Job 10:2

10:2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn ¹  me;

tell me ²  why you are contending ³  with me.’

Job 19:28

19:28 If you say, ‘How we will pursue him,

since the root of the trouble is found in him!’ ⁴ 

Job 23:5

23:5 I would know with what words ⁵  he would answer me,

and understand what he would say to me.

Job 28:22

28:22 Destruction ⁶  and Death say,

‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ ⁷ 

Job 32:11

32:11 Look, I waited for you to speak; ⁸ 

I listened closely to your wise thoughts, ⁹ while you were searching for words.

Job 34:18

34:18 who says to a king, ¹⁰  ‘Worthless man’ ¹¹ 

and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’

[10:2]  ¹ tn The negated jussive is the Hiphil jussive of רָשַׁע (rasha’); its meaning then would be literally “do not declare me guilty.” The negated jussive stresses the immediacy of the request.

[10:2]  ² tn The Hiphil imperative of יָדַע (yada’) would more literally be “cause me to know.” It is a plea for God to help him understand the afflictions.

[10:2]  ³ tn The verb is רִיב (riv), meaning “to dispute; to contend; to strive; to quarrel” – often in the legal sense. The precise words chosen in this verse show that the setting is legal. The imperfect verb here is progressive, expressing what is currently going on.

[19:28]  ⁴ tc The MT reads “in me.” If that is retained, then the question would be in the first colon, and the reasoning of the second colon would be Job’s. But over 100 mss have “in him,” and so this reading is accepted by most editors. The verse is a little difficult, but it seems to form a warning by Job that God’s appearance which will vindicate Job will bring judgment on those who persecute him and charge him falsely.

[23:5]  ⁷ tn Heb “the words he would answer me.”

[28:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Abaddon.”

[28:22]  ¹¹ tn Heb “heard a report of it,” which means a report of its location, thus “where it can be found.”

[32:11]  ¹³ tn Heb “for your words.”

[32:11]  ¹⁴ tn The word means “understanding.” It refers to the faculty of perception and comprehension; but it also can refer to what that produces, especially when it is in the plural (see Ps 49:4). See R. Gordis, Job, 368. Others translate it “reasonings,” “arguments,” etc.

[34:18]  ¹⁶ tc Heb “Does one say,” although some smooth it out to say “Is it fit to say?” For the reading “who says,” the form has to be repointed to הַאֹמֵר (ha’omer) meaning, “who is the one saying.” This reading is supported by the LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac. Also it seems to flow better with the following verse. It would be saying that God is over the rulers and can rebuke them. The former view is saying that no one rebukes kings, much less Job rebuking God.

[34:18]  ¹⁷ tn The word בְּלִיָּעַל (bÿliyya’al) means both “worthless” and “wicked.” It is common in proverbial literature, and in later writings it became a description of Satan. It is usually found with “son of.”