16:17 although 1 there is no violence in my hands
and my prayer is pure.
22:8 Although you were a powerful man, 2 owning land, 3
an honored man 4 living on it, 5
34:6 Concerning my right, should I lie? 6
My wound 7 is incurable,
although I am without transgression.’ 8
1 tn For the use of the preposition עַל (’al) to introduce concessive clauses, see GKC 499 §160.c.
2 tn The idiom is “a man of arm” (= “powerful”; see Ps 10:15). This is in comparison to the next line, “man of face” (= “dignity; high rank”; see Isa 3:5).
3 tn Heb “and a man of arm, to whom [was] land.” The line is in contrast to the preceding one, and so the vav here introduces a concessive clause.
4 tn The expression is unusual: “the one lifted up of face.” This is the “honored one,” the one to whom the dignity will be given.
5 tn Many commentators simply delete the verse or move it elsewhere. Most take it as a general reference to Job, perhaps in apposition to the preceding verse.
6 tn The verb is the Piel imperfect of כָּזַב (kazav), meaning “to lie.” It could be a question: “Should I lie [against my right?] – when I am innocent. If it is repointed to the Pual, then it can be “I am made to lie,” or “I am deceived.” Taking it as a question makes good sense here, and so emendations are unnecessary.
7 tn The Hebrew text has only “my arrow.” Some commentators emend that word slightly to get “my wound.” But the idea could be derived from “arrows” as well, the wounds caused by the arrows. The arrows are symbolic of God’s affliction.
8 tn Heb “without transgression”; but this is parallel to the first part where the claim is innocence.