֣ע ('a.sha.Va) means "I cry for help," paired with תַעֲנֵ֑/נִי (ta.'a.Ne./ni), literally "you answer me." The verb וַ/תִּתְבֹּ֥נֶן (va./tit.Bo.nen) describes God's response as looking down or considering carefully.

The thread — This experience of unanswered cries recurs in Job 19:7, where the speaker notes he receives no response despite calling for help, and in Psalms 22:2 and Psalms 80:4, where the psalmist questions how long God will ignore prayers and let anger smolder.

Why it lands — The text records the direct experience of divine silence without softening the complaint. It asks the reader to face the tension of persisting in prayer while feeling utterly ignored by God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֲשַׁוַּ֣ע'a.sha.Va'I cry for help אֵ֭לֶיךָ'E.lei./khato/ you וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not תַעֲנֵ֑נִיta.'a.Ne./niyou answer/ me עָ֝מַ֗דְתִּי'a.Mad.tiI have stood וַתִּתְבֹּ֥נֶןva./tit.Bo.nenand/ you have considered carefullyבִּֽי׃B/i<in>/ me

King James Version

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

Cross-references

Job 19:7 Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.
Psalms 22:2 I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.
Psalms 80:4 O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?
Lamentations 3:8 Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.
Job 27:9 Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?
Lamentations 3:44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.
Matthew 15:23 But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”