CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 3:8 May it be cursed by those who curse the day--those prepared to rouse Leviathan.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/3-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/18_Job_03_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 3:8 - Job Laments His Birth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="May it be cursed by those who curse the day--those prepared to rouse Leviathan." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/job/3-8.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/job/3-8.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/job/">Job</a> > <a href="/job/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 8</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/3-7.htm" title="Job 3:7">◄</a> Job 3:8 <a href="/job/3-9.htm" title="Job 3:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Let those who are experts at cursing— whose cursing could rouse Leviathan— curse that day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“May those curse it who curse the day, Who are prepared to disturb Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are ready to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Let those curse it who curse the day, Who are skilled in rousing up Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let those who curse certain days cast a spell on it, those who are skilled in rousing Leviathan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Let them curse it that curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Let those with magic powers place a curse on that day. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Let those who curse the day (those who know how to wake up Leviathan) curse that night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Tell the sorcerers to curse that day, those who know how to control Leviathan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Let whoever curses days curse it— those who are ready to awaken monsters. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />May it be cursed by those who curse the day?those prepared to rouse Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Let those who curse the day curse it--those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up leviathan. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Let the cursers of day mark it, "" Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />They cursing the day shall curse it, they being ready to rouse up the sea monster.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it who curse the day. who are ready to raise up a leviathan: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />May they curse it, who curse the day, who are prepared to awaken a leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it who curse the Sea, those skilled at disturbing Leviathan! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Let those curse it who curse the Sea, those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to stir up Leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The cursers of the day shall curse it, those who are going to rouse up Leviathan<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Let them curse it that curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But let him that curses that day curse it, <i>even</i> he that is ready to attack the great whale.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/3-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=422" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm">Job Laments His Birth</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/779.htm" title="779: ’ō·rə·rê- (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To curse. A primitive root; to execrate.">May it be cursed</a> <a href="/hebrew/6895.htm" title="6895: yiq·qə·ḇu·hū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: 3ms) -- To utter a curse against, curse. A primitive root; to scoop out, i.e. to malign or execrate.">by those who curse</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">the day—</a> <a href="/hebrew/6264.htm" title="6264: hā·‘ă·ṯî·ḏîm (Art:: Adj-mp) -- Ready, prepared. From athad; prepared; by implication, skilful; feminine plural the future; also treasure.">those prepared</a> <a href="/hebrew/5782.htm" title="5782: ‘ō·rêr (V-Piel-Inf) -- To rouse oneself, awake. A primitive root; to wake.">to rouse</a> <a href="/hebrew/3882.htm" title="3882: liw·yā·ṯān (N-ms) -- From lavah; a wreathed animal, i.e. A serpent; figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; also as a symbol of Bab.">Leviathan.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/27-1.htm">Isaiah 27:1</a></span><br />In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/5-8.htm">Amos 5:8</a></span><br />He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/12-9.htm">Revelation 12:9</a></span><br />And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/74-13.htm">Psalm 74:13-14</a></span><br />You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea; / You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/51-9.htm">Isaiah 51:9</a></span><br />Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-2.htm">Revelation 20:2</a></span><br />He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-40.htm">Matthew 12:40</a></span><br />For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/32-2.htm">Ezekiel 32:2</a></span><br />“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-26.htm">Psalm 104:26</a></span><br />There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/13-1.htm">Revelation 13:1</a></span><br />Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-34.htm">Jeremiah 51:34</a></span><br />“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-29.htm">Luke 11:29-30</a></span><br />As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jonah/1-17.htm">Jonah 1:17</a></span><br />Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/89-10.htm">Psalm 89:10</a></span><br />You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/14-29.htm">Isaiah 14:29</a></span><br />Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.</p><p class="hdg">who are ready.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/35-25.htm">2 Chronicles 35:25</a></b></br> And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they <i>are</i> written in the lamentations.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/9-17.htm">Jeremiah 9:17,18</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning <i>women</i>, that they may come: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/5-16.htm">Amos 5:16</a></b></br> Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing <i>shall be</i> in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.</p><p class="hdg">their mourning.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/41-1.htm">Job 41:1,10</a></b></br> Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord <i>which</i> thou lettest down? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/7-15.htm">Awake</a> <a href="/job/2-9.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/job/3-1.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/isaiah/27-1.htm">Leviathan</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/18-27.htm">Mark</a> <a href="/esther/9-22.htm">Mourning</a> <a href="/esther/7-10.htm">Prepared</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/8-8.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/esther/8-13.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-21.htm">Rouse</a> <a href="/ezra/7-6.htm">Skilled</a> <a href="/judges/5-12.htm">Wake</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/8-6.htm">Awake</a> <a href="/job/5-3.htm">Curse</a> <a href="/job/5-3.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/job/41-1.htm">Leviathan</a> <a href="/job/5-3.htm">Mark</a> <a href="/job/30-28.htm">Mourning</a> <a href="/job/11-13.htm">Prepared</a> <a href="/job/4-4.htm">Raise</a> <a href="/job/6-14.htm">Ready</a> <a href="/job/8-6.htm">Rouse</a> <a href="/job/32-22.htm">Skilled</a> <a href="/job/41-32.htm">Wake</a><div class="vheading2">Job 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-1.htm">Job curses the day and services of his birth.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-13.htm">The ease of death.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/3-20.htm">He complains of life, because of his anguish.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>May it be cursed by those who curse the day—</b><br>In this phrase, Job is expressing a deep lament, wishing that the day of his birth be cursed. The concept of cursing a day reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief in the power of spoken words to affect reality. In biblical context, cursing is often associated with invoking divine judgment or misfortune. This reflects Job's intense suffering and despair, as he feels that his life has brought him more pain than joy. The idea of cursing a day can be connected to other scriptural instances where days or events are marked by divine intervention, such as the cursing of the ground in <a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17</a>.<p><b>those prepared to rouse Leviathan.</b><br>Leviathan is a mythical sea creature mentioned in several parts of the Bible, including Psalms and Isaiah. In ancient Near Eastern mythology, Leviathan is often depicted as a chaos monster, symbolizing disorder and evil. The mention of Leviathan here suggests a desire to invoke powerful forces to undo the day of Job's birth. This reflects the cultural context where such creatures were seen as adversaries to divine order. In a broader biblical narrative, Leviathan can be seen as a type of Satan or evil, opposing God's creation. The imagery of Leviathan is also used in prophetic literature, such as <a href="/isaiah/27.htm">Isaiah 27:1</a>, where God promises to defeat the creature, symbolizing the ultimate triumph over chaos and evil. This can be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's victory over sin and death, bringing order and redemption to creation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/leviathan.htm">Leviathan</a></b><br>A mythical sea creature often symbolizing chaos and evil in ancient Near Eastern literature. In the context of Job, it represents the uncontrollable and fearsome aspects of creation.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/cursers.htm">Cursers</a></b><br>Individuals who are skilled in invoking curses, possibly referring to ancient sorcerers or those believed to have the power to summon or control supernatural forces.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_suffering.htm">Understanding Suffering</a></b><br>Job's lamentation and desire for those who curse the day to curse his birth reflect the depth of his suffering. It is a reminder that in times of deep distress, it is natural to question and express anguish.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_chaos.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Chaos</a></b><br>The mention of Leviathan serves as a reminder of God's control over all things, even the most chaotic and fearsome elements of creation. Believers can find comfort in knowing that nothing is beyond God's power.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a></b><br>The invocation of curses highlights the belief in the power of words and intentions. Christians are encouraged to use their words to bless and build up rather than curse or tear down.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_amidst_trials.htm">Faith Amidst Trials</a></b><br>Job's account encourages believers to maintain faith and trust in God, even when circumstances are incomprehensible and painful.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_term_'leviathan'_mean.htm">What does the term "leviathan" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_colossae_church's_role.htm">Did Job's words contain any sin?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_for_leviathan.htm">If Job 3:8 references creatures like Leviathan, is there any historical or archaeological evidence supporting such a being?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_job_3's_despair_contradict_james_5_11.htm">Does the despair expressed in Job 3 contradict later biblical accounts (e.g., James 5:11) that describe Job as patient and steadfast?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">That curse the day</span>--i.e., Let those who proclaim days unlucky or accursed curse that day as pre-eminently so; or let them recollect that day as a standard or sample of cursing. "Let it be as cursed as Job's birth day."<p>These people are further described as being ready to arouse leviathan (Authorised Version, "raise up their mourning"), or the crocodile--persons as mad and desperate as <span class= "ital">that. </span>Let the most hopeless and reckless of mankind select that day as the one which they would choose to curse. This seems to be Job's meaning.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Let them curse it that curse the day</span>. Very different explanations are given of this passage. Some suppose it to mean, "Let those desperate men curse it who are in the habit of cursing their day," like Job himself (<a href="/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1</a>) and Jeremiah (<a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14</a>). Others suggest a reference to such as claimed power to curse days, and to divide them into the lucky and the unlucky. In this case Job would mean, "Let the sorcerers who curse days curse especially this day," and would thus seem, if not to sanction the practice, at any rate to express a certain amount of belief in the sorcerers' power. The second clause has also a double interpretation, which adapts it to either of these two suggested meanings (<span class="accented">vide</span> <span class="accented">infra</span>)<span class="accented">. <span class="cmt_word"></span>Who are ready to raise up their mourning</span>. This is an impossible rendering. Translate (with the Revised Version), who <span class="accented">are ready to rouse up leviathan.</span> "Rousing leviathan" may be understood in two ways. It may be regarded as spoken in the literal sense of those who are rash enough and desperate enough to stir up the fury of the crocodile (see the comment on Job 41:1), or in a metaphorical sense of such as stir up to action by their sorceries the great power of evil, symbolized in Oriental mythologies by a huge serpent, or dragon, or crocodile. On the whole, the second and deeper sense seems preferable; and we may conceive of Job as believing in the power of sorcery, and wishing it used against the night which he so much dislikes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/3-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">May it be cursed</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹרְרֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·rə·rê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_779.htm">Strong's 779: </a> </span><span class="str2">To execrate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">by those who curse</span><br /><span class="heb">יִקְּבֻ֥הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(yiq·qə·ḇu·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5344.htm">Strong's 5344: </a> </span><span class="str2">To puncture</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the day—</span><br /><span class="heb">י֑וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">those prepared</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֝עֲתִידִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ă·ṯî·ḏîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6264.htm">Strong's 6264: </a> </span><span class="str2">Prepared, skilful, treasure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to rouse</span><br /><span class="heb">עֹרֵ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·rêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5782.htm">Strong's 5782: </a> </span><span class="str2">To rouse oneself, awake</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Leviathan.</span><br /><span class="heb">לִוְיָתָֽן׃</span> <span class="translit">(liw·yā·ṯān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3882.htm">Strong's 3882: </a> </span><span class="str2">A wreathed animal, a serpent, dragon, Babylon</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/3-8.htm">Job 3:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/3-8.htm">OT Poetry: Job 3:8 Let them curse it who curse (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/3-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 3:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 3:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/3-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 3:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 3:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>