Job 33:9

33:9 ¹ ‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean ²  and have no iniquity.

Job 34:37

34:37 For he adds transgression ³  to his sin;

in our midst he claps his hands, ⁴ 

and multiplies his words against God.”

Job 35:6

35:6 If you sin, how does it affect God? ⁵ 

If your transgressions are many,

what does it do to him? ⁶ 

[33:9]  ¹ sn See Job 9:21; 10:7; 23:7; 27:4; ch. 31.

[33:9]  ² tn The word is a hapax legomenon; hap is from חָפַף (khafaf). It is used in New Hebrew in expressions like “to wash” the head. Cognates in Syriac and Akkadian support the meaning “to wash; to clean.”

[34:37]  ³ tn Although frequently translated “rebellion,” the basic meaning of this Hebrew term is “transgression.”

[34:37]  ⁴ tc If this reading stands, it would mean that Job shows contempt, meaning that he mocks them and accuses God. It is a bold touch, but workable. Of the many suggested emendations, Dhorme alters some of the vowels and obtains a reading “and casts doubt among us,” and then takes “transgression” from the first colon for the complement. Some commentators simply delete the line.

[35:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “him” (also in v. 7); the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[35:6]  ⁶ tn See Job 7:20.