Job 7:17

Insignificance of Humans

7:17 “What is mankind ¹  that you make so much of them, ² 

and that you pay attention ³  to them?

Job 23:13

23:13 But he is unchangeable, ⁴  and who can change ⁵  him?

Whatever he ⁶  has desired, he does.

Job 27:11

27:11 I will teach you ⁷  about the power ⁸  of God;

What is on the Almighty’s mind ⁹  I will not conceal.

[7:17]  ¹ tn The verse is a rhetorical question; it is intended to mean that man is too little for God to be making so much over him in all this.

[7:17]  ² tn The Piel verb is a factitive meaning “to magnify.” The English word “magnify” might not be the best translation here, for God, according to Job, is focusing inordinately on him. It means to magnify in thought, appreciate, think highly of. God, Job argues, is making too much of mankind by devoting so much bad attention on them.

[7:17]  ³ tn The expression “set your heart on” means “concentrate your mind on” or “pay attention to.”

[23:13]  ⁴ tc The MT has “But he [is] in one.” Many add the word “mind” to capture the point that God is resolute and unchanging. Some commentators find this too difficult, and so change the text from בְאֶחָד (bÿ’ekhad, here “unchangeable”) to בָחָר (bakhar, “he has chosen”). The wording in the text is idiomatic and should be retained. R. Gordis (Job, 262) translates it “he is one, i.e., unchangeable, fixed, determined.” The preposition בּ (bet) is a bet essentiae – “and he [is] as one,” or “he is one” (see GKC 379 §119.i).

[23:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “cause him to return.”

[23:13]  ⁶ tn Or “his soul.”

[27:11]  ⁷ tn The object suffix is in the plural, which gives some support to the idea Job is speaking to them.

[27:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “the hand of.”

[27:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “[what is] with Shaddai.”