Job 3:8

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BibleOld TestamentJob

NRSV

8 Let those curse it who curse the Sea[a],
those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan.

[a] Cn: Heb day.

REB

8 Let it be cursed by those whose spells bind the sea monster[a],
who have the skill to tame Leviathan.

[a] sea monster: prob. rdg; Heb. day.

JPS Tanakh

8 May those who cast spells upon the day[a] damn it,
Those prepared to disable Leviathan;

[a]Or “sea," taking Heb. yom as equivalent of yam; compare the combination of sea with Leviathan in Psalm 74:13,14 and with Dragon in Job 7:12; cf. also Isaiah 27:1.

KJV

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.


A Creation Text


Jewish Study Bible notes to verse 8:

3.8: 'Cast spells... Leviathan,' perhaps sorcerers who curse the cosmos. Leviathan is a mythical sea-monster who played a role in the mythology of Ugarit (in modern Syria), and was known in the Bible as well as in creation stories (e.g., Isa. 27.1; Ps. 74.14), though he does not appear in the canonical story at the beginning of Genesis.

See Leviathan and Appropriation of ANE mythology


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