Extremity of Language
- Job has more obscure and difficult to interpret passages than any other book in the Bible
- There are more words in Job that are used only once in the Bible than in any other book
- Expressions that may have been common usage at the time, but are almost unintelligible to us; cultural colloquialisms
- Cut the rug
- Kill the light
- Dial the number
- Cat got your tongue?
Richness of Hebrew as a spoken and written language
- 5 different words that are translated “lion”
- In other places same words are translated as “hero” or “angel”
- 6 different words used to describe “traps”, “ropes”, and “snares” when Bildad describes the fate of the wicked
- 7 different words translated “gold”
Song of Songs 1:5 –
- KJV & ASV: I am black, but comely
- AMP: I am deeply tanned, but lovely
- CEB: Dark I am, and lovely
- ERV: I am dark and beautiful
- MEV: I am dark, but still lovely
- MSG: I am weathered but still elegant
Job 13:15…
- NIV - Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
- RSV – Behold, he will slay me. I have no hope. Yet will I defend my ways to him.
- New Living Translation - God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.
- American Standard Version - Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
- New International Reader's Version - Even if God kills me, I'll still put my hope in him. I'll argue my case in front of him.
- Good News Translation - I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me? I am going to state my case to him.
- GOD’S WORD Translation - If God would kill me, I would have no hope left. Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face.
Job’s Wife… was she cursing or blessing? Was she serious or sarcastic?
Barak - Hebrew verb used more than 325 times in the OTUsually translated “bless” in the sense of giving or receiving benefits
- Genesis 1:22 - “God blessed them and said…”
- Job 1:10 - “You have blessed the work of his hands”
- Ps 103:2 - “bless the Lord, oh my soul”
- Job 1:11 & 2:5 - “He will curse you to your face”
Job is 95% POETRY
Poets frequently use difficult language to lead the reader on a journey of discovery of ideas, thoughts, and emotions, OR simply to obscure their true message or intent- Humpty Dumpty
- Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
- Rock-a-bye Baby