Discovery BoxJob 16:4 
Context16:4 I also could speak 1 like you,
if 2 you were in my place;
I could pile up 3 words against you
and I could shake my head at you. 4
Job 23:12
Context23:12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion. 5
Job 31:40
Context31:40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat,
and in place of barley, weeds!” 6
The words of Job are ended.
Job 32:11
Context32:11 Look, I waited for you to speak; 7
I listened closely to your wise thoughts, 8 while you were searching for words.
Job 36:2
Context36:2 “Be patient 9 with me a little longer
and I will instruct you,
for I still have words to speak on God’s behalf. 10
1 tn For the use of the cohortative in the apodosis of conditional sentences, see GKC 322 §109.f.
2 tn The conjunction לוּ (lu) is used to introduce the optative, a condition that is incapable of fulfillment (see GKC 494-95 §159.l).
3 tn This verb אַחְבִּירָה (’akhbirah) is usually connected to חָבַר (khavar, “to bind”). There are several suggestions for this word. J. J. Finkelstein proposed a second root, a homonym, meaning “to make a sound,” and so here “to harangue” (“Hebrew habar and Semitic HBR,” JBL 75 [1956]: 328-31; see also O. Loretz, “HBR in Job 16:4,” CBQ 23 [1961]: 293-94, who renders it “I could make noisy speeches”). Other suggestions have been for new meanings based on cognate studies, such as “to make beautiful” (i.e., make polished speeches).
4 sn The action is a sign of mockery (see Ps 22:7[8]; Isa 37:22; Matt 27:39).
5 tc The form in the MT (מֵחֻקִּי, mekhuqqi) means “more than my portion” or “more than my law.” An expanded meaning results in “more than my necessary food” (see Ps 119:11; cf. KJV, NASB, ESV). HALOT 346 s.v. חֹק 1 indicates that חֹק (khoq) has the meaning of “portion” and is here a reference to “what is appointed for me.” The LXX and the Latin versions, along with many commentators, have בְּחֵקִי (bÿkheqi, “in my bosom”).
6 tn The word בָּאְשָׁה (bo’shah, from בָּאַשׁ [ba’as, “to have a foul smell”]) must refer to foul smelling weeds.
7 tn Heb “for your words.”
8 tn The word means “understanding.” It refers to the faculty of perception and comprehension; but it also can refer to what that produces, especially when it is in the plural (see Ps 49:4). See R. Gordis, Job, 368. Others translate it “reasonings,” “arguments,” etc.
9 tn The verb כָּתַּר (kattar) is the Piel imperative; in Hebrew the word means “to surround” and is related to the noun for crown. But in Syriac it means “to wait.” This section of the book of Job will have a few Aramaic words.
10 tn The Hebrew text simply has “for yet for God words.”
