Job 3:1-9

Job's Opening Speech

1 After this Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.
2 He said:
3 May the day I was born perish, and the night when they said, "A boy is conceived."[a]
4 If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above not care about it, or light shine on it.
5 May darkness and gloom[b] reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it. May an eclipse of the sun[c] terrify it.
6 If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear[d] among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar.[e]
7 Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout[f] be heard in it.
8 Let those who curse [certain] days cast a spell[g] on it, those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan.[h]
9 May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking[i] of dawn.

Job 3:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 3

In this chapter we have an account of Job's cursing the day of his birth, and the night of his conception; Job 3:1-3; first the day, to which he wishes the most extreme darkness, Job 3:4,5; then the night, to which he wishes the same and that it might be destitute of all joy, and be cursed by others as well as by himself, Job 3:6-9; The reasons follow, because it did not prevent his coming into the world, and because he died not on it, Job 3:10-12; which would, as he judged, have been an happiness to him; and this he illustrates by the still and quiet state of the dead, the company they are with, and their freedom from all trouble, oppression, and bondage, Job 3:13-19; but however, since it was otherwise with him, he desires his life might not be prolonged, and expostulates about the continuance of it, Job 3:20-23; and this by reason of his present troubles, which were many and great, and came upon him as he feared they would, and which had made him uneasy in his prosperity, Job 3:24-26.

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Jb 3:11,16; 10:18-19
  • [b]. Jb 10:21-22; 12:22; 28:3
  • [c]. Lit May a darkening of daylight
  • [d]. LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; MT reads rejoice
  • [e]. Lit or enter the number of months
  • [f]. Jb 3:7; 20:5; Ps 63:5
  • [g]. Jb 5:3; Nm 22:11,17
  • [h]. Jb 41; Ps 74:14; 104:26
  • [i]. Lit the eyelids
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