Job 3:9

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but [have] none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

Let the stars {H3556} of the twilight {H5399} thereof be dark {H2821}; let it look {H6960} for light {H216}, but have none; neither let it see {H7200} the dawning {H6079} of the day {H7837}:

may the stars of its twilight be dark, may it look for light but get none, may it never see the shimmer of dawn

May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark: Let it look for light, but have none; Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning:

Commentary

In Job 3:9 KJV, we hear Job's profound lament as he curses the day of his birth. This verse specifically focuses on his desire for the night of his conception or birth to be utterly consumed by darkness, never seeing the light of day. It's a powerful expression of his overwhelming suffering and despair, wishing that the very moment his life began had been erased from existence.

Context

Following the devastating loss of his children, wealth, and health, Job's friends arrive to comfort him. After seven days of silent mourning, Job breaks his silence in Chapter 3, initiating a deeply emotional and theological discourse. His opening words are a curse upon his birth, a stark contrast to his earlier declarations of faith in Job 1:21 and Job 2:10. This lament sets the stage for the book's exploration of suffering, justice, and the nature of God's sovereignty. Jobโ€™s wish for perpetual night reflects an ancient Near Eastern understanding where the absence of light symbolized non-existence, chaos, and divine disapproval.

Key Themes

  • Profound Despair: The verse vividly portrays Job's deep anguish, where he wishes for the non-occurrence of his own life. This level of despair is a central theme throughout his initial speeches.
  • Rejection of Existence: Job desires for the night of his birth to remain in eternal darkness, never transitioning into day, effectively wishing that his life had never begun.
  • Symbolism of Light and Darkness: Light often represents life, hope, and blessing in biblical literature, while darkness signifies death, chaos, and despair. Job's plea for darkness to consume his birth night underscores his complete loss of hope and desire for release from his torment. This echoes the primal darkness before creation in Genesis 1:2.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dark" (ื—ึฒืฉึทืืšึฐ - chashak) implies a deep, profound gloom, beyond mere absence of light. The phrase "neither let it see the dawning of the day" (ื•ึฐืึทืœ ื™ึดืจึฐืึถื” ื‘ึฐึผืขึทืคึฐืขึทืคึตึผื™ ืฉึธืื—ึทืจ - ve'al yir'eh be'af'afei shachar) literally means "and let it not see the eyelids of the dawn." This poetic imagery personifies the dawn, emphasizing Job's intense desire for the night to remain forever closed off from the light of morning, symbolizing an eternal cessation of that specific moment in time.

Practical Application

Job's lament, while extreme, offers a raw portrayal of human suffering and the desperate cry for relief. It reminds us that it is permissible to express profound grief and even anger to God during times of intense affliction. While Job's desire for non-existence is not a model for faith, his honesty highlights the depth of human pain. For those experiencing deep despair, this verse can serve as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, one can bring their raw emotions before God, trusting in His ultimate sovereignty and the promise that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." It also underscores the preciousness of life and the light we often take for granted, even when facing significant challenges.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 41:18

    By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.

  • Job 30:26

    When I looked for good, then evil came [unto me]: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

  • Jeremiah 13:16

    Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, [and] make [it] gross darkness.

  • Jeremiah 8:15

    We looked for peace, but no good [came; and] for a time of health, and behold trouble!
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