Job 3:19

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

Translations

Modern
Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
Traditional
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
Literal
The small and the great there the same, and the servant is free from his master.
Latin
Parvus et magnus ibi sunt, et servus liber a domino suo.

Original

Hebrew
English
Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

Notes

Job's language shifts from wishing he was never born to grief. He goes from hating life towards an attraction for death. Job asks "why" seven times, as he has grief for his situation (3:11, 12, 16, 20, 23; see Psalms 10:1; 22:1; Jeremiah 20:18; Lamentations 5:20).

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 Life After Death

Events

Glossary

Book of Job Freedom, Liberty

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Dead (People): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Despondency: General Scriptures Concerning God: Job's Natural Death: Levels all Ranks