Job 36:8

36:8 But if they are bound in chains, ¹ 

and held captive by the cords of affliction,

Job 36:15

36:15 He delivers the afflicted by ²  their ³  afflictions,

he reveals himself to them ⁴  by their suffering.

Job 30:16

Job’s Despondency

30:16 “And now my soul pours itself out within me; ⁵ 

days of suffering take hold of me.

Job 30:27

30:27 My heart ⁶  is in turmoil ⁷  unceasingly; ⁸ 

the days of my affliction confront me.

Job 10:15

10:15 If I am guilty, ⁹  woe ¹⁰  to me,

and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; ¹¹ 

I am full of shame, ¹² 

and satiated with my affliction. ¹³ 

Job 36:21

36:21 Take heed, do not turn to evil,

for because of this you have been tested ¹⁴  by affliction.

[36:8]  ¹ tn Dhorme thinks that the verse is still talking about kings, who may be in captivity. But this diverts attention from Elihu’s emphasis on the righteous.

[36:15]  ² tn The preposition בּ (bet) in these two lines is not location but instrument, not “in” but “by means of.” The affliction and the oppression serve as a warning for sin, and therefore a means of salvation.

[36:15]  ³ tn Heb “his.”

[36:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “he uncovers their ear.”

[30:16]  ³ tn This line can either mean that Job is wasting away (i.e., his life is being poured out), or it can mean that he is grieving. The second half of the verse gives the subordinate clause of condition for this.

[30:27]  ⁴ tn Heb “my loins,” “my bowels” (archaic), “my innermost being.” The latter option is reflected in the translation; some translations take the inner turmoil to be literal (NIV: “The churning inside me never stops”).

[30:27]  ⁵ tn Heb “boils.”

[30:27]  ⁶ tn The last clause reads “and they [it] are not quiet” or “do not cease.” The clause then serves adverbially for the sentence – “unceasingly.”

[10:15]  ⁵ sn The verbs “guilty” and “innocent” are actually the verbs “I am wicked,” and “I am righteous.”

[10:15]  ⁶ tn The exclamation occurs only here and in Mic 7:1.

[10:15]  ⁷ sn The action of lifting up the head is a symbol of pride and honor and self-respect (Judg 8:28) – like “hold your head high.” In 11:15 the one who is at peace with God lifts his head (face).

[10:15]  ⁸ tn The expression שְׂבַע קָלוֹן (sÿva’ qalon) may be translated “full of shame.” The expression literally means “sated of ignominy” (or contempt [קַלַל, qalal]).

[10:15]  ⁹ tn The last clause is difficult to fit into the verse. It translates easily enough: “and see my affliction.” Many commentators follow the suggestion of Geiger to read רְוֶה (rÿveh, “watered with”) instead of רְאֵה (rÿ’eh, “see”). This could then be interpreted adjectivally and parallel to the preceding line: “steeped/saturated with affliction.” This would also delete the final yod as dittography (E. Dhorme, Job, 152). But D. J. A. Clines notes more recent interpretations that suggest the form in the text is an orthographic variant of raweh meaning “satiated.” This makes any emendation unnecessary (and in fact that idea of “steeped” was not helpful any way because it indicated imbibing rather than soaking). The NIV renders it “and drowned in my affliction” although footnoting the other possibility from the MT, “aware of my affliction” (assuming the form could be adjectival). The LXX omits the last line.

[36:21]  ⁶ tn Normally “tested” would be the translation for the Niphal of בָּחַר (bakhar). Although the Qal is employed here, the context favors “tested” rather than “chose.”