16:9 His 1 anger has torn me 2 and persecuted 3 me;
he has gnashed at me with his teeth;
my adversary locks 4 his eyes on me.
34:37 For he adds transgression 5 to his sin;
in our midst he claps his hands, 6
and multiplies his words against God.”
35:14 How much less, then,
when you say that you do not perceive him,
that the case is before him
and you are waiting for him! 7
1 tn The referent of these pronouns in v. 9 (“his anger…he has gnashed…his teeth…his eyes”) is best taken as God.
2 sn The figure used now is that of a wild beast. God’s affliction of Job is compared to the attack of such an animal. Cf. Amos 1:11.
3 tn The verb שָׂטַם (satam) is translated “hate” in the RSV, but this is not accepted by very many. Many emend it to שָׁמט (shamat), reading “and he dropped me” (from his mouth). But that suggests escape. D. J. A. Clines notes that usage shows it reflects ongoing hatred represented by an action such as persecution or attack (Job [WBC], 370).
4 tn The verb is used of sharpening a sword in Ps 7:12; here it means “to look intently” as an animal looks for prey. The verse describes God’s relentless pursuit of Job.
5 tn Although frequently translated “rebellion,” the basic meaning of this Hebrew term is “transgression.”
6 tc If this reading stands, it would mean that Job shows contempt, meaning that he mocks them and accuses God. It is a bold touch, but workable. Of the many suggested emendations, Dhorme alters some of the vowels and obtains a reading “and casts doubt among us,” and then takes “transgression” from the first colon for the complement. Some commentators simply delete the line.
7 sn The point is that if God does not listen to those who do not turn to him, how much less likely is he to turn to one who complains against him.