Job 3:11 — Word Study
WLCלָ֤מָּה לֹּ֣א מֵרֶ֣חֶם אָמ֑וּת מִבֶּ֖טֶן יָצָ֣אתִי וְאֶגְוָֽע׃
BSAWhymâh did I not perishmûwth▸ [die] at birthrechem [from the womb, at the moment of delivery] why did I not diegâvaʻ▸ [expire, give up the ghost] as I cameyâtsâʼ■ from the wombbeṭen [belly, mother's body]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לָ֤מָּה | why? | Preposition, pronoun |
| לֹּ֣א | not | Particle |
| מֵרֶ֣חֶם | from [the] womb | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| אָמ֑וּת | did I die | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| מִבֶּ֖טֶן | from [the] belly | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| יָצָ֣אתִי | I came forth | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| וְאֶגְוָֽע׃ | and I may expire? | Conjunction, verb qal first person common singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? |
| KJV | Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? |
| ASV | Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me? |
| YLT | Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp! |
| WEB | “Why didn’t I die from the womb? Why didn’t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me? |
| BBE | Why did death not take me when I came out of my mother's body, why did I not, when I came out, give up my last breath? |
Translations agree on the meaning of Job's lament, reflecting his deep sorrow and existential questioning.
The sentence consists of two main clauses, each expressing Job's lament and questioning his existence.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמוּת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
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 3:11
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
Job 3:11 captures Job's intense sorrow as he questions why he was allowed to live after birth. This verse is part of a larger lament where Job expresses his anguish over his suffering and the desire for peace in death. It reflects the deep emotional turmoil he experiences following the loss of his family and health, as seen in the preceding verses of this chapter.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 58:8 | Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun. |
| 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 | Hosea 9:14 | Give them, O LORD— what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up! |
| 4 | Psalm 22:9–10 | Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure at my mother’s breast. |
| 5 | Psalm 71:6 | I have leaned on You since birth; You pulled me from my mother’s womb. My praise is always for You. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מָה, La.mahgenerated
The word מָה (mah) is primarily an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. In this context, it expresses Job's profound questioning of his existence and circumstances, indicating his confusion and despair.
This word's versatility allows it to convey various nuances, including asking for reasons, which is fitting here as Job seeks to understand the purpose behind his suffering.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations of this verse generally agree on the meaning, with all versions capturing Job's lament and questions regarding his birth and existence.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of two main clauses connected by a conjunction, with each clause expressing Job's lament: לָ֤מָּה La.mah introduces the first question about not perishing at birth, and the second clause continues with a similar inquiry about dying as he came from the womb.
The structure emphasizes Job's emotional state, with the repetition of the interrogative form underscoring his despair and confusion.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, מָה is rendered as τί (ti), which maintains the interrogative nature of Job's questions. This choice reflects a direct translation of Job's lament, capturing the essence of his inquiry.
The use of τί in the Septuagint aligns with the Hebrew intent, emphasizing the depth of Job's questioning regarding his existence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 3:11 expresses Job's deep sorrow as he questions why he did not die at birth. He reflects on his existence and the pain he feels, wishing for peace and understanding in his suffering.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing his profound grief and questioning the purpose of his life, feeling that death would have been preferable to his current suffering.
This verse reveals Job's despair and confusion as he grapples with the pain of his existence and the loss he has experienced.
Job's questioning highlights the struggle between faith and despair, as he seeks to understand his suffering and the reasons behind it.
This lament sets the stage for Job's ongoing struggle with his suffering and the dialogues that follow, emphasizing the themes of pain, loss, and the search for meaning.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I questioned my own experiences and challenges, similar to Job?
- How can I find peace in difficult times, as Job longs for in this verse?
- What are some ways I can support others who are struggling with their own suffering?
- How does Job's lament resonate with my understanding of suffering and faith?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early commentary from Gregory the Dialogist reflects on Job's questions, interpreting his lament as a moral inquiry into the nature of suffering.
MORAL INTERPRETATION. Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? Be the thought far from us, that blessed Job,Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 3:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhy died I not from the womb?.... That is, as soon as he came out of it; or rather, as soon as he was in it, or from the time that he was in it; or however, while he was in it, that so he might not
Read John Gill on Job 3 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhy died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Died ... from the womb - why died I not as soon as I came forth from the womb?
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 3 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFrom the womb, i.e. as soon as ever I was born, or come out of the womb. And the same thing is expressed in other words, which is an elegancy usual both in the Hebrew and in other languages.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 3 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 3:11 Why died I not from the womb? [why] did I [not] give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?Ver. 11. Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost? &c.] Why was I not forthwith carried ab utero ad urnam? from the womb to the tomb, from the birth to the burial? True it is, that infants have the seed of death in them, and the principle of corruption, Romans 5:14. Every one (say some chemists) hath his own balsam within him; his own bane it is sure that he hath. But why should Job be so weary of life, and so wish to be rid of it? Is not life a great mercy? Doth not the philosopher affirm, that a pismire excelleth the heavens in dignity, because it is a living…
Read John Trapp on Job 3 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. Why died I not from the womb] As the other circumstance did not take place, why was I not still-born, without the possibility of reviviscence? or, as this did not occur, why did I not die as soon as born? These three things appear to me to be clearly intended here: - 1. Dying in the womb, or never coming to maturity, as in the case of an abortion. 2. Being still-born, without ever being able to breathe. 3. Or, if born alive, dying within a short time after. And to these states he seems to refer in the following verses.
Read AdamClarke on Job 3 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11–19. Would God I had died from my birth If he must be born, Job asks, Why he did not die from the womb? his eye turning to the next possibility and chance of escaping sorrow. Had he died he would have been at peace; and the picture of the painless stillness of death fascinates him and he dwells long on it, counting over with a minute particularity all classes, kings and prisoners, slaves and masters, small and great, who there drink deep of a common peace, escaping the unquietness of life, for life upon the earth, however lived, is full of a painful restlessness. The thought of this stillness of death brings a certain calm to the sufferer’s mind, and the passionateness of his former words…
Read Cambridge on Job 3 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhy died I not from the womb? - Why did I not die as soon as I was born? Why were any pains taken to keep me alive?
Read Albert Barnes on Job 3 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleSecond long strophe — JOB WISHES THAT HE WERE DEAD, Job 3:11-19.a.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon 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
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?
“Why didn’t I die from the womb? Why didn’t I give up the spirit when my mother bore me?
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?
“Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?
Tyndale line
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me?
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not expire at the time of my birth?
Why died I not in the birth? or why dyed I not, when I came out of the wombe?
Strictly literal
Wherefore did I not die from the womb, — come forth from the belly and expire?
Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!
Why do I not die from the womb? I have come forth from the belly and gasp!
Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
Why did I not die when I came out from the womb? Why did I not give up my spirit when my mother bore me?
From the Latin
Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?
Simplified
Why wasn't I stillborn? Why didn't I die at birth?
Why did death not take me when I came out of my mother's body, why did I not, when I came out, give up my last breath?
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.
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 show agreement in the overall structure and meaning of the verse, with five of the seven words matching. This consistency highlights the core message of Job's lament across different textual traditions.
לָ֤מָּה לֹּ֣א מֵרֶ֣חֶם אָמ֑וּת מִבֶּ֖טֶן יָצָ֣אתִי וְאֶגְוָֽע׃
5 of the 7 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.
Lexicons — every word in Job 3:11
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.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
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
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronounHR/Pi
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
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)
HTn — ParticleHTn
רֶ֫חֶם (rechem) means 'womb' and is derived from the root word רָחַם (racham). It primarily refers to the womb itself, but can also denote a woman or female servant. The term appears in contexts related to childbirth and femininity.
רֶ֫חֶם, רַ֫חַם n.m. womb
base
H7358 רֶ֫חֶם, רַ֫חַם womb
7358 rechem rekh'-em
from 7355; the womb (compare 7356):--matrix, womb.
see HEBREW for 07355
see HEBREW for 07356
רֶ֫חֶם (re.chem) — womb.
1) womb
1a) womb
1b) womb-man, woman-slave, woman, two women
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
מוּת (mūth) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to die' or 'to kill.' It encompasses a range of meanings from dying naturally to being executed as a penalty. The word can refer to both humans and animals, and it includes various forms such as causing death or being killed. There is a distinction in usage based on the subject, whether it is a person or God inflicting death.
מוּת vb. die
Qal
die, of natural or other causes
die as a penalty = be put to death
Po‛lel. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
Hiph.
abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
subj. God, by inflicting penalty
of animals killing men
bring to a premature death
Hoph. be killed, put to death
base
H4191 מוּת die .. die, of natural or other causes
. die as a penalty = be put to death
. kill, put to death, despatch (intens.)
. . abs., elsewhere c. acc., subj. man
. subj. God, by inflicting penalty
. of animals killing men
. bring to a premature death
. be killed, put to death
4191 muwth mooth
a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively);
causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body,
man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to,
be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs,
slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.
מוּת (mut) — to die.
1) to die, kill, have one executed
1a)(Qal)
1a1) to die
1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death
1a3) to die, perish (of a nation)
1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct)
1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch
1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death
1d) (Hophal)
1d1) to be killed, be put to death
1d1a) to die prematurely
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
(muth, gawa`; apothnesko, teleutao): "To die," etc., is of very frequent occurrence, and in the Old Testament is generally the translation of muth, meaning perhaps originally, "to be stretched out" or "prostrate." "To die," should be the consequence of eating the forbidden fruit (Ge 2:17; compare Ge 20:7; 2Ki 1:4,6). "Die" is commonly used of natural death (Ge 5:8; 25:8). It is used also of violent death (Ge 26:9,11; Ex 21:20); punitive (Ex 19:12; 21:12,14; 28:43; Nu…
The Hebrew word בֶּ֫טֶן (*beten*) primarily means 'belly,' 'body,' or 'womb.' It is derived from a root suggesting hollowness and encompasses various uses, including the physical abdomen and metaphorical meanings, such as the seat of hunger or mental faculties. The lexicons consistently highlight these aspects without significant disagreement.
בֶּ֫טֶן n.f. belly, body, womb
base
H990 בֶּ֫טֶן belly, body, womb
990 beten beh'-ten
from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly,
especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything:--
belly, body, + as they be born, + within, womb.
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: abdomen.
: abdomen
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: womb.
: womb/pregnancy
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: hump.
: hump
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
בֶּ֫טֶן (be.ten) — belly: body.
: body
1) belly, womb, body
1a) belly, abdomen
1a1) as seat of hunger
1a2) as seat of mental faculties
1a3) of depth of Sheol (fig.)
1b) womb
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
bel'-i: gachon = "the external abdomen" (Ge 3:14; Le 11:42). qobhah = "the abdominal cavity" (Nu 25:8 the American Standard Revised Version "body"). beTen = "the internal abdomen," "the womb" (1Ki 7:20; Job 15:2,35 the King James Version; Job 20:15,23; 40:16; Ps 17,14; Pr 13:25; 18:20; Jer 1:5; Eze 3:3); also figuratively "the internal regions," "the body of anything" (
Belly
The seat of the carnal affections (Titus 1:12; Phil. 3:19; Rom. 16:18). The word is used symbolically for the heart (Prov. 18:8; 20:27; 22:18, marg.). The “belly of hell” signifies the grave or underworld (Jonah 2:2).
יָצָא (yatsa') is a Hebrew verb meaning to go or come out, with various applications including departure, escape, and emergence. It can refer to both animate and inanimate subjects and emphasizes the idea of origin or source. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating actions like leading out or being brought forth.
יָצָא 1068 vb. go or come out
Qal
go or come out or forth
from (מִן) a place
go forth from (the presence of) a person
in technical senses
of flight, involving escape
depart
of inanimate things
with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
of children as going forth from loins (of father)
go forth to a place
go forward, proceed to or toward something
come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
of combinations
Hiph.
cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
bring out animals
inanimate obj.
fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
Hoph. be brought forth
base
H3318 יָצָא go or come out .. go or come out or forth . from (מִן) a place
. go forth from (the presence of) a person
. in technical senses
. of flight, involving escape
. depart
. of inanimate things
. with especial emphasis on idea of origin, source
. of children as going forth from loins (of father)
. . go forth to a place
. go forward, proceed to or toward something
. come or go forth, with esp. ref. to purpose or result
. of combinations
. . cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out
. fig. obj. persons, bring out of (מִן) distress, etc.
. bring out animals
. inanimate obj.
. fig. subj. י׳, bring forth from (מִן)
. be brought forth
3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw'
a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great
variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct
and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X
begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come
(abroad, out, thereat, without), + 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, X
scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring
out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any
time, X to (and fro), utter.
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: come.
: 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
יָצָא (ya.tsa) — to come out: send.
: send/take_out/release
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
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement
(1) forward,
(2) out of,
(3) beyond a certain boundary.
In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version…
גָּוַע (gava') is a primitive root meaning to breathe out, which implies dying or perishing. It covers various aspects of death, including to expire, give up the ghost, or be ready to die. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to death without any noted disagreements.
גָּוַע vb. expire, perish, die
base
H1478 גָּוַע expire, perish, die
1478 gava` gaw-vah'
a primitive root; to breathe out, i.e. (by implication)
expire:--die, be dead, give up the ghost, perish.
גָּוַע (ga.va) — to die.
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
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Conjunction · verb qal first person common singularHC/Vqu1cs
