Job 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Polychronius and Chrysostom remark that the term 'afterwards' is notably used here. It reflects Job’s ongoing torment as he observed many approaching him only to depart shortly thereafter. Despite this, he remained in anguish. When Job noticed the presence of those with Eliphaz, who had come out of familiarity and lingered for a significant time, their silence spoken volumes about the severity of his plight. They hesitated to offer any words of comfort until Job himself initiated the conversation. Not wanting to impose his silence as a burden on them, he chose to speak first. Let us examine the words he spoke upon breaking his silence.

When Job recognized that his afflictions had rendered his friends mute, who had come to offer solace, he took the initiative to illustrate his calamity while skillfully steering clear of any hint of blasphemy.

In light of the severity of a calamity, the compassionate care for those in suffering ought to be profound. While it can be challenging to assess the true magnitude of distress, our own trials often appear more significant than those of others, and what we endure is indeed more intense than what we hear or conceive. The example of Job, a model of patience, illustrates the significant weight of illness in comparison to other sufferings. Even in his state of poverty and despair, Job maintained noble thoughts and praised God; yet, when he faced the agony of sickness, "Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day." This demonstrates how deep the anguish can be for some who are ailing.

The sage is not one who merely speaks empty words and does not utter promises that he cannot fulfill. He does not damn a period of time itself but rather the circumstances that unfold within it. It is common in Scripture to refer to occurrences as a day. The Psalmist exemplifies this idea when he declares, "In the day of trouble the Lord shall deliver him" (Psalms 40:2), where the day of trouble signifies the distressing events that transpire. Similarly, Paul's statement, "Because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16), conveys the same concept. As a result of the events that occur, what one person may consider a day of goodness, another may perceive as a day of wickedness. For the Israelites, the crossing of the Red Sea was, unexpectedly, a day of deliverance, while for the Egyptians, it was a day of ruin, as they sank like lead in the mighty waters (Exodus 15:10).