Job 12:3
Context12:3 I also have understanding 1 as well as you;
I am not inferior to you. 2
Who does not know such things as these? 3
Job 28:28
Context28:28 And he said to mankind,
‘The fear of the Lord 4 – that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” 5
Job 34:10
Context34:10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. 6
Far be it from 7 God to do wickedness,
from the Almighty to do evil.
Job 42:3
Context‘Who is this who darkens counsel
without knowledge?’
But 9 I have declared without understanding 10
things too wonderful for me to know. 11
1 tn The word is literally “heart,” meaning a mind or understanding.
2 tn Because this line is repeated in 13:2, many commentators delete it from this verse (as does the LXX). The Syriac translates נֹפֵל (nofel) as “little,” and the Vulgate “inferior.” Job is saying that he does not fall behind them in understanding.
3 tn Heb “With whom are not such things as these?” The point is that everyone knows the things that these friends have been saying – they are commonplace.
4 tc A number of medieval Hebrew manuscripts have YHWH (“
5 tc Many commentators delete this verse because (1) many read the divine name Yahweh (translated “
6 tn Heb “men of heart.” The “heart” is used for the capacity to understand and make the proper choice. It is often translated “mind.”
7 tn For this construction, see Job 27:5.
8 tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.
9 tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.
10 tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”
11 tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.