Job 3:11

11 "Why didn't I die as soon as I was born? Why didn't I die when I came out of the womb?

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 ) .


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 that day's morning stars never appear; let it wait for daylight that never comes. Don't let it see the first light of dawn,
10 because it allowed me to be born and did not hide trouble from my eyes.
11 "Why didn't I die as soon as I was born? Why didn't I die when I came out of the womb?
12 Why did my mother's knees receive me, and my mother's breasts feed me?
13 If they had not been there, I would be lying dead in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.