Job 3:1

Job Laments His Birth · Job 3:1–26
Read Job 3

Translations

Modern
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
Traditional
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
Literal
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.
Latin
Post hæc aperuit Job os suum, et maledixit diei suo,

Original

Hebrew
English
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

Notes

  • Job spoke and risked words of sin (1:21; 2:10).

  • Job cursed the day of his birth in great detail. However, his words sounded more like sad complaints. Job did not curse God as his creator, but he showed grief about the condition of his life.

Job's outbreak of emotion did not mean his integrity failed under pressure (42:7–8; James 5:11). The prophets Elijah and Jeremiah, both men of God, exaggerated with similar language (1 Kings 19:4; Jeremiah 20:14–18).

Theme notes and profiles

Complaints

Events

People

Job: A righteous man who endured great suffering

Glossary

Book of Job

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Birthday: Cursed Death: Desired: Job Despondency: General Scriptures Concerning Job: A Man Who Lived in Uz: Complaints of, and Replies by his Three Friends To Life: (Sacredness of, an Inference from What is Taught in the Law Concerning Murder): Job Murmuring: Job Prayer: Imprecatory Presumption: Job, in Cursing the Day of his Birth