Ayub 16:13

16:13 his archers ¹  surround me.

Without pity ²  he pierces ³  my kidneys

and pours out my gall ⁴  on the ground.

Ayub 30:28

30:28 I go about blackened, ⁵  but not by the sun;

in the assembly I stand up and cry for help.

Ayub 42:5

42:5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye has seen you. ⁶ 

[16:13]  ¹ tn The meaning of “his archers” is supported for רַבָּיו (rabbayv) in view of Jer 50:29. The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum Job, followed by several translations and commentators prefer “arrows.” They see this as a more appropriate figure without raising the question of who the archers might be (see 6:4). The point is an unnecessary distinction, for the figure is an illustration of the affliction that God has brought on him.

[16:13]  ² tn Heb “and he does not pity,” but the clause is functioning adverbially in the line.

[16:13]  ³ tn The verb פָּלַח (palakh) in the Piel means “to pierce” (see Prov 7:23). A fuller comparison should be made with Lam 3:12-13.

[16:13]  ⁴ tn This word מְרֵרָתִי (mÿrerati, “my gall”) is found only here. It is close to the form in Job 13:26, “bitter things.” In Job 20:14 it may mean “poison.” The thought is also found in Lam 2:11.

[30:28]  ⁵ tn The construction uses the word קֹדֵר (qoder) followed by the Piel perfect of הָלַךְ (halakh, “I go about”). The adjective “blackened” refers to Job’s skin that has been marred by the disease. Adjectives are often used before verbs to describe some bodily condition (see GKC 374-75 §118.n).

[42:5]  ⁶ sn This statement does not imply there was a vision. He is simply saying that this experience of God was real and personal. In the past his knowledge of God was what he had heard – hearsay. This was real.