Job 19:10

He tears me down ¹  on every side until I perish; ²  he uproots ³  my hope ⁴  like one uproots ⁵  a tree.

Job 1:13-19; Job 2:7; Job 6:11; Job 8:13-18; Job 17:11; Job 17:15; Job 24:20; Ps 37:35,36; Ps 88:13-18; Ps 102:11; La 2:5,6; 2Co 4:8,9

¹ tn The metaphors are changed now to a demolished building and an uprooted tree. The verb is נָתַץ (natats, “to demolish”). Since it is Job himself who is the object, the meaning cannot be “demolish” (as of a house so that an inhabitant has to leave), but more of the attack or the battering.

² tn The text has הָלַךְ (halakh, “to leave”). But in view of Job 14:20, “perish” or “depart” would be a better meaning here.

³ tn The verb נָסַע (nasa’) means “to travel” generally, but specifically it means “to pull up the tent pegs and move.” The Hiphil here means “uproot.” It is used of a vine in Ps 80:9. The idea here does not contradict Job 14:7, for there the tree still had roots and so could grow.

⁴ tn The NEB has “my tent rope,” but that seems too contrived here. It is absurd to pull up a tent-rope like a tree.

⁵ tn Heb “like a tree.” The words “one uproots” are supplied in the translation for clarity.