translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: JOB

label: NET study note

text: The verb translated “see” could also include the figurative category of perceive as well. The answer to Job’s question is found in 1 Sam 16:7 : “The Lord sees not as a man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”


text: In this verse Job asks whether or not God is liable to making mistakes or errors of judgment. He wonders if God has no more insight than his friends have. Of course, the questions are rhetorical, for he knows otherwise. But his point is that God seems to be making a big mistake here.


text: “These things” refers to the affliction that God had brought on Job. They were concealed by God from the beginning.


text: The meaning of the line is that this was God’s purpose all along. “These things” and “this” refer to the details that will now be given in the next few verses.


text: The contradiction between how God had provided for and cared for Job’s life and how he was now dealing with him could only be resolved by Job with the supposition that God had planned this severe treatment from the first as part of his plan.


text: The verbs “guilty” and “innocent” are actually the verbs “I am wicked,” and “I am righteous.”


text: The action of lifting up the head is a symbol of pride and honor and self-respect ( Judg 8:28 ) – like “hold your head high.” In 11:15 the one who is at peace with God lifts his head (face).


text: There is some ambiguity here: Job could be the lion being hunted by God, or God could be hunting Job like a lion hunts its prey. The point of the line is clear in either case.


text: This means “If only I had never come into existence.”


text: The verbs are simple, “I go” and “I return”; but Job clearly means before he dies. A translation of “depart” comes closer to communicating this. The second verb may be given a potential imperfect translation to capture the point. The NIV offered more of an interpretive paraphrase: “before I go to the place of no return.”