02_Biblica_1_B_Pinker_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:15 Pagina 519 519 ON THE MEANING OF JOB 4,18 “acts”. With this distinction in mind, the two doctrines can coexist. Moreover, such an understanding provides the same referents set for the three cases of qal wahomer in 4,18-19; 15,15-16; and 25,5-6. It also firmly establishes the notion that Eliphaz “does not relate to one or other moral foundation” 77. It is from this perspective that the difficulty with the hapax legomenon hlht can be resolved. The proposed reading: If he cannot trust His servants, Nymi)jya )lo wydfbf(jb@a And notices weakness in His messengers, hhflft@; My#oiya wykf)fl;mab;w@ results in a text that does not involve any super-natural beings, does not resort to rare non-Hebrew words, does not involve addition of words, and is not theologically controversial. The verse is part of a qal wahomer intended to reinforce Eliphaz’s message that Job has to look within for the cause of his misfortunes, because all people are imperfect sinful creatures, and no one can be just before God. 11519 Monticello Ave. Aron PINKER Silver Spring, Maryland, 20902 U.S.A. SUMMARY 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, me- teorological phenomena) and the animate but impermanent (humans). The difficult hlht is assumed to have been originally hhflft@; from hhl, “lan- guish, faint”. Taking hlht as having the meaning “weakness” provides a sense that eminently fits a natural event. BEUKEN, “Eliphaz”, 301. 77 © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati