Job 38:4

God’s questions to Job

38:4 “Where were you

when I laid the foundation ¹  of the earth?

Tell me, ²  if you possess understanding!

Job 38:21

38:21 You know, for you were born before them; ³ 

and the number of your days is great!

Job 8:9

8:9 For we were born yesterday ⁴  and do not have knowledge,

since our days on earth are but a shadow. ⁵ 

Job 15:7

15:7 “Were you the first man ever born?

Were you brought forth before the hills?

[38:4]  ¹ tn The construction is the infinitive construct in a temporal clause, using the preposition and the subjective genitive suffix.

[38:4]  ² tn The verb is the imperative; it has no object “me” in the text.

[38:21]  ³ tn The imperfect verb after the adverb אָז (’az, “then”) functions as a preterite: “you were born.” The line is sarcastic.

[8:9]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew has “we are of yesterday,” the adverb functioning as a predicate. Bildad’s point is that they have not had time to acquire great knowledge because they are recent.

[8:9]  ⁵ tn E. Dhorme (Job, 116) observes that the shadow is the symbol of ephemeral things (14:2; 17:7; Ps 144:4). The shadow passes away quickly (116).