King James Version

Job 3:16

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

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Hebrew

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א֤וֹvoalsoאוֹconjunction — “also”H176desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also ifalso, and, either, if, at the least, [idiom] nor, or, otherwise, then, whether.כְנֵ֣פֶלkhenefelas untimely birthנֶפֶלpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “as untimely birth”, the ordinary formH5309something fallen, i.e. an abortionuntimely birth.טָ֭מוּןtamunhideטָמַןverb, qal, passive participle, absolute — “hide”, a verb used as a describing wordH2934to hide (by covering over)hide, lay privily, in secret.לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[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 trul…אֶהְיֶ֑הehyehbeהָיָהverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “be”, an unfinished actionH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.כְּ֝עֹלְלִ֗יםkeolelimas babeעוֹלֵלpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “as babe”, the ordinary formH5768a sucklingbabe, (young) child, infant, little one.לֹאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[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 trul…רָ֥אוּravseeרָאָהverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “see”, a completed actionH7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)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), m…אֽוֹרorbrightאוֹרnoun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “bright”, the ordinary formH216illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that never saw light.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.

Young’s Literal Translation

(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants — they have not seen light.)

World English Bible

or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who never saw light.

Darby Translation

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that have not seen the light.

Douay-Rheims

Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants that never saw light.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

or I should have been as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother's womb, or as infants who never saw light.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἢ ὥσπερ ἔκτρωμα ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ μήτρας μητρὸς, ἢ ὥσπερ νήπιοι, οἳ οὐκ εἶδον φῶς·