Job 20:2

20:2 “This is why ¹  my troubled thoughts bring me back ²  –

because of my feelings ³  within me.

Job 34:25

34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds,

he overthrows them ⁴  in the night ⁵ 

and they are crushed.

Job 32:10

32:10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen ⁶  to me.

I, even I, will explain what I know.’

Job 37:24

37:24 Therefore people fear him,

for he does not regard all the wise in heart.” ⁷ 

Job 34:10

God is Not Unjust

34:10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. ⁸ 

Far be it from ⁹  God to do wickedness,

from the Almighty to do evil.

Job 42:3

42:3 you asked, ¹⁰ 

‘Who is this who darkens counsel

without knowledge?’

But ¹¹  I have declared without understanding ¹² 

things too wonderful for me to know. ¹³ 

[20:2]  ¹ tn The ordinary meaning of לָכֵן (lakhen) is “therefore,” coming after an argument. But at the beginning of a speech it is an allusion to what follows.

[20:2]  ² tn The verb is שׁוּב (shuv, “to return”), but in the Hiphil, “bring me back,” i.e., prompt me to make another speech. The text makes good sense as it is, and there is no reason to change the reading to make a closer parallel with the second half – indeed, the second part explains the first.

[20:2]  ³ tn The word is normally taken from the root “to hasten,” and rendered “because of my haste within me.” But K&D 11:374 proposed another root, and similarly, but closer to the text, E. Dhorme (Job, 289-90) found an Arabic word with the meaning “feeling, sensation.” He argues that from this idea developed the meanings in the cognates of “thoughts” as well. Similarly, Gordis translates it “my feeling pain.” See also Eccl 2:25.

[34:25]  ⁴ tn The direct object “them” is implied and has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[34:25]  ⁵ tn The Hebrew term “night” is an accusative of time.

[32:10]  ⁷ tc In most Hebrew mss this imperative is singular, and so addressed to Job. But two Hebrew mss and the versions have the plural. Elihu was probably addressing all of them.

[37:24]  ¹⁰ sn The phrase “wise of heart” was used in Job 9:4 in a negative sense.

[34:10]  ¹³ tn Heb “men of heart.” The “heart” is used for the capacity to understand and make the proper choice. It is often translated “mind.”

[34:10]  ¹⁴ tn For this construction, see Job 27:5.

[42:3]  ¹⁶ tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.

[42:3]  ¹⁷ tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.

[42:3]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”

[42:3]  ¹⁹ tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.