Job 3:9

3:9 Let its morning stars be darkened;

let it wait for daylight but find none,

nor let it see the first rays of dawn,

Job 32:3

32:3 With Job’s three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.

Job 34:11

34:11 For he repays a person for his work,

and according to the conduct of a person,

he causes the consequences to find him.

Job 37:13

37:13 Whether it is for punishment 10  for his land,

or whether it is for mercy,

he causes it to find its mark. 11 


tn Heb “the stars of its dawn.” The word נֶשֶׁף (neshef) can mean “twilight” or “dawn.” In this context the morning stars are in mind. Job wishes that the morning stars – that should announce the day – go out.

tn The verb “wait, hope” has the idea of eager expectation and preparation. It is used elsewhere of waiting on the Lord with anticipation.

tn The absolute state אַיִן (’ayin, “there is none”) is here used as a verbal predicate (see GKC 480 §152.k). The concise expression literally says “and none.”

sn The expression is literally “the eyelids of the morning.” This means the very first rays of dawn (see also Job 41:18). There is some debate whether it refers to “eyelids” or “eyelashes” or “eyeballs.” If the latter, it would signify the flashing eyes of a person. See for the Ugaritic background H. L. Ginsberg, The Legend of King Keret (BASORSup), 39; see also J. M. Steadman, “‘Eyelids of Morn’: A Biblical Convention,” HTR 56 (1963): 159-67.

tn Heb “his”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation to indicate whose friends they were.

tn The perfect verb should be given the category of potential perfect here.

tc This is one of the eighteen “corrections of the scribes” (tiqqune sopherim); it originally read, “and they declared God [in the wrong].” The thought was that in abandoning the debate they had conceded Job’s point.

tn Heb “for the work of man, he [= God] repays him.”

tn Heb “he causes it to find him.” The text means that God will cause a man to find (or receive) the consequences of his actions.

10 tn Heb “rod,” i.e., a rod used for punishment.

11 tn This is interpretive; Heb “he makes find it.” The lightning could be what is intended here, for it finds its mark. But R. Gordis (Job, 429) suggests man is the subject – let him find what it is for, i.e., the fate appropriate for him.