Job 4:9

By the breath ¹  of God they perish, ²  and by the blast ³  of his anger they are consumed.

At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish.

"By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.

They perish by a breath from God. They vanish in a blast of his anger.

One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there's nothing left of them.

By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.

By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed.

By the breath ¹  of God they perish, ²  and by the blast ³  of his anger they are consumed.

¹ tn The LXX in the place of “breath” has “word” or “command,” probably to limit the anthropomorphism. The word is מִנִּשְׁמַת (minnishmat) comprising מִן (min) + נִשְׁמַת (nishmat, the construct of נְשָׁמָה [nÿshamah]): “from/at the breath of.” The “breath of God” occurs frequently in Scripture. In Gen 2:7 it imparts life; but here it destroys it. The figure probably does indicate a divine decree from God (e.g., “depart from me”) – so the LXX may have been simply interpreting.

² sn The statement is saying that if some die by misfortune it is because divine retribution or anger has come upon them. This is not necessarily the case, as the NT declares (see Luke 13:1-5).

³ tn The word רוּחַ (ruakh) is now parallel to נְשָׁמָה (nÿshamah); both can mean “breath” or “wind.” To avoid using “breath” for both lines, “blast” has been employed here. The word is followed by אַפוֹ (’afo) which could be translated “his anger” or “his nostril.” If “nostril” is retained, then it is a very bold anthropomorphism to indicate the fuming wrath of God. It is close to the picture of the hot wind coming off the desert to scorch the plants (see Hos 13:15).