Job 3:1

JOB 3

JOB'S LAMENT

JOB'S PITIFUL CRY FROM THE DEPTHS OF HIS AGONY

Here we come to the long middle section of Job, which is characterized by a number of speeches by Job and his friends. These speeches are not mere conversation, but essay-like statements of the sentiments, theological convictions, philosophies and exhortations of the speakers.

"Job speaks nine times in this section, Eliphaz and Bildad three times each, Zophar twice, Elihu once, and God once, his declaration ending the colloquy."[1]

Job broke the silence which marked the first period of his friend's visit; and his bitter cursing of the day he was born is a feature of this first chapter.

"Cursing one's natal day is not a very wise act, since it could not have any effect whatever; but even so great a prophet as Jeremiah did the same thing (Jeremiah 20:14-18). All that this chapter really means is that Job, in the depths of his misery, wishes that he had never been born, or that he had died in infancy."[2]

Watson entitled this chapter, "The Cry From the Depth."[3]

Job 3:1-2

"After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. And Job answered and said:"

Writers have understood this to mean "after the seven days and nights of silence," but the text does not say that. "In the Ugaritic texts, `after this' introduces the transition to a new episode."[4] Here we have the beginning of the second section of Job.