Job 3:12

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

Why did the knees {H1290} prevent {H6923} me? or why the breasts {H7699} that I should suck {H3243}?

had there been no knees to receive me or breasts for me to suck.

Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should suck?

Commentary

Context

Job 3:12 is part of Job's deeply emotional lament, where he expresses profound despair after losing his children, wealth, and health. Having endured immense suffering and the arrival of his friends, who initially offered silent comfort but later began to question his righteousness, Job breaks his silence in Job chapter 3. He curses the day of his birth, wishing he had never existed. This verse continues his agonizing reflection, questioning why he was ever allowed to live past the moment of birth, rather than dying immediately.

Key Themes

  • Profound Despair and Grief: The verse vividly portrays Job's overwhelming sorrow and his longing for non-existence. He is so consumed by his afflictions that he views life itself as a burden, wishing he had never been sustained.
  • Questioning Life's Beginning: Job challenges the very circumstances of his entry into the world. He questions the natural processes of birth and infancy, implying that death at that vulnerable stage would have been preferable to his current agony.
  • The Nature of Suffering: This passage highlights how extreme physical and emotional pain can drive individuals to question fundamental aspects of their existence, even the gift of life itself. It underscores the isolating and consuming power of intense suffering.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Why did the knees prevent me?" uses an archaic meaning of "prevent." In this context, "prevent" does not mean to hinder or stop, but rather "to anticipate," "to meet," or "to receive." This likely refers to the custom of receiving a newborn on the knees, possibly symbolizing acceptance into the family or acknowledgement of paternity (see Genesis 30:3). Job is asking why he was received and cared for at birth instead of simply perishing. "Why the breasts that I should suck?" refers to the sustenance provided by breastfeeding, further emphasizing his wish that he had not been nourished and allowed to live.

Practical Application

Job's raw and honest lament reminds us that it is natural to experience profound grief and even despair when facing overwhelming suffering. While his words are born of extreme pain, they serve as a powerful reminder of:

  • Empathy for the Suffering: We are called to be compassionate towards those experiencing deep sorrow, understanding that their expressions of pain may be intense and desperate.
  • The Value of Life: In contrast to Job's despair, the verse indirectly highlights the sanctity of life from its earliest moments, a gift that is sustained by care and nourishment.
  • Human Vulnerability: It underscores the fragility of human life, particularly at birth, and the dependence on others for care and survival. Even figures of great faith can experience moments of profound doubt and a longing for release from pain, as Job later expresses a desire for rest in death.
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Cross-References

  • Genesis 30:3 (4 votes)

    And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

  • Isaiah 66:12 (4 votes)

    For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon [her] sides, and be dandled upon [her] knees.

  • Genesis 50:23 (3 votes)

    And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third [generation]: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

  • Ezekiel 16:4 (2 votes)

    And [as for] thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple [thee]; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

  • Ezekiel 16:5 (2 votes)

    None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.