Job 13:11

13:11 Would not his splendor ¹  terrify ²  you

and the fear he inspires ³  fall on you?

Job 31:23

31:23 For the calamity from God was a terror to me, ⁴ 

and by reason of his majesty ⁵  I was powerless.

[13:11]  ¹ sn The word translated “his majesty” or “his splendor” (שְׂאֵתוֹ, sÿ’eto) forms a play on the word “show partiality” (תִּשָּׂאוּן, tissa’un) in the last verse. They are both from the verb נָשַׂא (nasa’, “to lift up”).

[13:11]  ² tn On this verb in the Piel, see 7:14.

[13:11]  ³ tn Heb “His dread”; the suffix is a subjective genitive.

[31:23]  ⁴ tc The LXX has “For the terror of God restrained me.” Several commentators changed it to “came upon me.” Driver had “The fear of God was burdensome.” I. Eitan suggested “The terror of God was mighty upon me” (“Two unknown verbs: etymological studies,” JBL 42 [1923]: 22-28). But the MT makes clear sense as it stands.

[31:23]  ⁵ tn The form is וּמִשְּׂאֵתוֹ (umissÿ’eto); the preposition is causal. The form, from the verb נָשָׂא (nasa’, “to raise; to lift high”), refers to God’s exalted person, his majesty (see Job 13:11).