Text -- Job 33:25-33 (NET)

33:25 then his flesh is restored like a youth’s; he returns to the days of his youthful vigor. 33:26 He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God’s face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness. 33:27 That person sings to others, saying: ‘I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved. 33:28 He redeemed my life from going down to the place of corruption, and my life sees the light!’

Elihu’s Appeal to Job

33:29 “Indeed, God does all these things, twice, three times, in his dealings with a person, 33:30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. 33:31 Pay attention, Job– listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. 33:32 If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you. 33:33 If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Job 33:25

¹ tc The word רֻטֲפַשׁ (rutafash) is found nowhere else. One suggestion is that it should be יִרְטַב (yirtav, “to become fresh”), connected to רָטַב (ratav, “to be well watered [or moist]”). It is also possible that it was a combination of רָטַב (ratav, “to be well watered”) and טָפַשׁ (tafash, “to grow fat”). But these are all guesses in the commentaries.

² tn The word describes the period when the man is healthy and vigorous, ripe for what life brings his way.

NET Notes: Job 33:26

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “his face”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

sn This is usually taken to mean that as a worshiper this individual comes into the presence of the Lord in prayer, and in the sanctuary he sees God’s face, i.e., he sees the evidence of God’s presence.

³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tc Many commentators think this line is superfluous and so delete it. The RSV changed the verb to “he recounts,” making the idea that the man publishes the news of his victory or salvation (taking “righteousness” as a metonymy of cause).

NET Notes: Job 33:27

¹ tc The verb יָשֹׁר (yashor) is unusual. The typical view is to change it to יָשִׁיר (yashir, “he sings”), but that may seem out of harmony with a confession. Dhorme suggests a root שׁוּר (shur, “to repeat”), but this is a doubtful root. J. Reider reads it יָשֵׁיר (yasher) and links it to an Arabic word “confesses” (ZAW 24 [1953]: 275).

² tn Heb “to men.”

³ tn The verb שָׁוָה (shavah) has the impersonal meaning here, “it has not been requited to me.” The meaning is that the sinner has not been treated in accordance with his deeds: “I was not punished according to what I deserved.”

NET Notes: Job 33:28

¹ sn See note on “him” in v. 24.

NET Notes: Job 33:29

¹ sn Elihu will repeat these instructions for Job to listen, over and over in painful repetition. See note on the heading to 32:1.

² tn The phrase “in his dealings” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarification.

NET Notes: Job 33:32

¹ tn Heb “if there are words.”

² tn The infinitive construct serves as the complement or object of “I desire.” It could be rendered “to justify you” or “your justification, “namely, “that you be justified.”