Job laments that he was never shielded from the troubles of life.
Job is a man from the land of Uz, likely somewhere in the Fertile Crescent, who lived during the patriarchal era (around 2000 BC) when great figures such as Abraham also walked the earth. Though he was known for his integrity and faithfulness to God, he endured devastating suffering that tested every fiber of his being. In Job 3, he laments deeply over his birth, longing that he had never seen the light of day. In this lament, he says, “Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb, Or hide trouble from my eyes.” (v.10)
In these words, Job gives voice to his fierce agony. He bitterly regrets that the womb did not remain closed so that his life—filled with unimaginable tragedy—might be avoided altogether. This intense language reflects the raw height of despair, showing a righteous man wrestling with sorrow to the point of wishing his own life had never begun.
At the root of Job’s lament is the longing to be spared from profound distress or to discover relief from unrelenting pain. Even though his words sound harsh, they underscore the depth of sorrow humans may endure and remind us that God’s mercy must be understood by faith, even when the answers to suffering seem far off.
Job 3:10 meaning
Job is a man from the land of Uz, likely somewhere in the Fertile Crescent, who lived during the patriarchal era (around 2000 BC) when great figures such as Abraham also walked the earth. Though he was known for his integrity and faithfulness to God, he endured devastating suffering that tested every fiber of his being. In Job 3, he laments deeply over his birth, longing that he had never seen the light of day. In this lament, he says, “Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb, Or hide trouble from my eyes.” (v.10)
In these words, Job gives voice to his fierce agony. He bitterly regrets that the womb did not remain closed so that his life—filled with unimaginable tragedy—might be avoided altogether. This intense language reflects the raw height of despair, showing a righteous man wrestling with sorrow to the point of wishing his own life had never begun.
At the root of Job’s lament is the longing to be spared from profound distress or to discover relief from unrelenting pain. Even though his words sound harsh, they underscore the depth of sorrow humans may endure and remind us that God’s mercy must be understood by faith, even when the answers to suffering seem far off.