Ayub 10:4

Motivations of God

10:4 “Do you have eyes of flesh, ¹ 

or do you see ²  as a human being sees? ³ 

Ayub 23:10

23:10 But he knows the pathway that I take; ⁴ 

if he tested me, I would come forth like gold. ⁵ 

Mazmur 139:3

139:3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; ⁶ 

you are aware of everything I do. ⁷ 

Amsal 5:21

5:21 For the ways of a person ⁸  are in front of the Lord’s eyes,

and the Lord ⁹  weighs ¹⁰  all that person’s ¹¹  paths.

[10:4]  ¹ tn Here “flesh” is the sign of humanity. The expression “eyes of flesh” means essentially “human eyes,” i.e., the outlook and vision of humans.

[10:4]  ² sn The verb translated “see” could also include the figurative category of perceive as well. The answer to Job’s question is found in 1 Sam 16:7: “The Lord sees not as a man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

[10:4]  ³ sn In this verse Job asks whether or not God is liable to making mistakes or errors of judgment. He wonders if God has no more insight than his friends have. Of course, the questions are rhetorical, for he knows otherwise. But his point is that God seems to be making a big mistake here.

[23:10]  ⁴ tn The expression דֶּרֶךְ עִמָּדִי (derekh ’immadi) means “the way with me,” i.e., “the way that I take.” The Syriac has “my way and my standing.” Several commentators prefer “the way of my standing,” meaning where to look for me. J. Reider offers “the way of my life” (“Some notes to the text of the scriptures,” HUCA 3 [1926]: 115). Whatever the precise wording, Job knows that God can always find him.

[23:10]  ⁵ tn There is a perfect verb followed by an imperfect in this clause with the protasis and apodosis relationship (see GKC 493 §159.b).

[139:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “my traveling and my lying down you measure.” The verb זָרָה (zarah, “to measure”) is probably here a denominative from זָרָת (zarat, “a span; a measure”), though some derive it from זָרָה (zarat, “to winnow; to sift”; see BDB 279-80 s.v. זָרָה).

[139:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “all my ways.”

[5:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “man.”

[5:21]  ⁹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[5:21]  ¹⁰ tn BDB 814 s.v. פָּלַס 2 suggests that the participle מְפַּלֵּס (mÿpalles) means “to make level [or, straight].” As one’s ways are in front of the eyes of the Lord, they become straight or right. It could be translated “weighs” since it is a denominative from the noun for “balance, scale”; the Lord weighs or examines the actions.

[5:21]  ¹¹ tn Heb “all his”; the referent (the person mentioned in the first half of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.