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<!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 3:1 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/3-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/18_Job_03_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 3:1 - Job Laments His Birth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth." /><script type="application/javascript" 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src="/ad1.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/2-13.htm" title="Job 2:13">◄</a> Job 3:1 <a href="/job/3-2.htm" title="Job 3:2">►</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 />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his <i>birth.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his <i>birth.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his <i>birth.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his <i>birth</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his <i>birth</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job began to speak and cursed the day he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Finally, Job cursed the day of his birth <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />After all this, Job [finally] opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Finally Job broke the silence and cursed the day on which he had been born. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />After this, Job spoke up solemnly, cursing the day he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />After this Job has opened his mouth, and reviles his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and he will curse his day.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AFTER this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day wherein he was born.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And after this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day on which he was born<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/3-1.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=374" 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">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê- (Prep) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">After</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: ḵên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">this,</a> <a href="/hebrew/347.htm" title="347: ’î·yō·wḇ (N-proper-ms) -- A patriarch. From 'ayab; hated; Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience.">Job</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6605.htm" title="6605: pā·ṯaḥ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve. A primitive root; to open wide; specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve.">opened</a> <a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: pî·hū (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">his mouth</a> <a href="/hebrew/7043.htm" title="7043: way·qal·lêl (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be slight, swift or trifling. A primitive root; to be light, literally Or figuratively.">and cursed</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·w·mōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">the day of his birth.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>And this is what he said:…<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="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a></span><br />Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:1</a></span><br />A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/6-8.htm">Job 6:8-9</a></span><br />If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope: / that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-15.htm">Job 7:15-16</a></span><br />so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body. / I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-18.htm">Job 10:18-19</a></span><br />Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! / If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/14-13.htm">Job 14:13</a></span><br />If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/17-1.htm">Job 17:1</a></span><br />“My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/30-15.htm">Job 30:15-17</a></span><br />Terrors are turned loose against me; they drive away my dignity as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed like a cloud. / And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction grip me. / Night pierces my bones, and my gnawing pains never rest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/10-1.htm">Job 10:1</a></span><br />“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-1.htm">Lamentations 3:1-20</a></span><br />I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. / He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. / Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a></span><br />while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3</a></span><br />And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-38.htm">Matthew 26:38</a></span><br />Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-34.htm">Mark 14:34</a></span><br />Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-44.htm">Luke 22:44</a></span><br />And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.</p><p class="hdg">After.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/1-22.htm">Job 1:22</a></b></br> In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/2-10.htm">Job 2:10</a></b></br> But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.</p><p class="hdg">opened.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/35-16.htm">Job 35:16</a></b></br> Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/39-2.htm">Psalm 39:2,3</a></b></br> I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, <i>even</i> from good; and my sorrow was stirred… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/106-33.htm">Psalm 106:33</a></b></br> Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.</p><p class="hdg">cursed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-3.htm">Job 3:3</a></b></br> Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night <i>in which</i> it was said, There is a man child conceived.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/1-11.htm">Job 1:11</a></b></br> But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/2-5.htm">Job 2:5,9</a></b></br> But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face… </p><p class="hdg">his day.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/esther/6-12.htm">Afterward</a> <a href="/esther/2-10.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/job/1-5.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/job/2-5.htm">Cursing</a> <a href="/job/2-12.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/1-15.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-19.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/nehemiah/8-5.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/2_samuel/16-13.htm">Revileth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/73-24.htm">Afterward</a> <a href="/job/3-3.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/job/3-8.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/psalms/10-7.htm">Cursing</a> <a href="/job/3-2.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/5-15.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/job/12-14.htm">Opened</a> <a href="/job/3-10.htm">Opening</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Revileth</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>After this</b><br>This phrase indicates a transition from the previous events in the narrative. Job has just endured immense suffering, including the loss of his children, wealth, and health. The phrase "after this" sets the stage for a new section where Job begins to express his deep anguish. It highlights a shift from silent suffering to vocal lamentation, marking a pivotal moment in the book.<p><b>Job opened his mouth</b><br>In ancient Near Eastern culture, opening one's mouth to speak was a significant act, often associated with making declarations or pronouncements. This phrase suggests that Job is about to articulate something of great importance. It also indicates a move from internal to external expression, as Job transitions from silent endurance to verbalizing his pain.<p><b>and cursed the day of his birth</b><br>Cursing one's birth was a profound expression of despair and hopelessness. In the cultural context of the time, life was considered a gift from God, and to curse one's birth was to question the very gift of life itself. This act reflects Job's deep suffering and his struggle to understand his circumstances. It connects to other biblical instances where individuals express similar despair, such as <a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a>. This lamentation foreshadows the intense dialogues that follow, where Job seeks answers and understanding from God.<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, known for his immense suffering and perseverance.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_day_of_job's_birth.htm">The Day of Job's Birth</a></b><br>This is the specific day Job curses, marking a significant moment of despair in his life. It symbolizes the beginning of his earthly existence, which he now views as a source of suffering.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_suffering.htm">Job's Suffering</a></b><br>Prior to this verse, Job has lost his wealth, children, and health. His lament in chapter 3 is a response to these overwhelming trials.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_suffering.htm">The Reality of Suffering</a></b><br>Suffering is a part of the human experience, even for the righteous. Job's lament is a raw expression of his pain, reminding us that it is okay to bring our deepest emotions before God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_lament.htm">The Importance of Lament</a></b><br>Lament is a biblical way to process grief and suffering. It allows believers to express their pain honestly while still maintaining a relationship with God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_amidst_despair.htm">Faith Amidst Despair</a></b><br>Even in his despair, Job does not curse God. This teaches us the importance of maintaining faith and reverence for God, even when we do not understand our circumstances.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_value_of_life.htm">The Value of Life</a></b><br>Job's curse on the day of his birth challenges us to consider the value and purpose of life, even amidst suffering. It encourages believers to seek God's perspective on their existence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_support.htm">Community Support</a></b><br>Job's friends initially come to comfort him, highlighting the importance of community support during times of suffering. Believers are called to support one another in love and compassion.<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/how_does_job_3_align_with_god's_justice.htm">How can Job's complaint in Job 3 align with a just and sovereign God, if he questions the value of his own birth?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_job's_words_contain_any_sin.htm">Did Job's words contain any sin?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_job_3_3_imply_a_day_is_'cursed'.htm">How can Job 3:3 imply that a specific calendar day could be “cursed,” and what would that logically accomplish?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_job_3's_lament_seem_contradictory.htm">Why would Job 3 present a poetic lament that appears contradictory to a worldview promoting divine compassion, and how has this been reconciled historically?</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><span class= "bld">III.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">After this opened Job his mouth.</span>--There is a striking similarity between this chapter and <a href="/context/jeremiah/20-14.htm" title="Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bore me be blessed.">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a>, so much so that one must be borrowed from the other; the question is, which is the original? Is Jeremiah the germ of this? or is this the tree from which a branch has been hewn by Jeremiah? Our own conviction is that Job is the original, inasmuch as this chapter is indispensable to the development of the poem; but in Jeremiah the passage occurs casually as the record of a passing mood of despair. It is, moreover, apparently clear that Jeremiah is quoting Job as he might quote one of the Psalms or any other writing with which he was familiar. He was applying to daily life the well-known expression of a patriarchal experience, whereas in the other case the words of Job would be the ideal magnifying of a commonplace and realistic experience.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">After this opened Job his mouth</span>. The first to take the word is Job, as, indeed, etiquette made necessary, when the visit paid was one of condolence. It can only be conjectured what the feelings were which had kept him silent so long. We may, perhaps, suggest that in the countenances and manner of his friends he saw something which displeased him, something indicative of their belief that he had brought his afflictions upon himself by secret sins of a heinous character. Pharisaism finds it very difficult to conceal itself; signs of it are almost sure to escape; often it manifests itself, without a word spoken, most offensively. The phrase, "opened his mouth," is not to be dismissed merely as a Hebraism. It is one used only on solemn occasions, and implies the utterance of deep thoughts, well considered beforehand (<a href="/psalms/78-21.htm">Psalm 78:21</a>; <a href="/matthew/5-2.htm">Matthew 5:2</a>), or of feelings long repressed, and now at length allowed expression. <span class="cmt_word">And cursed his day</span>; "cursed," <span class="accented">i.e.</span>, the "day of his birth." Some critics think that "cursed" is too strong a word, and suggest "reviled;" but it cannot be denied that "to curse" is a frequent meaning of <span class="hebrew">קָלַל</span> and it is difficult to see in Job's words (vers. 3-10) anything but a "curse" of a very intense character. To curse one's natal day is not, perhaps, a very wise act, since it can have no effect on the day or on anything else; but so great a prophet as Jeremiah imitated Job in this respect (<a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a>), so that before Christianity it would seem that men were allowed thus to relieve their feelings. All that such cursing means is that one wishes one had never been born. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/3-1.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">After</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחֲרֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥă·rê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_310.htm">Strong's 310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The hind or following part</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this,</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵ֗ן</span> <span class="translit">(ḵên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Job</span><br /><span class="heb">אִיּוֹב֙</span> <span class="translit">(’î·yō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_347.htm">Strong's 347: </a> </span><span class="str2">Job -- a patriarch</span><br /><br /><span class="word">opened</span><br /><span class="heb">פָּתַ֤ח</span> <span class="translit">(pā·ṯaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6605.htm">Strong's 6605: </a> </span><span class="str2">To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his mouth</span><br /><span class="heb">פִּ֔יהוּ</span> <span class="translit">(pî·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and cursed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·qal·lêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7043.htm">Strong's 7043: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be slight, swift or trifling</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the day of his [birth].</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹמֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person 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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/3-1.htm">Job 3:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/3-1.htm">OT Poetry: Job 3:1 After this Job opened his mouth (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/2-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 2:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 2:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/3-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 3:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 3:2" /></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>