Job 3:11
New International Version
“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?

New Living Translation
“Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

English Standard Version
“Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?

Berean Standard Bible
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

King James Bible
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

New King James Version
“Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?

New American Standard Bible
“Why did I not die at birth, Come out of the womb and pass away?

NASB 1995
“Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

NASB 1977
“Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

Legacy Standard Bible
“Why did I not die from the womb, Come forth from the womb and breathe my last?

Amplified Bible
“Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?

Christian Standard Bible
Why was I not stillborn; why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why was I not stillborn; why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?

American Standard Version
Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me?

Contemporary English Version
Why didn't I die at birth?

English Revised Version
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Why didn't I die as soon as I was born and breathe my last breath when I came out of the womb?

Good News Translation
I wish I had died in my mother's womb or died the moment I was born.

International Standard Version
Why didn't I die while I was still in the womb, or die while I was being born?

Majority Standard Bible
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

NET Bible
"Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?

New Heart English Bible
"Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the spirit when my mother bore me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not expire at the time of my birth?

World English Bible
“Why didn’t I die from the womb? Why didn’t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why do I not die from the womb? I have come forth from the belly and gasp!

Young's Literal Translation
Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore shall I not die from the womb? and I came forth from the belly, and I shall expire.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish?

New American Bible
Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?

New Revised Standard Version
“Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I come forth at birth?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Why did I not die from the womb, and from conception why did I come out the threshold?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not perish at birth?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For why died I not in the belly? and why did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Laments His Birth
10For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes. 11Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? 12Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?…

Cross References
Jeremiah 20:14-18
Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...

Ecclesiastes 4:2-3
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. / But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

1 Kings 19:4
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Jonah 4:3
And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Numbers 11:15
If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”

1 Samuel 1:10-11
In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Psalm 88:3-6
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. ...

Psalm 139:13-16
For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. / I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. / My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. ...

Isaiah 38:10-12
I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. / My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.

Lamentations 3:1-9
I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. / He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. / Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. ...

Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” / Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Mark 14:34-36
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” / Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. / “Abba, Father,” He said, “all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.”

Luke 22:42-44
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” / Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. / And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

died I.

Psalm 58:8
As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Jeremiah 15:10
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Hosea 9:14
Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

when I came.

Psalm 22:9,10
But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts…

Psalm 71:6
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

Psalm 139:13-16
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb…

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Bare Belly Birth Body Bore Breath Death Die Died Expire Forth Gasp Ghost Last Mother Mother's Perish Spirit Time Womb
Job 3
1. Job curses the day and services of his birth.
13. The ease of death.
20. He complains of life, because of his anguish.














Why did I not perish at birth
The Hebrew word for "perish" here is "אָבַד" (avad), which conveys a sense of being lost or destroyed. In the context of Job's lament, this word reflects his deep anguish and desire for non-existence to escape his suffering. Historically, the concept of perishing at birth was seen as a tragic but sometimes merciful escape from a life of potential suffering. Job's question is rhetorical, expressing his profound despair and questioning the purpose of his existence amidst his trials. This phrase invites readers to reflect on the sanctity of life and the mystery of God's sovereignty, even when life seems unbearable.

why did I not die as I came from the womb?
The phrase "die as I came from the womb" uses the Hebrew word "מוּת" (muth) for "die," which is a common term for physical death. Job's lament here is a continuation of his wish for an early death, which he sees as preferable to his current suffering. In ancient Near Eastern culture, birth was a moment of great joy and hope, yet Job's inversion of this joy into a wish for death underscores the depth of his despair. This phrase challenges readers to consider the value of life and the hope that can be found in God, even when circumstances seem hopeless. It also points to the broader biblical narrative of life, death, and resurrection, reminding believers of the ultimate hope found in Christ.

Verse 11. - Why died I not from the womb? "From the womb" must mean, "as soon as I came out of the womb," not "while I yet remained within it" (comp. Jeremiah 20:17, "Because he slew me not from the womb"). Many of the ancients thought that it was best not to be born; and next best, if one were born, to quit the earth as soon as possible. Herodotus says that with the Trauri, a tribe of Thracians, it was the custom, whenever a child was born, for all its kindred to sit round it in a circle, and weep for the woes that it would have to endure now that it was come into the world; while, on the other hand, whenever a person died, they buried him with laughter and rejoicings, since they said that he was now free from a host of sufferings, and enjoyed the completest happiness (Herod., 5:4). Sophocles expresses the feeling with great terseness and force: Μὴ φῦναι τὸν ἅπαντα νικᾷ λόγον τὸ δ ἐπεὶ φαςῆ βῆναι κεῖθεν ὅθεν περ ἥκει πολὺ δεύτερον ὡστάχιστα (Ed. Col., 1225-1228): "Not to be born is best of all; once born, next best it is by far to go back there from whence one came as speedily as possible." Modern pessimism sums up all in the phrase that "life is not worth living." Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? As so often, the second clause of the distich repeats the idea of the first, merely varying the phraseology.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
לָ֤מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

did I not perish
אָמ֑וּת (’ā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

at birth;
מֵרֶ֣חֶם (mê·re·ḥem)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7358: The womb

why did I not die
וְאֶגְוָֽע׃ (wə·’eḡ·wā‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1478: To breathe out, expire

as I came
יָצָ֣אתִי (yā·ṣā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from the womb?
מִבֶּ֖טֶן (mib·be·ṭen)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything


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OT Poetry: Job 3:11 Why didn't I die from the womb? (Jb)
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