Ayub 11:6

11:6 and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom –

for true wisdom has two sides ¹  –

so that you would know ² 

that God has forgiven some of your sins. ³ 

Ayub 28:20-23

God Alone Has Wisdom

28:20 “But wisdom – where does it come from? ⁴ 

Where is the place of understanding?

28:21 For ⁵  it has been hidden

from the eyes of every living creature,

and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.

28:22 Destruction ⁶  and Death say,

‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ ⁷ 

28:23 God understands the way to it,

and he alone knows its place.

[11:6]  ¹ tn The text seems to be saying “that it [wisdom] is double in understanding.” The point is that it is different than Job conceived it – it far exceeded all perception. But some commentators have thought this still too difficult, and so have replaced the word כִפְלַיִם (khiflayim, “two sides”) with כִפְלָאִים (khifla’im, “like wonders,” or, more simply, “wonders” without the preposition). But it is still a little strange to talk about God’s wisdom being like wonders. Others have had more radical changes in the text; J. J. Slotki has “for sound wisdom is his. And know that double [punishment] shall God exact of you” (“Job 11:6,” VT 35 [1985]: 229-30).

[11:6]  ² tn The verb is the imperative with a ו (vav). Following the jussive, this clause would be subordinated to the preceding (see GKC 325 §110.i).

[11:6]  ³ tn Heb “God causes to be forgotten for you part of your iniquity.” The meaning is that God was exacting less punishment from Job than Job deserved, for Job could not remember all his sins. This statement is fitting for Zophar, who is the cruelest of Job’s friends (see H. H. Rowley, Job [NCBC], 88). Others in an attempt to improve the text make too many unwarranted changes. Some would read יִשְׁאָלְךָ (yish’alkha, “he asks of you”) instead of יַשֶּׂה לְךָ (yasseh lÿka, “he causes to be forgotten for you”). This would mean that God demands an account of Job’s sin. But, as D. J. A. Clines says, this change is weak and needless (Job [WBC], 254-55).

[28:20]  ⁴ tn The refrain is repeated, except now the verb is תָּבוֹא (tavo’, “come”).

[28:21]  ⁵ tn The vav on the verb is unexpressed in the LXX. It should not be overlooked, for it introduces a subordinate clause of condition (R. Gordis, Job, 310).

[28:22]  ⁶ tn Heb “Abaddon.”

[28:22]  ⁷ tn Heb “heard a report of it,” which means a report of its location, thus “where it can be found.”