Ayub 5:19

5:19 He will deliver you ¹  from six calamities;

yes, in seven ²  no evil will touch you.

Ayub 8:10

8:10 Will they not ³  instruct you and ⁴  speak to you,

and bring forth words ⁵ 

from their understanding? ⁶ 

[5:19]  ¹ tn The verb is the Hiphil imperfect of נָצַל (natsal, “deliver”). These verbs might have been treated as habitual imperfects if it were not for the use of the numerical images – “six calamities…in seven.” So the nuance is specific future instead.

[5:19]  ² tn The use of a numerical ladder as we have here – “six // seven” is frequent in wisdom literature to show completeness. See Prov 6:16; Amos 1:3, Mic 5:5. A number that seems to be sufficient for the point is increased by one, as if to say there is always one more. By using this Eliphaz simply means “in all troubles” (see H. H. Rowley, Job [NCBC], 56).

[8:10]  ³ tn The sentence begins emphatically: “Is it not they.”

[8:10]  ⁴ tn The “and” is not present in the line. The second clause seems to be in apposition to the first, explaining it more thoroughly: “Is it not they [who] will instruct you, [who] will speak to you.”

[8:10]  ⁵ tn The noun may have been left indeterminate for the sake of emphasis (GKC 401-2 §125.c), meaning “important words.”

[8:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “from their heart.”