19:27 whom I will see for myself, 1
and whom my own eyes will behold,
and not another. 2
My heart 3 grows faint within me. 4
40:4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy 5 – how could I reply to you?
I put 6 my hand over my mouth to silence myself. 7
1 tn The emphasis is on “I” and “for myself.” No other will be seeing this vindication, but Job himself will see it. Of that he is confident. Some take לִי (li, “for myself”) to mean favorable to me, or on my side (see A. B. Davidson, Job, 143). But Job is expecting (not just wishing for) a face-to-face encounter in the vindication.
2 tn Hitzig offered another interpretation that is somewhat forced. The “other” (זָר, zar) or “stranger” would refer to Job. He would see God, not as an enemy, but in peace.
3 tn Heb “kidneys,” a poetic expression for the seat of emotions.
4 tn Heb “fail/grow faint in my breast.” Job is saying that he has expended all his energy with his longing for vindication.
5 tn The word קַלֹּתִי (qalloti) means “to be light; to be of small account; to be unimportant.” From this comes the meaning “contemptible,” which in the causative stem would mean “to treat with contempt; to curse.” Dhorme tries to make the sentence a conditional clause and suggests this meaning: “If I have been thoughtless.” There is really no “if” in Job’s mind.
6 tn The perfect verb here should be classified as an instantaneous perfect; the action is simultaneous with the words.
7 tn The words “to silence myself” are supplied in the translation for clarity.