Job 10:18
Job 10:18 in Multiple Translations
Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.
Why then did you make me come out of my mother's body? It would have been better for me to have taken my last breath, and for no eye to have seen me,
So why did you allow me to be born? I wish that I had died, and nobody had ever seen me!
Wherfore then hast thou brought me out of the wombe? Oh that I had perished, and that none eye had seene me!
And why from the womb Hast Thou brought me forth? I expire, and the eye doth not see me.
“‘Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb? I wish I had given up the spirit, and no eye had seen me.
Why then hast thou brought me forth from the womb? O that I had expired, and no eye had seen me!
Why didst thou bring me forth out of the womb: O that I had been consumed that eye might not see me!
“'God, why did you allow me to be born? I wish/desire that I had died before anyone [SYN] saw me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 10:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 10:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/לָ֣/מָּה
מֵ֭/רֶחֶם
הֹצֵאתָ֑/נִי
אֶ֝גְוַ֗ע
וְ/עַ֣יִן
לֹא
תִרְאֵֽ/נִי
וְ/לָ֣/מָּה
mâh
H4100
what?
Conj | Prep | Part
מֵ֭/רֶחֶם
rechem
H7358
womb
Prep | N-ms
הֹצֵאתָ֑/נִי
yâtsâʼ
H3318
to come out
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms | Suff
אֶ֝גְוַ֗ע
gâvaʻ
H1478
to die
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
וְ/עַ֣יִן
ʻayin
H5869
eye
Conj | N-cs
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תִרְאֵֽ/נִי
râʼâh
H7200
Provider
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 10:18
וְ/לָ֣/מָּה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Conj | Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
מֵ֭/רֶחֶם
rechem
H7358
"womb"
Prep | N-ms
This Hebrew word means womb, referring to the place where a fetus grows. It is translated as matrix or womb in the KJV, symbolizing birth and new life. It is a significant concept in biblical culture.
Definition: 1) womb 1a) womb 1b) womb-man, woman-slave, woman, two women
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: matrix, womb. See also: Genesis 20:18; 1 Samuel 1:6; Psalms 22:11.
הֹצֵאתָ֑/נִי
yâtsâʼ
H3318
"to come out"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2ms | Suff
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to go out or come out, and it's used in many different ways, like leaving a place or starting a new journey, as seen in Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth
Usage: Occurs in 991 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter. See also: Genesis 1:12; Exodus 9:33; Leviticus 26:45.
אֶ֝גְוַ֗ע
gâvaʻ
H1478
"to die"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to die or expire, like when Jesus gave up his spirit on the cross in Matthew 27:50. It implies a complete stop, like a final breath. It is used in the Bible to describe the end of life.
Definition: 1) to expire, die, perish, give up the ghost, yield up the ghost, be dead, be ready to die 1a) (Qal) to expire, die, be about to die
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish. See also: Genesis 6:17; Job 3:11; Psalms 88:16.
וְ/עַ֣יִן
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
Conj | N-cs
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 828 OT verses. KJV: affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). See also: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 28:67.
לֹא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תִרְאֵֽ/נִי
râʼâh
H7200
"Provider"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs | Suff
The Hebrew word for provider means to see or look after, and is used to describe God's care for his people. It appears in various forms throughout the Bible, including in Genesis and other books.
Definition: (Lord will) Provide, cause to be seen. This name means to see, look at, inspect, look after
Usage: Occurs in 1206 OT verses. KJV: advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 41:41; Exodus 33:13.
Study Notes — Job 10:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 10:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 10:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 10:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 10:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 10:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 10:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 10:18
- Cambridge Bible on Job 10:18
- Barnes' Notes on Job 10:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 10:18
- Sermons on Job 10:18
Context — Job’s Plea to God
16Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.
17You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave.
18Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
19If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave. 20Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 20:14–18 | Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, because he did not kill me in the womb so that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb forever enlarged. Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame? |
| 2 | Jeremiah 15:10 | Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me. |
| 3 | Job 11:20 | But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.” |
| 4 | Job 3:10–11 | For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes. Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? |
| 5 | Matthew 26:24 | The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.” |
| 6 | Job 14:10 | But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? |
Job 10:18 Summary
In this verse, Job is feeling very sad and overwhelmed, and he's wondering why God brought him into the world if he's just going to suffer. He's being very honest with God about his feelings, which is something we can learn from. Even when we don't understand what's happening in our lives, we can trust that God is in control and that He loves us, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28. We can also remember that it's okay to express our true feelings to God, and that He can handle our honesty and our doubts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Job expressing in this verse?
Job is expressing his deep sorrow and frustration with his current situation, feeling that his life has been filled with suffering and pain, as seen in Job 10:18, and he wishes he had never been born, similar to the feelings expressed in Jeremiah 20:14-18.
Is it wrong for Christians to feel like Job and wish they had never been born?
While it's understandable to feel overwhelmed and wish for a different circumstance, as a Christian, we are called to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in difficult times, as seen in Romans 8:28 and Psalm 23:4.
How does this verse relate to the concept of suffering?
This verse highlights the intense emotional and physical pain that Job is experiencing, and it raises questions about the nature of suffering and why God allows it, which is a theme explored throughout the book of Job and also in other scriptures like 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
What can we learn from Job's emotional honesty?
Job's emotional honesty in this verse shows us that it's okay to express our true feelings to God, even if they are feelings of sadness, frustration, or doubt, and that God can handle our honesty, as seen in Psalm 42:1-2 and Lamentations 3:40.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in your life when you felt like Job, wishing you had never been born or that you could escape your current circumstances?
- How do you typically respond to suffering or difficult times, and what can you learn from Job's example of honesty and trust in God?
- What are some ways that you can cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when you don't understand what's happening in your life?
- How can you use this verse as a reminder to be honest with God about your feelings and to trust in His presence and care for you?
Gill's Exposition on Job 10:18
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb?.... Into this world; this act is rightly ascribed by Job to the Lord, as it is by David, Psalms 22:9; which kind act of God Job complains
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 10:18
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 10:18
To wit, alive, i.e. that I had never been born alive.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 10:18
Job 10:18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!Ver. 18. Wherefore hast thou brought me forth out of the womb?] Why? but was not that a mercy? David esteemed it so, and gives God the glory, Psalms 22:9. But discontent is an utter enemy to thankfulness. The bird sings not till she have taken up her stand to her mind. Some men’ s eyes are so bleared and glazed with tears for what they want, that they cannot see what good they have, cannot see mercies for blessings. Job here, in a distemper, wisheth himself (as he had done before, Job 3:1-26. "Who can understand his errors?" Psalms 19:12) either unborn, or presently dead, without the distance of one day between his birth and his burial. In quo errorem erravit non levem, vir alioqui pientissimus; this was a worse wish than if he had desired that his life might be presently taken away from him, for herein he showeth himseff unthankful to God for all his former benefits; and not so only, but angry with God for the good he had done him: thus we have seen dogs in a chase fly at their masters, and children in a pelt strike at their parents.
But these were the voices of the flesh lusting against the spirit, which afterwards (being justly reprehended for them, first by Elihu, and then also by God himself) he repressed and repented of in dust and ashes, Job 42:6. Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!] sc. With delight: for what pleasure is there in seeing a dead corpse, especially a stillborn child? See Genesis 23:4, with the note. This text teacheth us, saith an interpreter, what sad effects extreme grief and pain worketh in the very best: it distempereth their spirits, and so disturbeth them, that their complaints look like the blasphemies of the wicked, and they sometimes wish absurd things, dishonourable to God, and prejudicial to themselves.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 10:18
(18) Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth?—Here Job reverts to the strain of his original curse (Job 3:11, &c.).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 10:18
Verse 18. Wherefore then] Why didst thou give me a being, when thou didst foresee I should be exposed to such incredible hardships? See on Job 3:10, &c.
Cambridge Bible on Job 10:18
18, 19. Perplexed even to despair by this idea of the purpose of God Job asks, Why God ever gave him existence at all? and as in ch. Job 3:11 seq. wishes he had never seen life. hast thou brought] didst thou bring. Oh that I had given] I should have given.
Barnes' Notes on Job 10:18
Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth - See the notes at Job 3:11.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 10:18
b. Lost in the perplexities of existence, the sole favour he has to ask is a little respite (for reflection) before he descends to the land of deepest darkness, Job 10:18-22.18.
Sermons on Job 10:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Importance of Right Spirit by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the different types of people who may feel discouraged in life. He mentions those who are captive to their work, family responsibilities, or |
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Confiding Trust and Patient Submission by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the journey of a believer through afflictions, temptations, and darkness, highlighting the need for patient submission to God's righteous dealings. The |
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Tomorrow Comes by Samuel Davies | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the fate of the wicked and contrasts it with the hope of the righteous. The wicked, who have lived in wickedness, will die in the same manne |
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The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the Hope of the Righteous by Samuel Davies | Samuel Davies preaches about the objects, grounds, and evidences of the hope of the righteous in contrast to the despair of the wicked in death. He emphasizes the importance of hav |
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(John - Part 45): A Biography of Judas Iscariot, Simons Son by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the seriousness and importance of Christianity. He warns against being deceived by the devil and urges the audience, particularly teenagers, |
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A Man Called Lenin (Reading) by Richard Wurmbrand | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing Jesus as the ultimate refuge and savior. He highlights the historical significance of Jesus' birth and his role as |
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Judas Iscariot: A Study in Character by Joseph Parker | Joseph Parker preaches about the character of Judas Iscariot, challenging the congregation to reflect on the possibility of harboring monstrous and vile traits within themselves. H |