Job 3:11

11 For why died I not in the belly? and did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

Job 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Job 3:11

Why died I not from the womb?
&c.] That is, as soon as he came out of it; or rather, as soon as he was in it, or from the time that he was in it; or however, while he was in it, that so he might not have come alive out of it; which sense seems best to agree both with what goes before and follows after; for since his conception in the womb was not hindered, he wishes he had died in it; and so some versions render it to this sense ^F14:

[why] did I [not] give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
since he died not in the womb, which was desirable to him, he wishes that the moment he came out of it he had expired, and is displeased because it was not so, see ( Jeremiah 20:17 ) ( Hosea 9:11 ) ; thus what is the special favour of Providence, to be taken out of the womb alive, and preserved, he wishes not to have enjoyed, see ( Psalms 22:9 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Mxrm) (en koilia) , Sept. "in vulva", V. L. "aut, in utero", Beza, Mercerus, Cocceius, Junius, Michaelis; so R. Abraham Peritzol, and Simeon Bar Tzemach.

Job 3:11 In-Context

9 Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain , and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:

10 because it shut not up the gates of my mother's womb, for it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.

11 For why died I not in the belly? and did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

12 and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

13 Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest,