English Standard Version
Job 3:16
16Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light?
Job 3:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
- New International Version (NIV)Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, Like infants who never saw light?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light?
Context of Job 3:16
14with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuilt ruins for themselves, 15or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light? 17There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest. 18There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster.
Read all of Job 3Job 3:16 word by word
א֤וֹ כְנֵ֣פֶל טָ֭מוּן לֹ֣א אֶהְיֶ֑ה כְּ֝עֹלְלִ֗ים לֹא־רָ֥אוּ אֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 3:16
Commentaries on Job 3:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Or as a hidden untimely birth - An early miscarriage, which was scarcely perceptible by the parent herself; and in this case he had not been - he had never had the distinguishable form of a human being, whether male or female. As infants - Little ones; those farther advanced in maturity, but miscarried long before the time of birth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Or as an hidden untimely birth - As an abortion which is hid, or concealed; that is, which is soon removed from the sight. So the Psalmist, Psalm 58:8: As a snail which melteth, let thom dissolve; As the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. Septuagint ̓́ ektrōma the same word which is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:8, with reference to himself; see the notes at that place. I had not been - I should have perished; I should not have…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-19Verses 11-19 Job complained of those present at his birth, for their tender attention to him. No creature comes into the world so helpless as man. God's power and providence upheld our frail lives, and his pity and patience spared our forfeited lives. Natural affection is put into parents' hearts by God. To desire to die that we may be with Christ, that we may be free from sin, is the effect and evidence of grace; but to desire to die, only that we may be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-24Job's language shifts from wishing he was never born to grief. He goes from hating life towards an attraction for death. Job asks "why" seven times, as he has grief for his situation (3:11, 12, 16, 20, 23; see Psalms 10:1; 22:1; Jeremiah 20:18; Lamentations 5:20).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. untimely birth--(Psa 58:8); preferable to the life of the restless miser (Ec 6:3-5).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 3:16
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries