Job 3:20-23 KJV,ASV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:1-26

Job Curses his DayJob curses the day of his birth. He asks why he did not die at birth: why should his wretched life be prolonged?We are now confronted with a striking change in Job’s frame of mind from that presented in Job 2:10. Probably a considerable interval had elapsed before his friends arrived. He complains in the speeches which follow of the emaciated state into which he had fallen, and that from being the honoured of all he had become a byword to his neighbours: cp. Job 1:3; Job... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 3:20

(20) Wherefore is light given.—Comp. the connection between life and light in Psalms 36:9 and John 1:4. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 3:23

(23) Hedged in.—The same expression was used in an opposite sense in Job 1:10. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 3:1-26

Job 3:1-4 He had long been in the habit of 'lamenting' his birthday, though, in earlier days, Stella and other friends had celebrated the anniversary. Now it became a day of unmixed gloom, and the chapter in which Job curses the hour of his birth lay open all day on his table. Sir Leslie Stephen, Swift, p. 198. Job 3:6 Sept. 6, 1879. Red Sea. I am in a very angry mood. I feel sure that, doing my best, I cannot get with credit out of this business; I feel it is want of faith, but I have brought... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 3:1-26

VI.THE CRY FROM THE DEPTHJob 3:1-26Job SPEAKSWHILE the friends of Job sat beside him that dreary week of silence, each of them was meditating in his own way the sudden calamities which had brought the prosperous emeer to poverty, the strong man to this extremity of miserable disease. Many thoughts came and were dismissed; but always the question returned, Why these disasters, this shadow of dreadful death? And for very compassion and sorrow each kept secret the answer that came and came again... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 3:1-26

CHAPTER 3 Job’s Lament 1. Job curses the day of his birth (Job 3:1-9 ) 2. He longs for death (Job 3:10-23 ) 3. The reason why (Job 3:24-26 ) Job 3:1-9 . The silence is broken by Job. Alas! his lips do not utter praises now, but he cursed the day of his birth. It was a sore trial for Job to look into the faces of these pious friends, in perfect health and strength, and he, even more pious than they, stricken and smitten of God. It was an aggravation of Job’s grief and sorrow. But let us... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Job 3:20

3:20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and {n} life unto the bitter [in] soul;(n) He shows that the benefits of God are not comfortable, unless the heart is joyful, and the conscience quieted. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Job 3:23

3:23 [Why is light given] to a man whose way is {o} hid, and whom God hath hedged in?(o) That sees not how to come out of his miseries, because he does not depend on God’s providence. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Job 3:1-26

JOB'S BITTER COMPLAINT (vv.1-26) Though Job would not dare to curse God for his trouble, yet it seems that the presence of his friends only caused a stronger, gradual build-up of bitter distress in the heart of Job, so that eventually the thoughts of his heart broke out in words of painful complaint. WISHING HE HAD NEVER BEEN BORN (vv.1-10) Job did not even now charge God foolishly, but he did curse the day of his birth. This was not directly blaming God, but however little he realised... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Job 3:1-26

THEME AND OUTLINE The theme of Job seems to be the meaning and object of evil and suffering under the government of a holy, wise and merciful God, and may be outlined thus: The Prologue (Job 1-2, in prose) The Dialogue (Job 3-31, in poetry) The Words of Elihu (Job 32-37, in poetry) The Words of the Almighty (Job 38-41, in poetry) The Response of (Job 42:1-6 , in poetry) The Epilogue (Job 42:7-17 , in prose) THE KEY TO THE BOOK The key to the book is found in the first chapter, which, after... read more