Job 3:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

מַ֭דּוּעַ קִדְּמ֣וּנִי בִרְכָּ֑יִם וּמַה־שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִם כִּ֣י אִינָֽק׃

Transliteration

maddûaʿ qiddəmûnî birkāyim ûmâ-šādayim kî ʾînāq

Grammar Details

*maddûaʿ*: interrogative adverb - why
*qiddəmûnî*: verb, Piel perfect, 3rd common plural with 1st common singular suffix - they met me/received me
*birkāyim*: noun, feminine dual - knees
*ûmâ*: conjunction + interrogative pronoun - and what
*šādayim*: noun, masculine dual - breasts
*kî*: conjunction - that
*ʾînāq*: verb, Qal imperfect, 1st common singular - I would suck

Word Meanings

*maddûaʿ*: why/for what reason
*qiddəmûnî*: they met me/they received me/they welcomed me
*birkāyim*: knees/laps
*šādayim*: breasts/teats
*ʾînāq*: I would suck/I would nurse

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Gen 30:3 : 3 And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.
Isa 66:12 : 12 For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck [thereof]; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.
Gen 50:23 : 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph's knees.
Ezek 16:4-5 : 4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5 No eye pitied thee, to do any of these things unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, for that thy person was abhorred, in the day that thou wast born.

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