Job 3 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 And Job spake, and said,
3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
Job Chapter 3 (Old Testament)
7 Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
8 Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
10 Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12 Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
Job Chapter 3 (Old Testament)
13 For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves;
15 Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
17 There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
18 There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
19 The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
21 Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22 Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
24 For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Chapter 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Hermann Schultz (University of Göttingen, 1841–1903) | Die Bücher Hiob, Psalmen und Sprüche | Schultz interprets Job’s lament as a profound poetic exploration of despair and the human questioning of existence. |
| C. H. W. Johns (University of Cambridge, 1860–1927) | The Book of Job: A Study | Johns emphasizes the expressive depth of the chapter, framing Job’s words as an honest articulation of suffering. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, 1826–1893) | The Book of Job | Cox highlights the universality of Job’s mourning, showing the interplay of grief and reflection on life’s fragility. |
| Gustav Bickell (University of Leipzig, 1838–1906) | Der Text des Buches Hiob | Bickell observes the chapter’s structured lamentation, illustrating literary artistry alongside theological questioning. |
| J. H. Hertz (University of Berlin, 1872–1946) | The Pentateuch and Haftorahs | Hertz interprets Job’s speech as a turning point, giving voice to human vulnerability within divine providence. |
JOB CHAPTER 3: Embracing Vulnerability
Memory verse: Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
We all have challenging situations in life from time to time. We can relate to Job's feelings of hopelessness and despair, whether they are caused by physical suffering, mental distress, or spiritual struggle.
Job's response demonstrated the value of being truthful in our communications with God. Job enables himself to be transparent and candid about his pain rather than putting on an impression of toughness and resiliency. He calls out to God and asks why he is going through such severe anguish.
As we reflect on Job 3, we can learn from Job's example and recognize the importance of bringing our pain and struggles to God. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of people who did just that, including Job, David, and Jeremiah.
Let us be like Job and bring our pain and struggles to God, knowing that he is a compassionate and loving God who understands our pain and is present with us in the midst of our suffering.
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