Job 8:12

8:12 While they are still beginning to flower ¹ 

and not ripe for cutting, ² 

they can wither away ³ 

faster ⁴  than any grass! ⁵ 

Job 12:15

12:15 If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; ⁶ 

if he releases them, ⁷  they destroy ⁸  the land.

Job 14:11

14:11 As ⁹  water disappears from the sea, ¹⁰ 

or a river drains away and dries up,

[8:12]  ¹ tn The word has been traditionally translated “greenness” (so KJV, ASV), but some modern commentators argue for “in flower.” The word is found only in Song 6:11 (where it may be translated “blossoms”). From the same root is אָבִיב (’aviv, “fresh young ears of barley”). Here the word refers to the plant that is still in its early stages of flowering. It should not be translated to suggest the plant is flowering (cf. NRSV), but translating as if the plant is green (so NASB) is also problematic.

[8:12]  ² sn The idea is that as the plant begins to flower, but before it is to be cut down, there is no sign of withering or decay in it. But if the water is withdrawn, it will wither sooner than any other herb. The point Bildad will make of this is that when people rebel against God and his grace is withheld, they perish more swiftly than the water reed.

[8:12]  ³ tn The imperfect verb here is the modal use of potential, “can wither away” if the water is not there.

[8:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “before.”

[8:12]  ⁵ tn The LXX interprets the line: “does not any herb wither before it has received moisture?”

[12:15]  ⁶ tc The LXX has a clarification: “he will dry the earth.”

[12:15]  ⁷ sn The verse is focusing on the two extremes of drought and flood. Both are described as being under the power of God.

[12:15]  ⁸ tn The verb הָפַךְ (hafakh) means “to overthrow; to destroy; to overwhelm.” It was used in Job 9:5 for “overturning” mountains. The word is used in Genesis for the destruction of Sodom.

[14:11]  ¹¹ tn The comparative clause may be signaled simply by the context, especially when facts of a moral nature are compared with the physical world (see GKC 499 §161.a).

[14:11]  ¹² tn The Hebrew word יָם (yam) can mean “sea” or “lake.”