job 3:8

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Job 3:8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody
Job 3:8
Verse 8 of 26

Scripture focus

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

Job 3:8KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Job 3:8

Theological / Devotional

Let them curse. This is a very puzzling text. Many commentators believe that Job was invoking the aid of sorcerers, “cursers of the day,” individuals who claimed to be able to bring curses on specific days. If this interpretation is correct, it does not follow that Job believed in such sorcerers. He merely recognized their existence, and in the language of poetry, he wished that there might be heaped on the night of his conception not only real evils but those that were imaginary. Clarke sees in the “cursers of the day” those who detest the day — those who hate daylight, such as adulterers, murderers, thieves, and bandits, for whose practices the night is more fitting.

Mourning. Literally, “leviathan.” The sentence should read, “who are ready to rouse up leviathan.” Those who apply the first line of the verse to the sorcerers see in the added line a further reference to the power of these sorcerers to rouse up leviathan. Ancient mythology had a great dragon who was the enemy of the sun and moon, and who was supposed to have power over eclipses. It seems unreasonable to believe that Job had any faith in such powers. If he is referring to mythology, he is doing so only to provide a vivid poetic figure.

By SdaBc