Job 3:8

Job 3:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
• New International Version (NIV)May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan.
• New King James Version (NKJV)May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan.

Context of Job 3:8

6If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year or be listed in the calendar. 7Yes, may that night be barren; may no joyful shout be heard in it. Let those who curse days condemn it, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan. 9May its morning stars grow dark. May it wait for daylight but have none; may it not see the breaking of dawn. 10For that night did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, and hide sorrow from my eyes.

Job 3:8 word by word

יִקְּבֻ֥הוּ אֹרְרֵי־י֑וֹם הָ֝עֲתִידִ֗ים עֹרֵ֥ר לִוְיָתָֽן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let them curseנָקַבnâqab · to pierceH5344
• it that curseאָרַר'ârar · to curseH779
• the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• who are readyעָתִיד‛âthîyd · readyH6264
• to raise upעוּר‛ûr · to rouseH5782
• their mourningלִוְיָתָןlivyâthân · LeviathanH3882

Cross-references for Job 3:8

• 2 Chronicles 35:25Jeremiah chanted a dirge over Josiah, and all the male and female singers still speak of Josiah in their dirges today. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Dirges.
• Jeremiah 9:17This is what the Lord of Armies says: Consider, and summon the women who mourn; send for the skillful women.
• Amos 5:16Therefore the Lord, the God of Armies, the Lord, says: There will be wailing in all the public squares; they will cry out in anguish in all the streets. The farmer will be called on to mourn, and professional mourners to wail.
• Matthew 11:17We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn!
• Mark 5:38They came to the leader’s house, and he saw a commotion — people weeping and wailing loudly.
• Job 41:1Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie his tongue down with a rope?

Commentaries on Job 3:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Let them curse it that curse the day - This translation is scarcely intelligible. I have waded through a multitude of interpretations, without being able to collect from them such a notion of the verse as could appear to me probable. Schultens, Rosenmller, and after them Mr. Good, have labored much to make it plain. They think the custom of sorcerers who had execrations for peoples, places, things, days, etc., is here referred to; such as Balaam, Elymas…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Let them curse it who curse the day - This entire verse is exceedingly difficult, and many different expositions have been given of it. It seems evident that it refers to some well-known class of persons, who were accustomed to utter imprecations, and were supposed to have the power to render a day propitious or unpropitious - persons who had the power of divination or enchantment. A belief in such a power existed early in the world, and has prevailed in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The phrase those who curse the day refers to people paid to curse, like Balaam (Numbers 22–24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. them ... curse the day--If "mourning" be the right rendering in the latter clause of this verse, these words refer to the hired mourners of the dead (Jr 9:17). But the Hebrew for "mourning" elsewhere always denotes an animal, whether it be the crocodile or some huge serpent (Is 27:1), such as is meant by "leviathan." Therefore, the expression, "cursers of day," refers to magicians, who were believed to be able by charms to make a day one of evil omen…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 3:8

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Despondency
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Above
• Dig
• Leviathan
• Poetry
• Roaring
• Safety
• Solitary
• Astronomy
• Job, Book of
• Magic; Magician

Commentaries on Job 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings