Job 9:7

he who commands the sun and ¹  it does not shine ²  and seals up ³  the stars;

He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.

Who commands the sun not to shine, And sets a seal upon the stars;

If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine.

He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't; he pulls the blinds on the stars.

Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.

who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;

He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars;

he who commands the sun and ¹  it does not shine ²  and seals up ³  the stars;

¹ tn The form could also be subordinated, “that it shine not” (see further GKC 323 §109.g).

² tn The verb זָרַח (zarakh) means “rise.” This is the ordinary word for the sunrise. But here it probably has the idea of “shine; glisten,” which is also attested in Hebrew and Aramaic.

² sn There are various views on the meaning of this line in this verse. Some think it refers to some mysterious darkness like the judgment in Egypt (Exod 10:21-23), or to clouds building (3:5), often in accompaniment of earthquakes (see Joel 2:10, 3:15-16; Isa 13:10-13). It could also refer to an eclipse. All this assumes that the phenomenon here is limited to the morning or the day; but it could simply be saying that God controls light and darkness.

³ tn The verb חָתַם (khatam) with בְּעַד (bÿ’ad) before its complement, means “to seal; to wall up; to enclose.” This is a poetic way of saying that God prevents the stars from showing their light.