Job 3:16 - or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who never saw light.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Job 3:16" mean?
This verse, Job 3:16, is part of Job's lament and curse upon the day of his birth. In this section, he wishes he had never been born. He's essentially saying he would have preferred to have been stillborn or to have died immediately after birth. Let's break down the verse:
"Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been...": This refers to a fetus that is miscarried or stillborn before reaching full term. The term "hidden" suggests something that remains unseen, undeveloped, and therefore never experiences life outside the womb. The "untimely birth" emphasizes the premature end to potential development.
"...as infants who never saw light.": This is a parallel thought, reinforcing the idea of a life that never truly began. To "see light" is a metaphor for experiencing life, awareness, and the world. Infants who die shortly after birth never have the chance to truly experience life.
In essence, Job is saying:
"I wish I had been a miscarriage or a stillborn infant, or a baby who died immediately after birth. Then I wouldn't have had to experience all this suffering."
Here's the context of the verse within Job's overall lament:
Job is in immense pain and despair. He has lost his wealth, his children, and his health. He feels abandoned by God and is struggling to understand why he is suffering. Cursing the day of his birth is a way for him to express the depth of his anguish and his desire for non-existence.
Therefore, Job is expressing his desire to have never existed at all, wishing he had died before experiencing any of the pain and suffering he now endures.
Job 3:16 - or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who never saw light.
What does "Job 3:16" mean?
This verse, Job 3:16, is part of Job's lament and curse upon the day of his birth. In this section, he wishes he had never been born. He's essentially saying he would have preferred to have been stillborn or to have died immediately after birth. Let's break down the verse:
"Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been...": This refers to a fetus that is miscarried or stillborn before reaching full term. The term "hidden" suggests something that remains unseen, undeveloped, and therefore never experiences life outside the womb. The "untimely birth" emphasizes the premature end to potential development.
"...as infants who never saw light.": This is a parallel thought, reinforcing the idea of a life that never truly began. To "see light" is a metaphor for experiencing life, awareness, and the world. Infants who die shortly after birth never have the chance to truly experience life.
In essence, Job is saying:
"I wish I had been a miscarriage or a stillborn infant, or a baby who died immediately after birth. Then I wouldn't have had to experience all this suffering."
Here's the context of the verse within Job's overall lament:
Job is in immense pain and despair. He has lost his wealth, his children, and his health. He feels abandoned by God and is struggling to understand why he is suffering. Cursing the day of his birth is a way for him to express the depth of his anguish and his desire for non-existence.
Therefore, Job is expressing his desire to have never existed at all, wishing he had died before experiencing any of the pain and suffering he now endures.