Job 28:23

28:23 God understands the way to it,

and he alone knows its place.

Job 34:9

34:9 For he says, ‘It does not profit a man

when he makes his delight with God.’ ¹ 

Job 38:7

38:7 when the morning stars ²  sang ³  in chorus, ⁴ 

and all the sons of God ⁵  shouted for joy?

[34:9]  ¹ tn Gordis, however, takes this expression in the sense of “being in favor with God.”

[38:7]  ¹ sn The expression “morning stars” (Heb “stars of the morning”) is here placed in parallelism to the angels, “the sons of God.” It may refer to the angels under the imagery of the stars, or, as some prefer, it may poetically include all creation. There is a parallel also with the foundation of the temple which was accompanied by song (see Ezra 3:10,11). But then the account of the building of the original tabernacle was designed to mirror creation (see M. Fishbane, Biblical Text and Texture).

[38:7]  ² tn The construction, an adverbial clause of time, uses רָנָן (ranan), which is often a ringing cry, an exultation. The parallelism with “shout for joy” shows this to be enthusiastic acclamation. The infinitive is then continued in the next colon with the vav (ו) consecutive preterite.

[38:7]  ³ tn Heb “together.” This is Dhorme’s suggestion for expressing how they sang together.

[38:7]  ⁴ tn See Job 1:6.