Job 32:2-4

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Job 32:2 tn The verse begins with וַיִּחַר אַף (vayyikhar ʾaf, “and the anger became hot”), meaning Elihu became very angry.
2. Job 32:2 tn The second comment about Elihu’s anger comes right before the statement of its cause. Now the perfect verb is used: “he was angry.”
3. Job 32:2 tn The explanation is the causal clause עַל־צַדְּקוֹ נַפְשׁוֹ (ʿal-tsadd^eqo nafsho, “because he justified himself”). It is the preposition with the Piel infinitive construct with a suffixed subjective genitive.
4. Job 32:2 tc The LXX and Latin versions soften the expression slightly by saying “before God.”
5. Job 32:3 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Job) has been specified in the translation to indicate whose friends they were.
6. Job 32:3 tn The perfect verb should be given the category of potential perfect here.
7. Job 32:3 tc This is one of the eighteen “corrections of the scribes” (tiqqune sopherim); it originally read, “and they declared God [in the wrong].” The thought was that in abandoning the debate they had conceded Job’s point.
8. Job 32:4 tc This reading requires repointing the word בִּדְבָרִים (bid^evarim, “with words”) to בְּדַבְּרָם (b^edabb^eram, “while they spoke [with Job]”). If the MT is retained, it would mean “he waited for Job with words,” which while understandable is awkward.
9. Job 32:4 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the other friends) has been specified in the translation for clarity.