23:4 I would lay out my case 1 before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
23:5 I would know with what words 2 he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me.
32:14 Job 3 has not directed 4 his words to me,
and so I will not reply to him with your arguments. 5
50:21 When you did these things, I was silent, 6
so you thought I was exactly like you. 7
But now I will condemn 8 you
and state my case against you! 9
1 tn The word מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) is normally “judgment; decision.” But in these contexts it refers to the legal case that Job will bring before God. With the verb עָרַךְ (’arakh, “to set in order; to lay out”) the whole image of drawing up a lawsuit is complete.
2 tn Heb “the words he would answer me.”
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn The verb עַרַךְ (’arakh) means “to arrange in order; to set forth; to direct; to marshal.” It is used in military contexts for setting the battle array; it is used in legal settings for preparing the briefs.
5 tn Heb “your words.”
6 tn Heb “these things you did and I was silent.” Some interpret the second clause (“and I was silent”) as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer, “[When you do these things], should I keep silent?” (cf. NEB). See GKC 335 §112.cc.
7 tn The Hebrew infinitive construct (הֱיוֹת, heyot) appears to function like the infinitive absolute here, adding emphasis to the following finite verbal form (אֶהְיֶה, ’ehyeh). See GKC 339-40 §113.a. Some prefer to emend הֱיוֹת (heyot) to the infinitive absolute form הָיוֹ (hayo).
8 tn Or “rebuke” (see v. 8).
9 tn Heb “and I will set in order [my case against you] to your eyes.” The cohortative form expresses the