Job EE’yōv(possibly from ōyeev enemy, foe; thus = hated, persecuted // hostility, enmity)
Prologue (1–2); Dialogue (3:1–42:6); Epilogue (42:7–17)
3:1-11:20 First dialogue (Job with Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar)
Job’s Opening Lamentation (chap 3)
1. He wished he hadn’t been born (3:1-10)
2. He wished he had died at birth (3:11-19)
3. He wished he could die (3:20-26)
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3:1 opened his mouth and cursed. In 2:9 Job’s wife advises him to “curse God and die.” Instead, Job curses the day of his birth. In 2:9 the word “curse” is the ambiguous brk (also trans. “bless”); here qll instead of the stronger ‘rr is used. Job wishes he had never been born, an idea repeated in 10:18. The prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 20:14-18) does the same: “Cursed [‘rr] be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed [brk]!” —Izak Cornelius, ZIBBCOT, 5:254-5
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3:2 Job spoke up and said: According to b. Mo’ed Kat. 28b, this clause inspires Judaism’s guidelines concerning the comforting of mourners (see Shulhan Arukh, Yoreh Deah 376:1), according to which, “The persons paying a condolence call should not open their mouths until the mourner first opens his or her mouth.” —Jewish Study Bible
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3:3 “Let” or “May” translates the Hebrew jussive verbal form which can be used to express a wish, desire, or indirect command. Notice the repetition of the words “Let” and “Why” throughout the lament. Together they not only express Job’s wishes and questions but also his demands. Here the demand is for a reversal of the creation order (day/night, light/ darkness; birth/stillborn; life/death; creation/chaos).
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Note the parallels with Jeremiah’s lament (Jer 20:14).
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3:8 those who curse [kavav] = make incantations.
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3:21 hidden treasures. Job replaces wisdom for death as that for which one should longingly desire (Pr 2:4).
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Knowing God through Job’s Lament:
