Job 35:16

35:16 So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; ¹ 

without knowledge he multiplies words.”

Job 33:16

33:16 Then he gives a revelation ²  to people,

and terrifies them with warnings, ³ 

Job 36:10

36:10 And he reveals ⁴  this ⁵  for correction,

and says that they must turn ⁶  from evil.

[35:16]  ¹ tn The word הֶבֶל (hevel) means “vanity; futility; to no purpose.”

[33:16]  ² tn The idiom is “he uncovers the ear of men.” This expression means “inform” in Ruth 4:4; 1 Sam 20:2, etc. But when God is the subject it means “make a revelation” (see 1 Sam 9:15; 2 Sam 7:27).

[33:16]  ³ tc Heb “and seals their bonds.” The form of the present translation, “and terrifies them with warnings,” is derived only by emending the text. Aquila, the Vulgate, Syriac, and Targum Job have “their correction” for “their bond,” which is what the KJV used. But the LXX, Aquila, and the Syriac have “terrifies” for the verb. This involves a change in pointing from יָחְתֹּם (yakhtom) to יְחִתֵּם (yÿkhittem). The LXX has “appearances of fear” instead of “bonds.” The point of the verse seems to be that by terrifying dreams God makes people aware of their ways.

[36:10]  ³ tn The idiom once again is “he uncovers their ear.”

[36:10]  ⁴ tn The revelation is in the preceding verse, and so a pronoun must be added to make the reference clear.

[36:10]  ⁵ tn The verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to turn; to return”) is one of the two major words in the OT for “repent” – to return from evil. Here the imperfect should be obligatory – they must do it.