Job 27:22

27:22 It hurls itself against him without pity

as he flees headlong from its power.

Job 20:24

20:24 If he flees from an iron weapon,

then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him.

Job 9:25

Renewed Complaint

9:25 “My days are swifter than a runner,

they speed by without seeing happiness.

Job 14:2

14:2 He grows up like a flower and then withers away;

he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.

Job 41:28

41:28 Arrows do not make it flee;

slingstones become like chaff to it.


tn The verb is once again functioning in an adverbial sense. The text has “it hurls itself against him and shows no mercy.”

tn Heb “a bronze bow pierces him.” The words “an arrow from” are implied and are supplied in the translation; cf. “pulls it out” in the following verse.

tn The text has “and my days” following the thoughts in the previous section.

sn Job returns to the thought of the brevity of his life (7:6). But now the figure is the swift runner instead of the weaver’s shuttle.

tn Heb יָצָא (yatsa’, “comes forth”). The perfect verb expresses characteristic action and so is translated by the present tense (see GKC 329 §111.s).

tn The verb וַיִּמָּל (vayyimmal) is from the root מָלַל (malal, “to languish; to wither”) and not from a different root מָלַל (malal, “to cut off”).

tn The verb is “and he does not stand.” Here the verb means “to stay fixed; to abide.” The shadow does not stay fixed, but continues to advance toward darkness.

tn Heb “the son of the bow.”