Aron Pinker, «On the Meaning of Job 4,18», Vol. 93 (2012) 500-519
This paper argues that the terms wydb( and wyk)lm in Job 4,18 should be understood as referring to the set motions of the sun, moon, and stars as well as to sporadic meteorological events, respectively. Such understanding does not dilute the validity and force of the qal wahomer in 4,18-19. The comparison is between the inanimate but permanent (sun, moon, stars, meteorological phenomena) and the animate but impermanent (humans). The difficult hlht is assumed to have been originally hhflft;@ from hhl, «languish, faint». Taking hlht as having the meaning «weakness» provides a sense that eminently fits a natural event.
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ON THE MEANING OF JOB 4,18
ever, what specifically was this dissatisfaction remained an enigma,
leading to many speculations regarding the meaning of hlht%F.F?
In addition to the difficulties of finding an acceptable meaning
for hlht%F, commentators disagree on who is making the statements
F?
in vv. 18-19. Some attribute them to the “voice†(v. 16), others con-
sider them to be Eliphaz’s conclusion from the “visions of the
night†7. The extent of the dream vision is not clear. It could consist
of only verse 17, with verses 18-21 being Eliphaz’s exposition.
Many assume that the vision continues to the end of the chapter.
Among the reasons for this position are: the continued use of the
third person for God (in v. 17 and v. 18); the explanatory “Beholdâ€
in v. 18; the request for agreement in v. 21; and the clear transition
in 5,1 to that addressing Job’s complaints in chapter 3. Others felt
the debating style requires a referent that is not the “voice†itself.
It is also not clear who is referred to in the terms “his servantsâ€
(wydb() and “his angels†(wyk)lm), and what is the distinction
between the two categories. Moreover, it is not obvious how one
should understand the term My#, and what is the extent of its se-
mantic field? Finally, one would be naturally intrigued by the rela-
tion between 4,18 and the seemingly similar variants in Eliphaz’s
second speech (15,15) and in Bildad’s speech (25,5)?
The purpose of this paper is to respond to these questions by pre-
senting a new interpretation of hlht, elucidating the terms used in
v. 18, and discussing the meaning of the verse in its context.
II. Problems of Terminology in Job 4,18
In Job 4,18 and 15,15 Eliphaz refers to some obscure tra-
dition regarding God’s attitude towards his heavenly agents, to but-
tress his argument with respect to humans. Whybray says: “The
background to this statement about the angels is obscure. There is
certainly no idea here of rebellious or ‘fallen’ angels as in some of
the apocryphal literature and in later theology, though the myth of
the ‘sons of God’ who intermarried with human women (Gen. 6.1-
(“lightâ€), to a major or more strict one (“weightyâ€), or vice versa, forming
an a fortiori argument.
F.I. ANDERSEN, Job. An Introduction and Commentary (London 1976) 114.
7
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