Job 3 · Verse 12

Job 3:12

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
Job 3:12, King James Version

Job 3:12 in other translations

BSBWhy were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?
WEBWhy did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should nurse?
ASVWhy did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should suck?
YLTWherefore have knees been before me? And what are breasts, that I suck?
DARBYWhy did the knees meet me? and wherefore the breasts, that I should suck?
BBEWhy did the knees take me, or why the breasts that they might give me milk?
WebsterWhy did the knees receive me? or why the breasts that I should be nursed?

What does Job 3:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Why did the knees prevent me?--Old English for "anticipate my wants." The reference is to the solemn recognition of a new-born child by the father, who used to place it on his knees as his own, whom he was bound to rear (Ge 30:3; 50:23; Is 66:12).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Why did the knees prevent me? - Why was I dandled on the knees? Why was I nourished by the breasts? In either of the above cases I had neither been received into a mother's lap, nor hung upon a mother's breasts.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 3:11-19

Job complained of those present at his birth, for their tender attention to him. No creature comes into the world so helpless as man. God's power and providence upheld our frail lives, and his pity and patience spared our forfeited lives. Natural affection is put into parents' hearts by God. To desire to die that we may be with Christ, that we may be free from sin, is the effect and evidence of grace; but to desire…

Read the full comment on Job 3:11-19 →

Job 3:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַ֭דּוּעַMa.du.a'why?H4069
קִדְּמ֣וּנִיki.de.Mu.nidid they receive meH6923
בִרְכָּ֑יִםvir.Ka.yimkneesH1290
וּמַה\־u.ma.ho.Sha-and why?H4100
שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִםSha.Da.yimbreastsH7699
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
אִינָֽק\׃'i.NakI will suckleH3243

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 3:12

  • Genesis 30:3

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

  • Isaiah 66:12

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

  • Genesis 50:23

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

  • Ezekiel 16:4-5

    And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the knees.
Ge 30:3; 50:23; Isa 66:12; Eze 16:4,5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 3:11

    Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

  • Job 3:12

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

  • Job 3:13

    For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

Read all of Job 3

Job 3:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué me previnieron las rodillas? ¿y para qué las tetas que mamase?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi les genoux m’ont-ils rencontré, et pourquoi les mamelles, pour les téter?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Weshalb kamen Knie mir entgegen, und wozu Brüste, daß ich sog?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quare exceptus genibus? cur lactatus uberibus?