2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted 4 Job with a malignant ulcer 5 from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. 6
34:19 The godly 7 face many dangers, 8
but the Lord saves 9 them 10 from each one of them.
73:14 I suffer all day long,
and am punished every morning.”
1:6 From the soles of your feet to your head,
there is no spot that is unharmed. 11
There are only bruises, cuts,
and open wounds.
They have not been cleansed 12 or bandaged,
nor have they been treated 13 with olive oil. 14
8:22 There is still medicinal ointment 15 available in Gilead!
There is still a physician there! 16
Why then have my dear people 17
not been restored to health? 18
1 tn Grk “to eat his fill,” but this phrase has been simplified as “to eat” for stylistic reasons.
2 tn The term κύνες (kunes) refers to “wild” dogs (either “street” dogs or watchdogs), not house pets (L&N 4.34).
3 sn When the dogs came and licked his sores it meant that he was unclean. See the negative image of Rev 22:15 that draws on this picture.
4 tn The verb is נָכָה (nakhah, “struck, smote”); it can be rendered in this context as “afflicted.”
5 sn The general consensus is that Job was afflicted with a leprosy known as elephantiasis, named because the rough skin and the swollen limbs are animal-like. The Hebrew word שְׁחִין (shÿkhin, “boil”) can indicate an ulcer as well. Leprosy begins with such, but so do other diseases. Leprosy normally begins in the limbs and spreads, but Job was afflicted everywhere at once. It may be some other disease also characterized by such a malignant ulcer. D. J. A. Clines has a thorough bibliography on all the possible diseases linked to this description (Job [WBC], 48). See also HALOT 1460 s.v. שְׁחִין.
6 tn Heb “crown.”
7 tn The Hebrew text uses the singular form; the representative or typical godly person is envisioned.
8 tn Or “trials.”
9 tn The Hebrew imperfect verbal form highlights the generalizing statement and draws attention to the fact that the
10 tn Heb “him,” agreeing with the singular form in the preceding line.
11 tn Heb “there is not in it health”; NAB “there is no sound spot.”
12 tn Heb “pressed out.”
13 tn Heb “softened” (so NASB, NRSV); NIV “soothed.”
14 sn This verse describes wounds like those one would receive in battle. These wounds are comprehensive and without remedy.
15 tn Heb “balm.” The more familiar “ointment” has been used in the translation, supplemented with the adjective “medicinal.”
16 tn Heb “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” In this context the questions are rhetorical and expect a positive answer, which is made explicit in the translation.
17 tn Heb “daughter of my people.” For the translation given here see 4:11 and the note on the phrase “dear people” there.
18 tn Or more clearly, “restored to spiritual health”; Heb “Why then has healing not come to my dear people?”