Job 12:5

12:5 For calamity, ¹  there is derision

(according to the ideas of the fortunate ² ) –

a fate ³  for those whose feet slip!

Job 18:8

18:8 For he has been thrown into a net by his feet ⁴ 

and he wanders into a mesh. ⁵ 

Job 23:11

23:11 My feet ⁶  have followed ⁷  his steps closely;

I have kept to his way and have not turned aside. ⁸ 

Job 31:5

31:5 If ⁹  I have walked in falsehood,

and if ¹⁰  my foot has hastened ¹¹  to deceit –

Job 39:15

39:15 She forgets that a foot might crush them,

or that a wild animal ¹²  might trample them.

[12:5]  ¹ tn The first word, לַפִּיד (lapid), could be rendered “a torch of scorn,” but this gives no satisfying meaning. The ל (lamed) is often taken as an otiose letter, and the noun פִּיד (pid) is “misfortune, calamity” (cf. Job 30:24; 31:29).

[12:5]  ² tn The noun עַשְׁתּוּת (’ashtut, preferably עַשְׁתּוֹת, ’ashtot) is an abstract noun from עָשַׁת (’ashat, “to think”). The word שַׁאֲנָן (sha’anan) means “easy in mind, carefree,” and “happy.”

[12:5]  ³ tn The form has traditionally been taken to mean “is ready” from the verb כּוּן (kun, “is fixed, sure”). But many commentators look for a word parallel to “calamity.” So the suggestion has been put forward that נָכוֹן (nakhon) be taken as a noun from נָכָה (nakhah, “strike, smite”): “a blow” (Schultens, Dhorme, Gordis), “thrust” or “kick” (HALOT 698 s.v. I נָכוֹן).

[18:8]  ⁴ tn See Ps 25:15.

[18:8]  ⁵ tn The word שְׂבָכָה (sÿvakhah) is used in scripture for the lattice window (2 Kgs 1:2). The Arabic cognate means “to be intertwined.” So the term could describe a net, matting, grating, or lattice. Here it would be the netting stretched over a pit.

[23:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “my foot.”

[23:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “held fast.”

[23:11]  ⁹ tn The last clause, “and I have not turned aside,” functions adverbially in the sentence. The form אָט (’at) is a pausal form of אַתֶּה (’atteh), the Hiphil of נָטָה (natah, “stretch out”).

[31:5]  ¹⁰ tn The normal approach is to take this as the protasis, and then have it resumed in v. 7 after a parenthesis in v. 6. But some take v. 6 as the apodosis and a new protasis in v. 7.

[31:5]  ¹¹ tn The “if” is understood by the use of the consecutive verb.

[31:5]  ¹² sn The verbs “walk” and “hasten” (referring in the verse to the foot) are used metaphorically for the manner of life Job lived.

[39:15]  ¹³ tn Heb “an animal of the field.”