Job 3:12
New International Version
Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?

New Living Translation
Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts?

English Standard Version
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

Berean Standard Bible
Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

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

New King James Version
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?

New American Standard Bible
“Why were the knees there in front of me, And why the breasts, that I would nurse?

NASB 1995
“Why did the knees receive me, And why the breasts, that I should suck?

NASB 1977
“Why did the knees receive me, And why the breasts, that I should suck?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why did the knees receive me, And why the breasts, that I should suck?

Amplified Bible
“Why did the knees receive me? And why the breasts, that I would nurse?

Christian Standard Bible
Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why did the knees receive me, and why were there breasts for me to nurse?

American Standard Version
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Why did the knees rear me and why did I suck from the breasts?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

Contemporary English Version
Why was I accepted and allowed to nurse at my mother's breast?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts ?

English Revised Version
Why did the knees receive me? or why the breasts, that I should suck?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why did knees welcome me? Why did breasts let me nurse?

Good News Translation
Why did my mother hold me on her knees? Why did she feed me at her breast?

International Standard Version
Why was there a lap to hold me, and why were there breasts to nurse me?

JPS Tanakh 1917
Why did the knees receive me? And wherefore the breasts, that I should suck?

Literal Standard Version
Why have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?

Majority Standard Bible
Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?

New American Bible
Why did knees receive me, or breasts nurse me?

NET Bible
Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them?

New Revised Standard Version
Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts for me to suck?

New Heart English Bible
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why did the knees receive me? or why the breasts that I should be nursed?

World English Bible
Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should nurse?

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore have knees been before me? And what are breasts, that I suck?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Laments His Birth
11Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? 12Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? 13For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest…

Cross References
Genesis 30:3
Then she said, "Here is my maidservant Bilhah. Sleep with her, that she may bear children for me, so that through her I too can build a family."

Job 3:11
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?

Job 3:13
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest


Treasury of Scripture

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

the knees.

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.

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.

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.

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Breast Breasts Knees Meet Milk Nursed Prevent Receive Suck Wherefore
Job 3
1. Job curses the day and services of his birth.
13. The ease of death.
20. He complains of life, because of his anguish.














(12) Prevent--i.e., "Why was I nursed with care instead of being allowed to fall to the ground and be killed?"

Verse 12. - Why did the knees prevent me? i.e. "Why did my mother take me on her knees and nurse me, instead of casting me on the ground, where I should have perished?" There seems to be an allusion to the practice of parents only bringing up a certain number of their children (see Rosenmuller, 'Scholia in Vit. Test.,' vol. 5. p. 101). Or why the breasts that I should suck? i.e. "Why were breasts offered to me, that I should suck them? How much better would it have been if I had been allowed to perish of inanition!"

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
מַ֭דּוּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

were there knees
בִרְכָּ֑יִם (ḇir·kā·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 1290: The knee

to receive me,
קִדְּמ֣וּנִי (qid·də·mū·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common singular
Strong's 6923: To project, precede, to anticipate, hasten, meet

[and]
וּמַה־ (ū·ma·hō·šā-)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

breasts
שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִם (ḏa·yim)
Noun - md
Strong's 7699: The breast of a, woman, animal

that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I should be nursed?
אִינָֽק׃ (’î·nāq)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3243: To suck, to give milk


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OT Poetry: Job 3:12 Why did the knees receive me? (Jb)
Job 3:11
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