Job 3:10

KJV

Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

KJV (with Strong's)

Because it shut not up {H5462} the doors {H1817} of my mother's womb {H990}, nor hid {H5641} sorrow {H5999} from mine eyes {H5869}.

Complete Jewish Bible

because it didn't shut the doors of the womb I was in and shield my eyes from trouble.

Berean Standard Bible

For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.

American Standard Version

Because it shut not up the doors of mymother’swomb, Nor hid trouble from mine eyes.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:10 encapsulates the profound depth of Job's despair, marking a pivotal moment where his lament transitions from silent grief to vocal anguish. Having endured catastrophic losses—his children, wealth, and health—Job articulates a desperate wish for non-existence, specifically regretting the moment of his birth. This verse expresses a primal yearning that his mother's womb had remained closed, thereby preventing his entry into a life now overwhelmed by unimaginable sorrow and suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3:10 is a poignant expression within Job's initial, extended lament, which commences in [Job chapter 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament"). This chapter marks Job's first spoken words after enduring seven days of silent mourning with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, a period of profound shared grief described in [Job 2:13](/job/2-13 "Job 2:13 - Seven Days of Silent Mourning"). Unlike Satan's prediction that Job would directly curse God to His face ([Job 1:11](/job/1-11 "Job 1:11 - Satan's Challenge")), Job instead turns his anguish inward, cursing the day of his birth rather than his Creator. This lament sets the stage for the entire book, shifting the narrative from a divine dialogue to a human struggle with suffering, justice, and the nature of God, initiating the lengthy discourse between Job and his friends that occupies the majority of the book, as they attempt to reconcile Job's suffering with their theological frameworks.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Job's lament in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament") resonates deeply with ancient Near Eastern lament traditions, where expressing extreme sorrow, even to the point of wishing for non-existence or cursing one's birth, was a recognized and accepted form of grieving. Such expressions are found in various ancient texts, reflecting a common human response to overwhelming calamity. The imagery of the "doors of the womb" is a vivid, culturally understood metaphor for the birth canal, emphasizing the wish for a life that never began. This form of lament was not necessarily seen as an act of rebellion against the gods, but rather as a desperate cry for understanding or release from unbearable pain, often within a framework that still acknowledged divine power, even if that power seemed inscrutable. It highlights a cultural acceptance of expressing raw, unfiltered emotion in the face of tragedy, a stark contrast to some modern sensibilities that might view such expressions as impious.
* **Key Themes:** Job 3:10 powerfully introduces several foundational themes that permeate the Book of Job. Primarily, it underscores the theme of **profound despair and existential anguish**, as Job's wish to have never been born highlights the absolute depth of his suffering, where the burden of life outweighs any perceived good. This verse also squarely places the **problem of suffering** at the forefront, setting the stage for the book's central theological debate: why do the righteous suffer? Job's lament is not merely personal; it is a desperate cry against a world where pain seems to have no just cause or limit, challenging conventional wisdom that links suffering directly to sin. Furthermore, the imagery of the "doors of my womb" emphasizes the theme of **regret of birth**, portraying life itself as the gateway to his current misery, a motif common in expressions of extreme sorrow where non-existence is preferred over a life of constant pain. This raw honesty about suffering, particularly the lament over one's very existence, is a crucial aspect of the book's theological contribution, validating human grief while ultimately pointing to God's sovereignty and the complex nature of divine justice, themes that are explored in depth throughout the ensuing dialogues in [Job 4-37](/job/4-37 "Job 4-37 - The Dialogues of Job and His Friends").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **shut not up (Hebrew, _çâgar'_):** From the primitive root H5462, meaning "to shut up," "to close," or "to bar." In this context, it conveys the idea of preventing or obstructing. Job's lament is that the womb did not remain closed, thereby failing to prevent his birth. The negation "not" intensifies his regret, wishing that the natural process of birth had been unnaturally halted, signifying a desire for absolute non-existence.
* **doors (Hebrew, _deleth'_):** From H1817, meaning "something swinging, i.e. the valve of a door." This is the plural form, _dəlāṯōṯ_, and here it is a powerful metaphor for the opening of the birth canal. The imagery evokes a barrier or gate that, had it remained shut, would have kept him from entering the world. The use of "doors" rather than a more clinical term adds to the poetic and visceral nature of Job's curse, likening the womb to a sealed chamber from which he tragically emerged.
* **sorrow (Hebrew, _ʻâmâl'_):** From H5999, meaning "toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind; grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour, mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness." This noun refers to profound pain, grief, or suffering, encompassing both physical and emotional agony. Job's desire is that this specific "sorrow"—the immense, multifaceted suffering he is currently experiencing—would have been "hid from his eyes," meaning he would not have experienced or witnessed it. This word choice directly links his existence to the experience of profound pain, highlighting the direct connection Job makes between his physical presence in the world and his current agony.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb":** Job expresses his fundamental grievance that his birth was not prevented. The "it" refers implicitly to the divine or natural forces that govern life and birth, which Job perceives as having failed him. He wishes that the "doors" of his mother's womb, a vivid metaphor for the birth canal, had remained closed, thereby preventing his entry into the world. This clause encapsulates his desire for non-existence, seeing birth as the origin of his subsequent misery and the gateway to his current suffering.
* **"nor hid sorrow from mine eyes":** This second clause explains the devastating consequence of his birth: it failed to shield him from the immense suffering he now endures. "Hid sorrow from my eyes" means to prevent him from experiencing or witnessing the pain and grief that have become his reality. This directly links his physical existence to the experience of profound anguish, implying that non-existence would have been a refuge from the unbearable "sorrow" that now consumes him, a sorrow so great that he prefers never to have seen the light of day.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of Job's despair. **Metaphor** is central, particularly in the phrase "the doors of my [mother's] womb," which vividly represents the birth canal as a gate that failed to remain closed, allowing him to enter a life of suffering. This imagery is both primal and visceral, enhancing the emotional impact and emphasizing the irreversible nature of his birth. **Hyperbole** is also evident in Job's wish for non-existence; while extreme, it effectively communicates the overwhelming nature of his pain, suggesting that life itself has become an unbearable burden. This exaggerated expression underscores the severity of his anguish. The entire passage is a profound example of **Lament**, a common biblical genre where individuals pour out their complaints, questions, and grief to God or the universe. Job's words are raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal, characteristic of this literary form which validates the expression of intense human suffering as a legitimate response to profound tragedy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:10 stands as a stark testament to the profound human capacity for despair in the face of inexplicable suffering. Theologically, it challenges the simplistic notion of divine justice that often equates suffering directly with sin, forcing the reader to grapple with the reality of righteous suffering. Job's cry raises fundamental questions about the purpose of life when it is filled with unbearable pain, and the nature of a sovereign God who permits such anguish. It underscores the biblical truth that lament is a legitimate and even necessary expression of faith, allowing individuals to wrestle honestly with God amidst their deepest trials, rather than suppressing their true feelings. This verse also highlights the fragility of human existence and the deep human desire for meaning, even when confronted by apparent meaninglessness, setting the stage for the book's ultimate resolution where God's wisdom transcends human understanding.

* [Jeremiah 20:14](/jeremiah/20-14 "Jeremiah 20:14 - Jeremiah's Lament Over His Birth")
* [Ecclesiastes 4:2-3](/ecclesiastes/4-2 "Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 - The Dead Are Better Off")
* [Psalm 88:1-4](/psalms/88-1 "Psalm 88:1-4 - A Psalm of Utter Despair and Isolation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 3:10 offers profound validation for the human experience of deep despair. It reminds us that the Bible does not shy away from depicting intense grief, even to the point of wishing for non-existence. This gives believers permission to express their true feelings, even when they are dark, without fear of condemnation. Job's words are a powerful example of biblical lament, a tradition that encourages pouring out complaints and questions to God. True faith, as demonstrated by Job, is not the absence of doubt or pain, but often the wrestling with it before God, trusting in His presence even when His purposes are unclear. While Job is in the depths of despair here, the broader narrative of the Book of Job ultimately points to God's sovereignty and restoration, as seen in [Job 42:10](/job/42-10 "Job 42:10 - Job's Restoration and Double Blessing"). This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial starting point for understanding the journey from profound suffering to renewed hope and a deeper understanding of God's ways, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, honest engagement with God is a path towards healing and growth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty in this verse challenge or affirm your understanding of expressing grief and despair to God?**
* **In what ways might lament, as exemplified by Job, be a healthy and necessary part of a spiritual journey, even when it involves questioning life itself?**
* **How do we balance the reality of deep suffering with the biblical promise of God's ultimate goodness and sovereignty, particularly when those promises seem distant?**
* **What does Job 3:10 teach us about the importance of empathy and compassionate presence (like Job's friends' initial silence) when ministering to those in profound pain, rather than offering premature theological explanations?**

### FAQ
**Is it sinful for a believer to express such deep despair, even wishing they had never been born?**

Answer: Job 3:10, along with other biblical laments (e.g., [Jeremiah 20:14-18](/jeremiah/20-14-18 "Jeremiah 20:14-18 - Jeremiah's Curse on His Birth")), demonstrates that the Bible provides space for the rawest expressions of human suffering and despair. It is not presented as sinful, but as an honest outpouring of a broken heart. The sin would lie in turning away from God in bitterness or rebellion, which Job notably avoids, even in his darkest moments. Instead, he directs his lament towards the heavens, wrestling with God rather than abandoning Him. This verse validates the human experience of profound grief and teaches us that authentic faith includes the freedom to voice even our most desperate feelings before God, trusting that He is big enough to handle our pain and our questions, as seen in the Psalms which are replete with similar expressions of anguish and doubt, yet always return to God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 3:10 expresses a profound wish for non-existence to escape suffering, its Christ-centered fulfillment lies not in the cessation of life, but in the transformation of suffering through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Job's lament foreshadows the ultimate human experience of pain, a pain fully entered into by the [Son of Man, who had no place to lay His head](/matthew/8-20 "Matthew 8:20 - Jesus' Homelessness"). Jesus, the [Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Jesus, Man of Sorrows"), did not wish His life away, even facing the agony of Gethsemane where He prayed, "[My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")." Yet, He willingly embraced the cross, enduring the ultimate "sorrow" of bearing the sin of the world, so that those who believe in Him might find life, not escape from it. Where Job desired to avoid seeing sorrow, Christ fully saw and absorbed it, offering a path to redemption and hope that transcends even the deepest human despair. His resurrection guarantees that suffering, though real, does not have the final word, and that through Him, even the most profound laments can ultimately lead to resurrection life and joy, as [He wipes away every tear from our eyes](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears") and promises a new heaven and new earth where sorrow and pain will be no more ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1-4 "Revelation 21:1-4 - New Heaven and New Earth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ecclesiastes 6:3

If a man beget an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.

Ecclesiastes 6:5

Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known [any thing]: this hath more rest than the other.

1 Samuel 1:5

But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

Genesis 29:31

¶ And when the LORD saw that Leah [was] hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel [was] barren.

Job 10:1

¶ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Ecclesiastes 11:10

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.

Genesis 20:18

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.