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Job 3:1 — Word Study

Depth

WLCאַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֗ן פָּתַ֤ח אִיּוֹב֙ אֶת־ פִּ֔יהוּ וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־ יוֹמֽוֹ׃ פ

BSAAfterʼachar thiskên [following these events, afterward] JobʼÎyôwb [the patriarch famous for his patience] openedpâthach [to engrave or carve, as in intricate designs] his mouthpeh [lips, edge of something] and cursedqâlal [to make light of, bring into contempt] the day of his [birth]yôwm [a 24-hour period or figurative space of time, the time of his coming into the world]

Word
Listen & take awayJob 3
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (yo.Mo) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Job 3:1quick helps
In a sentenceJob expresses his deep sorrow by cursing the day he was born.
Who is speakingJob, the patriarch known for his patience, is the subject.
Where we areThis verse begins Job's lament after his immense suffering.
The hard wordקָלַל
Take awayJob's anguish leads him to wish for the day of his birth to be erased.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectאִיּוֹב verbפָּתַח The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Job 3:1

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — Job's Lamentgenerated

1After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2And this is what he said:
3“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
4If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.

Job 3:1 marks the beginning of Job's lamentation following the catastrophic losses he has suffered. In this moment of despair, Job opens his mouth to express his anguish over his existence, wishing to curse the day he was born. This lament sets the tone for the dialogues that follow, where Job grapples with his suffering and seeks understanding from his friends and from God.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Job 1:22In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
2Job 2:10“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
3Job 35:16So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”
4Psalm 39:2–3I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred.
5Psalm 106:33For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to


The Key Word קָלַל, vay.ka.Lelgenerated

The Hebrew word קָלַל (*qalal*) is a verb that means to make light of or to curse. It is constructed from a root that conveys the sense of being light or trifling. In this context, it reflects Job's desire to diminish the significance of the day of his birth, expressing contempt for the circumstances surrounding his existence.

This word can also imply a sense of derision or scorn, which captures the depth of Job's despair. By cursing the day, Job is not merely expressing frustration; he is articulating a profound sense of loss and hopelessness.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb in this verse is פָּתַח, he opened, which governs the entire action. The structure reveals that Job's opening of his mouth leads directly to the act of cursing, emphasizing the connection between his speech and his emotional state.

The phrase אֶת־ פִּ֔יהוּ indicates the object of Job's action, highlighting that it is his own mouth he opens to express his lament. The subsequent clause, beginning with וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל, and he cursed, further elaborates on the nature of his speech.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

In the Septuagint, Job's action is rendered with the Greek word κατηράσατο, which means 'to curse.' This choice reflects a direct translation of Job's intent to denounce the day of his birth, maintaining the original Hebrew's emotional weight.

The use of this Greek term suggests a continuity in the understanding of Job's lament across different linguistic traditions, emphasizing the gravity of his expression of despair.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Job 3:1 shows Job opening his mouth to curse the day he was born, expressing his deep sorrow and despair after losing everything. This moment marks the beginning of his lament, where he wishes that he had never been born.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

Why does Job curse the day of his birth?

Job curses the day of his birth as an expression of his profound grief and despair over his suffering and loss.

What does it mean to curse in this context?

To curse in this context means to express contempt or disdain for the day, wishing it to be erased from existence due to the pain it has brought.

How does this verse set the tone for the rest of the book?

This verse introduces Job's lament and sets a tone of deep emotional struggle that continues throughout the dialogues in the book.

What can we learn from Job's expression of grief?

Job's expression of grief illustrates the importance of voicing our pain and struggles, and it opens a dialogue about suffering and faith.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. How do I respond to my own moments of deep sorrow and despair?
  2. What can I learn from Job's honest expression of his feelings?
  3. In what ways can I support those who are experiencing grief or loss?
  4. How does this verse challenge my understanding of suffering and faith?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

The early commentators reflect on Job's lament, interpreting his words and the implications of his cursing the day of his birth.

Didymus the BlindCOMMENTARY ON Job 3:1 c. 313–398
The wise man is no babbler, nor does he utter through his mouth anything that cannot happen. Thus he does not curse the day as a period of time but those things that occurred on that day.
Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →
Gregory the DialogistMorals on the Book of Job, Book IV c. 540–604
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION. After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day, And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born. That which is here said, He opened his mouth, must not be gone into negligently.
Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →
Ishodad of MervCOMMENTARY ON Job 3:1 9th c.
Human beings are apt to curse and grumble against the misfortunes that befall them. God, in fact, does not expect insensitivity on our part.
Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Job 3:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

After this opened Job his mouth,.... order to speak, and began to speak of his troubles and afflictions, and the sense he had of them; for though, this phrase may sometimes signify to speak aloud,

Read John Gill on Job 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. Opened Job his mouth. The Orientals speaks seldom, and then sententiously. Hence, this formula, expressing deliberation and gravity (Psalms 78:2). Formally began.

Read Robert Jamieson on Job 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

JOB CHAPTER 3 Job curseth the day and services of his birth, . The ease and honours of death, . Life in anguish matter of complaint, . What he feared is now come upon him, ,26. He spake freely and boldly, as this phrase is used, ,9 Ephesians 6:19, and elsewhere, and cursed his day, to wit, his birthday, as is evident from , which is called simply a man’ s day, ; which also some others, through the same infirmity, and in the same circumstances, have cursed, as we see, . In vain do some men endeavour to excuse this and the following speeches of Job, who afterwards is reproved by God and severely accuseth himself for them, 40:4 42:3,6. And yet he doth not proceed so far as to curse or…

Read Matthew Poole on Job 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.Ver. 1. After this] After so long silence of his friends, and to provoke them to speak, who haply waited for some words from him first, as knowing him wise and well spoken. Or [After this] After that Job’ s pains were somewhat allayed, so that he could breathe, recollect himself, and utter his mind; for some troubles are above speech, Psalms 77:4, they will hardly suffer a man to take breath, Job 9:18, or to hear anything, though never so wholesome or comfortable, Exodus 6:9. Job opened his mouth] But better he had kept it closed still: either be silent, saith the Greek proverb, or else say something that is better than silence.…

Read John Trapp on Job 3 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

III.(1) After this opened Job his mouth.—There is a striking similarity between this chapter and Jeremiah 20:14-18, so much so that one must be borrowed from the other; the question is, which is the original? Is Jeremiah the germ of this? or is this the tree from which a branch has been hewn by Jeremiah? Our own conviction is that Job is the original, inasmuch as this chapter is indispensable to the development of the poem; but in Jeremiah the passage occurs casually as the record of a passing mood of despair. It is, moreover, apparently clear that Jeremiah is quoting Job as he might quote one of the Psalms or any other writing with which he was familiar. He was applying to daily life the…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER III Job curses the day of his birth, and regrets that he ever saw the light, 1-12. Describes the empire of death and its inhabitants, 13-19. Regrets that he is appointed to live in the midst of sorrows, for the calamities which he feared had overtaken him, 20-26. NOTES ON CHAP. III Verse 1. After this opened Job his mouth] After the seven days' mourning was over, there being no prospect of relief, Job is represented as thus cursing the day of his birth. Here the poetic part of the book begins; for most certainly there is nothing in the preceding chapters either in the form or spirit of Hebrew poetry. It is easy indeed to break the sentences into hemistichs; but this does not…

Read AdamClarke on Job 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–10. Would God I had never been conceived or born This is the idea really expressed when Job curses his day and wishes it blotted out of existence. First he curses the day of his birth and the night of his conception together, Job 3:3, and then each separately, the day in two verses and the night in four. Let darkness seize that day; let not God from above seek after it; let thick darkness and the shadow of death claim it as part of their heritage; let clouds and all that maketh black the day, eclipses, ominous obscurations, affright it, Job 3:4-5. Let darkness swallow up that night that it be not reckoned nor come in among the joyful troop of nights in their glittering procession; while…

Read Cambridge on Job 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

After this - Dr. Good renders this, “at length.” It means after the long silence of his friends, and after he saw that there was no prospect of relief or of consolation.

Read Albert Barnes on Job 3 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his birth.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

NETBNew English Translation2006

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

RVARevised Version, American1894

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

Afterward Iob opened his mouth, and cursed his day.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

After this Job has opened his mouth, and reviles his day.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

After this Job began speaking, cursing the day of his birth.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

Then, opening his mouth, and cursing the day of his birth,

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseprepositional phrase · prepositionalאַחֲרֵיafterכֵ֗ןthusverbפָּתַ֤חhe.openedsubjectאִיּוֹב֙Jobnoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseפִּ֔יmouthהוּhisוַandclauseverbיְקַלֵּ֖לhe.cursednoun phrase · objectאֶת(et)noun phraseיוֹמֽdayוֹhis

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in the content of Job 3:1, with seven of the nine words matched. However, the Septuagint's word order and articles differ, reflecting its own syntactical structure while conveying the same essential meaning.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

אַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֗ן פָּתַ֤ח אִיּוֹב֙ אֶת־ פִּ֔יהוּ וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל אֶת־ יוֹמֽוֹ׃ פ

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
אַחֲרֵי־μετὰכֵ֗ןτοῦτοפָּתַ֤חἤνοιχενאִיּוֹב֙ιωβפִּ֔יהוּαὐτοῦוַיְקַלֵּ֖לκατηράσατοיוֹמֽוֹ׃ פαὐτοῦ

7 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Job 3:1אַחַרafterafterאַחַרכֵּןthusthusכֵּןפָּתַחhe openedhe openedפָּתַחאִיּוֹבJobJobאִיּוֹבאֵתthe object the object markאֵתפֶּהmouth hismouth hisפֶּהקָלַלand he cursand he cursedקָלַלאֵתthe object the object markאֵתיוֹםday hisday hisיוֹםאוֹתsign: mirasign: miraculouאוֹתאָחַרto delayto delayאָחַרכּוּןto establito establish: pכּוּןאָיַבbe hostilebe hostileאָיַבפָּאָהto cleaveto cleaveפָּאָהמִגְרָשׁpasturepastureמִגְרָשׁרָדַףto pursueto pursueרָדַףזָנָהto fornicato fornicateזָנָהכֹּהthusthusכֹּהאָדוֹןLordLordאָדוֹןפִּתּוּחַengravingengravingפִּתּוּחַדָּלdoordoorדָּלעוּןto dwellto dwellעוּןנֹחַNoahNoahנֹחַאֹמֶרwordwordאֹמֶרפָּתַחto opento openפָּתַחבֶּן־יְמִינִיBenjaminitBenjaminiteבֶּן־יְמִינִיעֹלyokeyokeעֹל
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Job 3:1

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
אַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei- after H310 Prep
716× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Achar means backwards or after, used to describe something that happens later or in the rear. It is used in various senses in the Bible, including in 1 Kings 12:18.
Tyndale gloss
after
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word אַחַר (*achar*) primarily denotes the concept of 'after' or 'behind' in both spatial and temporal contexts. It functions as a substantive, adverb, preposition, and conjunction, indicating a following part or time. The related form אַחֲרַי (*acharai*) refers to a person who turns backwards. There is a reference to Proverbs 28:23 in relation to the latter.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part

adv.

of place, behind

of time, afterwards

prep.

of place, behind, after

of time, after

conj. after that.

base

אַחֲרַי adj. Pr 28:23 a man that turneth backwards.

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H310a אַחַר prop. subst. the hinder or following part . adv. . of place, behind

. of time, afterwards

. prep. . of place, behind, after

. of time, after

. conj. after that.

H310b אַחֲרַי a man that turneth backwards.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

310 'achar akh-ar'

from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an

adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after

(that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side),

behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from,

hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute,

posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth),

when, with.

see HEBREW for 0309

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אַחַר (a.char) — after.

1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time)

1a) as an adverb

1a1) behind (of place)

1a2) afterwards (of time)

1b) as a preposition

1b1) behind, after (of place)

1b2) after (of time)

1b3) besides

1c) as a conjunction

1c) after that

1d) as a substantive

1d1) hinder part

1e) with other prepositions

1e1) from behind

1e2) from following after

אַחֲרַי (a.cha.ray) — backwards.

backwards (of a man that turns backwards)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep — Prep
HAcmpc
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
כֵ֗ןKhen thus H3651 Adverb
771× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Amplified meaning
following these events, afterward
Tyndale gloss
right
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest

right

veritable, true

pl. concr. honest (men)

base

כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as

base

כֵּן adv. so

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3651 ken kane

from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as

adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)

rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and

relation; often with other particles):--+ after that

(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be

(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like

(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,

straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,

thus, true, well, X you.

see HEBREW for 03559

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כֵּן (ken) — right.

adv

adj

1) right, just, honest, true, veritable

1a) right, just, honest

1b) correct

1c) true, veritable

[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.

adv

forasmuch as, since

כֵּן (ken) — so.

adv

1) so, therefore, thus

1a) thus, so

1b) just so

1c) therefore

1d) so...as (paired with adv)

1e) then

1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)

1g) (with prep)

1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)

1g2) hitherto

1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)

1g4) afterwards

1g5) in such case

Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Adv — Adverb
HD
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
פָּתַ֤חpa.Tach he opened H6605 Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
144× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to engrave or carve, and is used in Exodus to describe the intricate carvings on the furniture of the tabernacle.
Amplified meaning
to engrave or carve, as in intricate designs
Tyndale gloss
to open
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּתַח vb. open

Qal open sack

Niph. be opened

Pi. be opened

free, i.e. ungird, camels

loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

open gates, doors

Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

base

[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave

Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack

. be opened

. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels

. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth

. open gates, doors

. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck

H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6605 pathach paw-thakh'

a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);

specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break

forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),

(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.

1) to open

1a) (Qal) to open

1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to free

1c2) to loosen

1c3) to open, open oneself

1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself

Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.

1) to carve, engrave

1a) (Piel) to engrave

1b) (Pual) to be engraved

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singular
HVqp3ms
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
אִיּוֹב֙'i.yOv Job H347 Noun proper masculine
58× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
Job was a patriarch famous for his patience and is the subject of the book of Job, which explores his struggles and faith in God.
Amplified meaning
the patriarch famous for his patience
Tyndale gloss
Job
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אִיּוֹב (Iyowb) refers to Job, a patriarch known for his patience, as described in the book of Job. The name is associated with the meaning 'hated' or 'persecuted.' It is mentioned in the context of the Exile and Return, and its exact meaning remains uncertain.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אִיּוֹב n.pr.m. Job (meaning unknown)

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H347 אִיּוֹב

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

347 'Iyowb ee-yobe'

from 340; hated (i.e. persecuted); Ijob, the patriarch famous

for his patience:--Job.

see HEBREW for 0340

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אִיּוֹב (iy.yov) — Job.

A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Job.1.1

Also named: Iōb (Ἰώβ "Job" G2492)

§ Job = "hated"

a patriarch, the subject of the book of Job

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-proper — Noun proper masculine
HNpm
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

job ('iyobh, meaning of name doubtful; some conjecturing "object of enmity," others "he who turns," etc., to God; both uncertain guesses; Iob): The titular hero of the Book of Job, represented as a wealthy and pious land-holder who lived in patriarchal times, or at least conditions, in the land of Uz, on the borders of Idumea. Outside of the Book of Job he is mentioned by Ezekiel (Eze 14:14,20) as one of 3 great personages whose representative righteousness would presumably avail, if that of any individuals could, to redeem the nation; the other two being Noah, an ancient patriarch, and Daniel, a contemporary of the prophet. It is difficult to determine whether Job was an actual personage or not. If known through legend, it must have been on account of some such experience as is narrated in the book, an experience unique enough to…

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Job

Persecuted, an Arabian patriarch who resided in the land of Uz (q.v.). While living in the midst of great prosperity, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a series of sore trials that fell upon him. Amid all his sufferings he maintained his integrity. Once more God visited him with the rich tokens of his goodness and even greater prosperity than he had enjoyed before. He survived the period of trial for one hundred and forty years, and died in a good old age, an example to succeeding generations of integrity (Ezek. 14:14, 20) and of submissive patience under the sorest calamities (James 5:11). His history, so far as it is known, is recorded in his book.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

the patriarch, from whom one of the books of the Old Testament is named. His residence in the land of Uz marks him as belonging to a branch of the Aramean race, which had settled in the lower part of Mesopatamia (Probably to the south or southeast of Palestine, in Idumean Arabia), adjacent to the Sabeans and Chaldeans. The opinions of Job and his friends are thus peculiarly interesting as exhibiting an aspect of the patriarchal religion outside of the family of Abraham, and as yet uninfluenced by the legislation of Moses. The form of worship belongs essentially to the early patriarchal type; with little of ceremonial ritual, without a separate priesthood, it is thoroughly domestic in form and spirit. Job is represented as a chieftain of immense wealth and high rank, blameless in all the relations of life. What we know of his history is given in the book that bears his name.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A patriarch distinguished for his integrity and piety, his wealth, honors, and domestic happiness, whom God permitted, for the trial of his faith, to be deprived of friends, property, and health, and at once plunged into deep affliction. He lived in the land of Uz, lying, it is generally thought, in Eastern Edom, probably not far from Bozrah.

THE BOOK OF JOB, has originated much criticism, and on many points a considerable diversity of opinion still exists. Sceptics have denied its inspiration, and called it a mere philosophical romance; but no one who respects revelation can entertain this notion, or doubt that Job was a real person. Inspired writers testify to both. See Eze 14:14 Jas 5:11, and compare 1Co 3:19 with

after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
פִּ֔יהוּPi.hu mouth his H6310 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
498× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to the mouth, lips, or edge of something, and can also mean a portion or side of something. It is often used to describe speech or the act of speaking. This word appears in various forms, such as mouth, lip, or edge.
Amplified meaning
lips, edge of something
Tyndale gloss
lip
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth

mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

external organ

much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

as laughing; panting

of God

of idols

of musical instr. = sound

of animals; hence of edge of sword

mouth = opening, orifice

extremity, end

= portion

with preps.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking

. external organ

. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man

. as laughing; panting

. of God

. of idols

. of musical instr. = sound

. of animals

. mouth = opening, orifice

. . extremity, end

. = portion

. with preps.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6310 peh peh

from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether

literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically

edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)

according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,

assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +

file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)

say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,

tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.

see HEBREW for 06284

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פֶּה (peh) — lip.

: lip/mouth

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.

: edge

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21

פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.

: word/command

peh

1) mouth

1a) mouth (of man)

1b) mouth (as organ of speech)

1c) mouth (of animals)

1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)

1e) extremity, end pim

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
וַיְקַלֵּ֖לvay.ka.Lel and he cursed H7043 Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
82× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word qalal means to make something light or easy, but it can also mean to curse or bring into contempt. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Amplified meaning
to make light of, bring into contempt
Tyndale gloss
to lighten
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word קָלַל (qalal) is a primitive root meaning to be light or trifling, covering a range of senses from being swift to being of little account. It can also mean to curse or treat with contempt. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances such as making light or being lightly esteemed.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[קָלַל] 82 vb. be slight, swift, trifling

Qal

be slight, of water, be abated

be swift

trifling, i.e. of little account

Niph.

shew oneself swift

appear trifling

be lightly esteemed

Pi. curse (prop. make contemptible)

Pu. be cursed

Hiph.

make light, lighten

treat with contempt

Pilp.

shake

(peculiarly) whet

Hithpalp. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7043 קָלַל be slight, swift, trifling .. be slight, of water, be abated

. be swift

. trifling, i.e. of little account

. . shew oneself swift

. appear trifling

. be lightly esteemed

. curse (prop. make contemptible)

. be cursed

. . make light, lighten

. treat with contempt

. . shake

. (peculiarly) whet

. reflex. of 1: hills shook themselves

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7043 qalal kaw-lal'

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) light, literally

(swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling,

vile, etc.):--abate, make bright, bring into contempt,

(ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make

somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly

afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight(-ly), be swift(-er),

(be, be more, make, re-)vile, whet.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

קָלַל (qa.lal) — to lighten.

1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water)

1a2) to be swift

1a3) to be trifling, be of little account

1b) (Niphal)

1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift

1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant

1b3) to be lightly esteemed

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to make despicable

1c2) to curse

1d) (Pual) to be cursed

1e) (Hiphil)

1e1) to make light, lighten

1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour

1f) (Pilpel)

1f1) to shake

1f2) to whet

1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singular
Hc/Vpw3ms
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
אֶת־'et- the object marker H853 Particle
10,946× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Tyndale gloss
[Obj.]
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

853 'eth ayth

apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of

entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more

definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or

namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

see HEBREW for 0226

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

אֵת (et) — [Obj.].

sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative

Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
HTo — Particle
HTo
The company it keepswords that stand beside it more often than chance
after thus he opened Job the object marker mouth his and he cursed the object marker day his
יוֹמֽוֹ׃ פyo.Mo day his H3117 Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
2,306× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Hebrew word 'yom' refers to a day, which can be a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time. It is used in the Bible to describe a wide range of time periods, from a single day to a year or a lifetime. The word 'yom' is used in many different contexts throughout the Bible.
Amplified meaning
a 24-hour period or figurative space of time, the time of his coming into the world
Tyndale gloss
day
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

יוֹם 2285 n.m. day

day, opp. night

Day as division of time

יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

Pl. days of anyone

Days

יוֹם = time

Phrases

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night

. Day as division of time

. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous

. Pl. days of anyone

. Days

. יוֹם = time

. Phrases

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3117 yowm yome

from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm

hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one

sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by

an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +

chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)

day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +

(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as

(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,

presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,

then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,

weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole

(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

יוֹם (yom) — day.

: day/when/time/period

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: old.

: old/(full/many)[days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

1b2a) a working day, a day's journey

1c) days, lifetime (pl.)

1d) time, period (general)

1e) year

1f) temporal references

1f1) today

1f2) yesterday

1f3) tomorrow

יוֹם (yom) — day: year.

: year[of_days]

1) day, time, year

1a) day (as opposed to night)

1b) day (24 hour period)

1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1

1b2) as a division of time

Read the full entry →
Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffix
HNcmsc/Sp3ms
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hiz: Used often in the King James Version with reference to a neuter or inanimate thing, or to a lower animal (Ge 1:11, "after his kind"; Le 1:16, "pluck away his crop"; Ac 12:10, "of his own accord"; 1Co 15:38, "his own body"), etc. the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "its."

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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