Job 40:20-24

40:20 For the hills bring it food, ¹ 

where all the wild animals play.

40:21 Under the lotus trees it lies,

in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.

40:22 The lotus trees conceal it in their ²  shadow;

the poplars by the stream conceal it.

40:23 If the river rages, ³  it is not disturbed,

it is secure, ⁴  though the Jordan

should surge up to its mouth.

40:24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes, ⁵ 

or pierce its nose with a snare? ⁶ 

[40:20]  ¹ tn The word בּוּל (bul) probably refers to food. Many take it as an abbreviated form of יְבוּל (yÿvul, “produce of the field”). The vegetation that is produced on the low hills is what is meant.

[40:22]  ² tn The suffix is singular, but must refer to the trees’ shade.

[40:23]  ³ tn The word ordinarily means “to oppress.” So many commentators have proposed suitable changes: “overflows” (Beer), “gushes” (Duhm), “swells violently” (Dhorme, from a word that means “be strong”).

[40:23]  ⁴ tn Or “he remains calm.”

[40:24]  ⁵ tn The idea would be either (1) catch it while it is watching, or (2) in some way disabling its eyes before the attack. But others change the reading; Ball suggested “with hooks” and this has been adopted by some modern English versions (e.g., NRSV).

[40:24]  ⁶ tn Ehrlich altered the MT slightly to get “with thorns,” a view accepted by Driver, Dhorme and Pope.