Job 33:16

Then he gives a revelation ¹  to people, and terrifies them with warnings, ² 

he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,

Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction,

He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with his warning.

God opens their ears and impresses them with warnings

Then he makes his secrets clear to men, so that they are full of fear at what they see;

then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,

Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

Then he gives a revelation ¹  to people, and terrifies them with warnings, ² 

¹ tn The idiom is “he uncovers the ear of men.” This expression means “inform” in Ruth 4:4; 1 Sam 20:2, etc. But when God is the subject it means “make a revelation” (see 1 Sam 9:15; 2 Sam 7:27).

² tc Heb “and seals their bonds.” The form of the present translation, “and terrifies them with warnings,” is derived only by emending the text. Aquila, the Vulgate, Syriac, and Targum Job have “their correction” for “their bond,” which is what the KJV used. But the LXX, Aquila, and the Syriac have “terrifies” for the verb. This involves a change in pointing from יָחְתֹּם (yakhtom) to יְחִתֵּם (yÿkhittem). The LXX has “appearances of fear” instead of “bonds.” The point of the verse seems to be that by terrifying dreams God makes people aware of their ways.