535 verses contain “Why” (in the KJV: 284, in the BSB: 494) — showing 201–300
King James Bible KJV Bible
Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible
Thou hast indeed
smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and
tarry at home: for
why shouldest thou
meddle to thy
hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
You have indeed defeated
Edom, and your heart has become proud. Glory in that and stay at home.
Why should you
stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David.
Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying,
Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to
shepherd My people, ‘
Why haven’t you built Me a house of
cedar?’
And
Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants?
why then
doth my lord require this thing?
why will he be a cause of
trespass to Israel?
But
Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord?
Why does my lord want to do this?
Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
And this house, which is high, shall be an
astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say,
Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
And when this temple has become a
heap of
rubble, all who pass by it will be
appalled and say, ‘
Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”
And the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God,
Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot
prosper? because ye have
forsaken the LORD, he hath also
forsaken you.
Then the Spirit of God came upon
Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘
Why do you
transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot
prosper? Because you have
forsaken the LORD, He has
forsaken you.’”
Wherefore the anger of the LORD was
kindled against
Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him,
Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?
Therefore the anger of the LORD burned against
Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet, who said, “
Why have you sought this people’s gods, which could not deliver them from your hand?”
And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel?
forbear;
why shouldest thou be
smitten? Then the prophet
forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not
hearkened unto my counsel.
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the
counselor to the king? Stop!
Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not
heeded my advice.”
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast
smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to
boast:
abide now at home;
why shouldest thou
meddle to thine
hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated
Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and
boastful. Now stay at home.
Why should you
stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”
For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
For behold, this is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity.
So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the
brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying,
Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
Many people assembled and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the land. “
Why should the kings of Assyria come and find
plenty of water?” they said.
That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a
rebellious city, and
hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved
sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
that a search should be made of the record books of your fathers. In these books you will discover and
verify that the city is a
rebellious city,
harmful to kings and provinces,
inciting sedition from ancient times. That is
why this city was destroyed.
Take
heed now that ye fail not to do this:
why should damage grow to the
hurt of the kings?
See that you do not neglect this matter.
Why allow this
threat to increase and the royal interests to suffer?
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be
diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for
why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven must be done
diligently for His house. For
why should wrath fall on the realm of the king and his sons?
Wherefore the king said unto me,
Why is thy countenance
sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very
sore afraid,
so the king said to me, “
Why is your face
sad, though you are not ill? This could only be
sadness of the heart.” I was
overwhelmed with fear
And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever:
why should not my countenance be
sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’
sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
and replied to the king, “May the king live
forever!
Why should I not be
sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you?”
Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to
rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.
that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are
plotting to revolt, and this is
why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king,
Then
contended I with the rulers, and said,
Why is the house of God
forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
So I
rebuked the officials and asked, “
Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
Then I
testified against them, and said unto them,
Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
but I
warned them, “
Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.
Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto
Mordecai,
Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?
Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked
Mordecai, “
Why do you disobey the command of the king?”
Then called
Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to
Mordecai, to know what it was, and
why it was.
Then
Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she
dispatched him to
Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and
why.
Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the
fourteenth day of the month
Adar a day of
gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
This is
why the rural Jews, who live in the villages, observe the
fourteenth day of the month of
Adar as a day of joy and feasting. It is a
holiday for sending gifts to one another.
Why died I not from the
womb?
why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the
belly?
Why did I not perish at birth;
why did I not die as I came from the
womb?
Why did the knees prevent me? or
why the breasts that I should
suck?
Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be
nursed?
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
Or
why was I not hidden like a
stillborn child, like an infant who never sees
daylight?
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Why is light given to the
miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,
Why is light given to a man whose way is
hid, and whom God hath
hedged in?
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has
hedged in?
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?
If I have
sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind?
Why have You made me Your
target, so that I am a burden to You?
And
why dost thou not
pardon my
transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Why do You not
pardon my
transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
I will say unto God, Do not
condemn me;
shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the
womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
Why then did You bring me from the
womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes
wink at,
Why has your heart carried you away, and
why do your eyes
flash,
Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed
vile in your sight?
Why are we regarded as cattle, as
stupid in your sight?
Why do ye
persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
Why do you
persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?
But ye should say,
Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?
If you say, ‘Let us
persecute him, since the root of the matter lies with him,’
As for me, is my
complaint to man? and if it were so,
why should not my spirit be troubled?
Is my
complaint against a man? Then
why should I not be impatient?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old,
yea, are mighty in power?
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
Why, seeing times are not hidden from the
Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
“
Why does the
Almighty not reserve times for judgment?
Why may those who know Him never see His days?
Behold, all ye
yourselves have seen it;
why then are ye thus altogether vain?
Surely all of you have seen it for
yourselves.
Why then do you keep up this empty talk?
I made a covenant with mine eyes;
why then should I think upon a
maid?
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I
gaze with desire at a virgin?
And
Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and
durst not
shew you mine opinion.
So
Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is
why I was
timid and afraid to tell you what I know.
Why dost thou
strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
Why do you
complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
Why do the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Why do the nations
rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Why standest thou
afar off, O LORD?
why hidest thou
thyself in times of trouble?
Why, O LORD, do You stand far off? Why do You hide in times of trouble?
Wherefore
doth the wicked
contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou
wilt not require it.
Why has the wicked man
renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
My God, my God,
why hast thou
forsaken me?
why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my
roaring?
My God, my God,
why have You
forsaken me?
Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of
groaning?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Why are you
downcast, O my soul?
Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.
I will say unto God my rock,
Why hast thou forgotten me?
why go I
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Why are you
downcast, O my soul?
Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my
Savior and my God.
For thou art the God of my strength:
why dost thou cast me off?
why go I
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Why are you
downcast, O my soul?
Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my
Savior and my God.
Awake,
why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our
affliction and our oppression?
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers
surround me?
Why boastest thou
thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Why do you
boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in;
yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
Why do you
gaze in
envy, O mountains of many peaks? This is the mountain God chose for His dwelling, where the LORD will surely dwell
forever.
O God,
why hast thou cast us off for ever?
why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
Why have You rejected us
forever, O God?
Why does Your anger
smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand?
pluck it out of thy
bosom.
Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the
revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations Your
vengeance for the
bloodshed of Your servants.
Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do
pluck her?
Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by
pick its fruit?
LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Why, O LORD, do You
reject me?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
What
ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou
wast driven back?
Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back,
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let thy fountains be
dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
And
why wilt thou, my son, be
ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the
bosom of a stranger?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a
fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Why should the
fool have money in his hand with no intention of
buying wisdom?
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the
fool, so it happeneth even to me; and
why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
So I said to myself, “The fate of the
fool will also
befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is
futile.
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be
angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the
messenger that your
vow was a mistake.
Why should God be
angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou
dost not
enquire wisely concerning this.
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.
Be not righteous over much; neither make
thyself over wise:
why shouldest thou destroy
thyself?
Do not be overly righteous, and do not make
yourself too wise.
Why should you destroy
yourself?
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou
foolish:
why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a
fool.
Why should you die before your time?
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at
noon: for
why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at
midday?
Why should I be like a
veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may
gaze upon you.
Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of
Mahanaim?
Why should ye be
stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faint.
Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is
afflicted.
What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and
grind the faces of the poor? saith the LORD GOD of hosts.
Why do you
crush My people and
grind the faces of the poor?” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
What could have been done more to my
vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
What more could I have done for My
vineyard than I already did for it?
Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth
sour fruit?
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that
peep, and that
mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
When men tell you to
consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who
whisper and
mutter, shouldn’t a people
consult their God instead?
Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is
hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Why do you say, O Jacob, and
why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is
ignored by my God”?
Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand
shortened at all, that it cannot
redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my
rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for
thirst.
Why was no one there when I arrived?
Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to
redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My
rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish
rot for lack of water and die of
thirst.
I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
“I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Why should you be afraid of
mortal man, of a son of man who
withers like grass?
Wherefore do ye
spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods.
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we
afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
“
Why have we fasted, and You have not seen?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you
oppress all your workers.
Wherefore art thou red in thine
apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress?
O LORD,
why hast thou made us to
err from thy ways, and
hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
Why, O LORD, do You make us
stray from Your ways and
harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your
heritage.
Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
Wherefore will ye
plead with me? ye all have
transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD.
O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness?
Why do My people say, ‘We are free to
roam; we will come to You no more’?
Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
How
skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be
ashamed of Egypt, as thou
wast ashamed of Assyria.
How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
How shall I
pardon thee for this? thy children have
forsaken me, and
sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed
adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
“
Why should I
forgive you? Your children have
forsaken Me and
sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed
adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
Why then is this people of Jerusalem
slidden back by a perpetual
backsliding? they hold fast
deceit, they refuse to return.
Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They
cling to
deceit; they refuse to return.
Why do we sit still?
assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have
sinned against the LORD.
Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us
flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has
doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have
sinned against the LORD.
Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in
Zion? is not her king in her?
Why have they
provoked me to anger with their
graven images, and with strange
vanities?
Listen to the cry of the daughter of my people from a land far away: “Is the LORD no longer in
Zion? Is her King no longer there?” “
Why have they
provoked Me to anger with their carved images, with their worthless foreign idols?”
Is there no
balm in
Gilead; is there no physician there?
why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Is there no
balm in
Gilead? Is no physician there?
Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?
