Nothing True, Part 2

Job’s lament took an intriguing turn.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:11, 12 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:11, 12 (NET)

Job 3:11, 12 (NETS)

Job 3:11, 12 (English Elpenor)

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb? For what reason did I not die in the womb or come forth from the belly and not perish at once? For why died I not in the belly? and [why] did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?
Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them? Why then did knees meet me? Why then did I suck breasts? and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

I began this study with a complaint that “in the past I’ve gotten bogged down. My religious mind favors the arguments of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar over those of Job.” But as I considered Jobs’ lament and Moses’ and Jeremiah’s, it occurred to me that despite my complaint I have become more patient with people in distress, less judgmental over the words they spoke as they vented their pain and frustration. But still “I hope…to know God better and to discern the errors of my religious mind.”

This time I hear Job asking THE question: God made human infants so weak and helpless that their destruction is assured apart from the love and grace of God. And that includes imparting his love and grace to young women and young men: Even the evilknow how to give good gifts to [their] children1 at the risk of those same young women and young men mistaking God’s imputed righteousness for their own righteousness.

God’s love and grace answer job’s question and convey the hope and strength to hold out, saying, Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance.2 Job may not have been ready yet to hear it from a human comforter, but any would-be human comforter could pray that God Himself would be the Comforter to lead Job out from his despair.

Job’s lament continued:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:13-15 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:13-15 (NET)

Job 3:13-15 (NETS)

Job 3:13-15 (English Elpenor)

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest (יָנ֬וּחַֽ), For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace (nûaḥ, ינוח) Now I would have lain down quiet and in sleep would have been at rest (ἀνεπαυσάμην), Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest (ἀνεπαυσάμην),
With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves; with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate, with kings, counselors of the earth, who used to act proudly thanks to rapiers, with kings [and] councillors of the earth, who gloried in [their] swords;
Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver. or with rulers, who had much gold, who had filled their houses with silver. or with rulers, whose gold was abundant, who filled their houses with silver:
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light? Or why was I not like a premature birth that comes from a mother’s womb or like infants that did not see the light? or [I should have been] as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother’s womb, or as infants who never saw light.

The Septuagint makes it explicit that Job’s friends were rulers. Reading only the Masoretic text I missed how Job’s comments about kings and princes may have put his friends on edge, especially equating them to stillborn infants. Does anyone appreciate being reminded of the sinful futility of one’s life and its eventual end?

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:17-19 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:17-19 (NET)

Job 3:17-19 (NETS)

Job 3:17-19 (English Elpenor)

There the wicked cease (חָ֣דְלוּ) from troubling (רֹ֑גֶז); and there the weary be at rest (יָ֜נ֗וּחוּ). There the wicked cease (ḥāḏal, חדלו) from turmoil (rōḡez, רגז), and there the weary are at rest (nûaḥ, ינוחו). There the impious have kindled (ἐξέκαυσαν) a terrible (θυμὸν) wrath (ὀργῆς); there the weary have found rest (ἀνεπαύσαντο) for the body, There the ungodly have burnt out (ἐξέκαυσαν) the fury (θυμὸν) of rage (ὀργῆς); there the wearied in body rest (ἀνεπαύσαντο).
There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. and those of old, together, have not heard the voice of the tax-gatherer. And the men of old time have together ceased to hear the exactor’s voice.
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master. Small and great are there, and the attendant who lived in fear of his master. The small and great are there, and the servant that feared his lord.

It’s much clearer to me this time how Job’s description of death as a neutralizer of worldly rank and distinction might have affected his royal friends. I’ll pause for a moment here to consider whether the impious have kindled a terrible wrath3 in death, or the ungodly have burnt out the fury of rage4 there.

The verb ἐξέκαυσαν (a form of ἐκκαίω) can mean either have kindled or have burnt out. On the other hand a terrible seems like a terrible translation of θυμὸν (a form of θυμός). I suspect that θυμὸν ὀργῆς (a form of ὀργή) was the rabbis’ attempt to capture some of the richness of רֹ֑גֶז (rōḡez). The English word string for רֹ֑גֶז (rōḡez) in the “Outline of Biblical Usage” online reads like an apt description of the wicked, impious or ungodly: “agitation, excitement, raging, trouble, turmoil, trembling;” “turmoil, disquiet, raging;” “trembling, trepidation.”

In Jesus’ description of death a rich man in Hades, as he was in torment (βασάνοις, a form of βάσανος),5 called out (φωνήσας, a form of φωνέω)6 to Abraham: I am in anguish in this fire.7 For years I would have characterized this as a description of the place where the impious have kindled a terrible wrath,8 primarily because the Greek word ᾅδῃ (a form of ᾅδης) was translated hell in the KJV. But now it’s obvious that the rich man (and Lazarus, for that matter) had ceased from troubling (Tanakh, KJV), from turmoil (NET), and whatever fury of rage they may have had against man or God had burnt out (English Elpenor).

The rich man seemed to think that he was entitled to some help from Lazarus, and it would be strange indeed that Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate if he received no help there. There is clearly a judgment in Jesus’ description of death: Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish,9 Abraham had said to the rich man. But it is certainly not THE judgment (Matthew 25:41-46 NET).

Then [the Son of Man] will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed? [Table]’ Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

So, in my bid to liveby every word that comes from the mouth of God,10 I’ll favor the translation of Job 3:17a in the English Elpenor version of the Septuagint over that in the NETS. The immediate upshot of taking Jesus’ description of death literally is a better understanding of his puzzling statement to Martha before he raised her brother Lazarus from the dead: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives ( ζῶν) and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”11

The Greek word translated willdie in the phrase will never die above was not ἀποθανεῖται, the 3rd person singular form of ἀποθνήσκω in the indicative mood and future tense. Rather, it was ἀποθάνῃ, the 3rd person singular form of ἀποθνήσκω in the subjunctive mood and second aorist tense (e.g., maydie). Since never was the NET translation of οὐ μὴ in Greek, οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ is an example of the Subjunctive of Emphatic Negation:

…the Subjunctive Mood indicates the probability of an event, and the Aorist Tense emphasizes an action as simply occurring…Thus, when you have οὐ µή (ou mē) in combination with the Aorist Subjunctive, what occurs is the absolute and unequivocal denial of the probability of an event EVER OCCURING at any moment or time in the future.

This particular subjunctive of emphatic negation was followed by a phrase that was rarely translated into English: εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. It was rendered to the age in Young’s Literal Translation. A note (50) in the NET acknowledged that οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνῃ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα meant “will never die forever” in Greek. It’s easy to understand why Martha was reluctant to affirm her faith in such a statement. Instead, she affirmed her faith in the One who said it.

I couple this with Paul’s enigmatic statement (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NET):

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth (ἐνδημοῦντες ἐν τῷ σώματι; KJV: at home in the body) we are absent from the Lord—for we live (περιπατοῦμεν) by faith, not by sight. Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So then whether we are alive (ἐνδημοῦντες) or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

Those who live and believe in Jesus simply skip over death: a sojourn in Hades. What we call death from our limited perspectives has no impact on our ambition (φιλοτιμούμεθα, a form of φιλοτιμέομαι) to please (εὐάρεστοι, a form of εὐάρεστος) him.

Job’s next question might have been voiced by Lazarus as he lay at the rich man’s gate, his body covered with sores,12 longing (ἐπιθυμῶν, a form of ἐπιθυμέω) to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.13

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:20-23 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:20-23 (NET)

Job 3:20-23 (NETS)

Job 3:20-23 (English Elpenor)

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter, Why then is light given to those in bitterness, and life to souls in pain, For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in griefs?
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures, who long for death and do not find it, though they are digging for it as for treasures? who desire death, and obtain it not, digging [for it] as [for] treasures;
Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave? Yet they would be very joyful if they were successful. and would be very joyful if they should gain it?
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in? Death is rest (ἀνάπαυμα) for such a man, for God shut him in. Death [is] rest (ἀνάπαυμα) to [such] a man, for God has hedged him in.

Death is rest for such a man.14 This is the reason I quoted this verse. If I were reading the Masoretic text only I would’ve ended the quotation one verse earlier. But I’m struck how Jesus confirmed Job’s words with Abraham’s description of Lazarus’ death: now he is comforted here.15

Paul recounted a life circumstance that was similar to Job’s question: Why then is light given to those in bitterness, and life to souls in pain?16 (2 Corinthians 1:8 NET [Table]):

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired (ἐξαπορηθῆναι, a form of ἐξαπορέω) even of living (καὶ τοῦ ζῆν).

In Paul’s writing, however, we also get a glimpse how the righteous, by the grace of God, respond to a sentence of death (2 Corinthians 1:9 NET):

Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death (τὸ ἀπόκριμα τοῦ θανάτου) had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Job’s first lament concluded:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:24-26 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:24-26 (NET)

Job 3:24-26 (NETS)

Job 3:24-26 (English Elpenor)

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water. For sighing comes before my food, and I cry, gripped by fear. For my groaning comes before my food, and I weep being beset with terror.
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me. For fear—which was my worry—came to me, and the fear I dreaded befell me. For the terror of which I meditated has come upon me, and that which I had feared has befallen me.
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble (רֹֽגֶז) came. I have no ease; I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil (rōḡez, רגז) has come upon me.” I was neither at peace, nor did I have quiet, nor was I at rest, but anger (ὀργή) came to me.” I was not at peace, nor quiet, nor had I rest; yet wrath (ὀργή) came upon me.

I was not at peace, nor quiet, nor had I rest (ἀνεπαυσάμην, a form of ἀναπαύω); yet wrath came upon me.17 This last sigh of Job’s first lament is particularly poignant in the light of Jesus’ insight that one’s18 life does not consist in the abundance of his19 possessions.20 [Jesus] then told them a parable (Luke 12:16-21 NET):

The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain21 and my goods. And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax (ἀναπαύου, another form of ἀναπαύω), eat, drink, celebrate!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life (τὴν ψυχήν σου) will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ So it is with the one who stores up riches (θησαυρίζων, a form of θησαυρίζω) for himself, but is not rich (πλουτῶν, a form of πλουτέω) toward God.”

I wonder if the fear—which was [Job’s] worry22 (ἐφρόντισα, a form of φροντίζω; English Elpenor: of which I meditated) was synonymous with Job’s thought which prompted his customary practice after his sons and daughters feasted: Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.23

According to a note (7) in the NET Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 in Matthew 4:4. A table below compares the Greek of Jesus’ quotation in Matthew 4:4 to that of the Septuagint.

Matthew 4:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Deuteronomy 8:3b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Deuteronomy 8:3b (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ρήματι ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ οὐκ ἐπ᾽ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ ζήσεται ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ῥήματι τῷ ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος Θεοῦ ζήσεται ἄνθρωπος

Matthew 4:4 (NET)

Deuteronomy 8:3b (NETS)

Deuteronomy 8:3b (English Elpenor)

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that goes out through the mouth of God man shall live. man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.

Tables comparing Job 3:11; 3:12; 3:13; 3:14; 3:15; 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:19; 3:20; 3:21; 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25 and 3:26 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 3:11; 3:12; 3:13; 3:14; 3:15; 3:16; 3:17; 3:18; 3:19; 3:20; 3:21; 3:22; 3:23; 3:24; 3:25 and 3:26 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing the Greek of Matthew 4:4; Luke 12:15 and 12:18 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 3:11 (Tanakh)

Job 3:11 (KJV)

Job 3:11 (NET)

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?

Job 3:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

διὰ τί γὰρ ἐν κοιλίᾳ οὐκ ἐτελεύτησα ἐκ γαστρὸς δὲ ἐξῆλθον καὶ οὐκ εὐθὺς ἀπωλόμην διατί γὰρ ἐν κοιλίᾳ οὐκ ἐτελεύτησα, ἐκ γαστρὸς δὲ ἐξῆλθον καὶ οὐκ εὐθὺς ἀπωλόμην

Job 3:11 (NETS)

Job 3:11 (English Elpenor)

For what reason did I not die in the womb or come forth from the belly and not perish at once? For why died I not in the belly? and [why] did I not come forth from the womb and die immediately?

Job 3:12 (Tanakh)

Job 3:12 (KJV)

Job 3:12 (NET)

Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them?

Job 3:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵνα τί δὲ συνήντησάν μοι γόνατα ἵνα τί δὲ μαστοὺς ἐθήλασα ἱνατί δὲ συνήντησάν μοι γόνατα; ἱνατί δὲ μαστοὺς ἐθήλασα

Job 3:12 (NETS)

Job 3:12 (English Elpenor)

Why then did knees meet me? Why then did I suck breasts? and why did the knees support me? and why did I suck the breasts?

Job 3:13 (Tanakh)

Job 3:13 (KJV)

Job 3:13 (NET)

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace

Job 3:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νῦν ἂν κοιμηθεὶς ἡσύχασα ὑπνώσας δὲ ἀνεπαυσάμην νῦν ἂν κοιμηθεὶς ἡσύχασα, ὑπνώσας δὲ ἀνεπαυσάμην

Job 3:13 (NETS)

Job 3:13 (English Elpenor)

Now I would have lain down quiet and in sleep would have been at rest, Now I should have lain down and been quiet, I should have slept and been at rest,

Job 3:14 (Tanakh)

Job 3:14 (KJV)

Job 3:14 (NET)

With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves; With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves; with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate,

Job 3:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μετὰ βασιλέων βουλευτῶν γῆς οἳ ἠγαυριῶντο ἐπὶ ξίφεσιν μετὰ βασιλέων βουλευτῶν γῆς, οἳ ἐγαυριῶντο ἐπὶ ξίφεσιν

Job 3:14 (NETS)

Job 3:14 (English Elpenor)

with kings, counselors of the earth, who used to act proudly thanks to rapiers, with kings [and] councillors of the earth, who gloried in [their] swords;

Job 3:15 (Tanakh)

Job 3:15 (KJV)

Job 3:15 (NET)

Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver.

Job 3:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἢ μετὰ ἀρχόντων ὧν πολὺς ὁ χρυσός οἳ ἔπλησαν τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ἀργυρίου ἢ μετὰ ἀρχόντων, ὧν πολὺς ὁ χρυσός, οἳ ἔπλησαν τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ἀργυρίου

Job 3:15 (NETS)

Job 3:15 (English Elpenor)

or with rulers, who had much gold, who had filled their houses with silver. or with rulers, whose gold was abundant, who filled their houses with silver:

Job 3:16 (Tanakh)

Job 3:16 (KJV)

Job 3:16 (NET)

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?

Job 3:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἢ ὥσπερ ἔκτρωμα ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ μήτρας μητρὸς ἢ ὥσπερ νήπιοι οἳ οὐκ εἶδον φῶς ἢ ὥσπερ ἔκτρωμα ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ μήτρας μητρός, ἢ ὥσπερ νήπιοι, οἳ οὐκ εἶδον φῶς

Job 3:16 (NETS)

Job 3:16 (English Elpenor)

Or why was I not like a premature birth that comes from a mother’s womb or like infants that did not see the light? or [I should have been] as an untimely birth proceeding from his mother’s womb, or as infants who never saw light.

Job 3:17 (Tanakh)

Job 3:17 (KJV)

Job 3:17 (NET)

There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.

Job 3:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐκεῖ ἀσεβεῖς ἐξέκαυσαν θυμὸν ὀργῆς ἐκεῖ ἀνεπαύσαντο κατάκοποι τῷ σώματι ἐκεῖ ἀσεβεῖς ἐξέκαυσαν θυμὸν ὀργῆς, ἐκεῖ ἀνεπαύσαντο κατάκοποι τῷ σώματι

Job 3:17 (NETS)

Job 3:17 (English Elpenor)

There the impious have kindled a terrible wrath; there the weary have found rest for the body, There the ungodly have burnt out the fury of rage; there the wearied in body rest.

Job 3:18 (Tanakh)

Job 3:18 (KJV)

Job 3:18 (NET)

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

Job 3:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁμοθυμαδὸν δὲ οἱ αἰώνιοι οὐκ ἤκουσαν φωνὴν φορολόγου ὁμοθυμαδὸν δὲ οἱ αἰώνιοι οὐκ ἤκουσαν φωνὴν φορολόγου

Job 3:18 (NETS)

Job 3:18 (English Elpenor)

and those of old, together, have not heard the voice of the tax-gatherer. And the men of old time have together ceased to hear the exactor’s voice.

Job 3:19 (Tanakh)

Job 3:19 (KJV)

Job 3:19 (NET)

The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master.

Job 3:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μικρὸς καὶ μέγας ἐκεῖ ἐστιν καὶ θεράπων οὐ δεδοικὼς τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ μικρὸς καὶ μέγας ἐκεῖ ἐστι, καὶ θεράπων δεδοικὼς τὸν κύριον αὐτοῦ

Job 3:19 (NETS)

Job 3:19 (English Elpenor)

Small and great are there, and the attendant who lived in fear of his master. The small and great are there, and the servant that feared his lord.

Job 3:20 (Tanakh)

Job 3:20 (KJV)

Job 3:20 (NET)

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,

Job 3:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵνα τί γὰρ δέδοται τοῖς ἐν πικρίᾳ φῶς ζωὴ δὲ ταῖς ἐν ὀδύναις ψυχαῖς ἱνατί γὰρ δέδοται τοῖς ἐν πικρίᾳ φῶς, ζωὴ δὲ ταῖς ἐν ὀδύναις ψυχαῖς

Job 3:20 (NETS)

Job 3:20 (English Elpenor)

Why then is light given to those in bitterness, and life to souls in pain, For why is light given to those who are in bitterness, and life to those souls which are in griefs?

Job 3:21 (Tanakh)

Job 3:21 (KJV)

Job 3:21 (NET)

Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

Job 3:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οἳ ὁμείρονται τοῦ θανάτου καὶ οὐ τυγχάνουσιν ἀνορύσσοντες ὥσπερ θησαυρούς οἳ ἱμείρονται τοῦ θανάτου καὶ οὐ τυγχάνουσιν ἀνορύσσοντες ὥσπερ θησαυρούς

Job 3:21 (NETS)

Job 3:21 (English Elpenor)

who long for death and do not find it, though they are digging for it as for treasures? who desire death, and obtain it not, digging [for it] as [for] treasures;

Job 3:22 (Tanakh)

Job 3:22 (KJV)

Job 3:22 (NET)

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?

Job 3:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

περιχαρεῖς δὲ ἐγένοντο ἐὰν κατατύχωσιν περιχαρεῖς δὲ ἐγένοντο ἐὰν κατατύχωσι

Job 3:22 (NETS)

Job 3:22 (English Elpenor)

Yet they would be very joyful if they were successful. and would be very joyful if they should gain it?

Job 3:23 (Tanakh)

Job 3:23 (KJV)

Job 3:23 (NET)

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?

Job 3:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

θάνατος ἀνδρὶ ἀνάπαυμα συνέκλεισεν γὰρ ὁ θεὸς κατ᾽ αὐτοῦ θάνατος ἀνδρὶ ἀνάπαυμα, συνέκλεισε γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Job 3:23 (NETS)

Job 3:23 (English Elpenor)

Death is rest for such a man, for God shut him in. Death [is] rest to [such] a man, for God has hedged him in.

Job 3:24 (Tanakh)

Job 3:24 (KJV)

Job 3:24 (NET)

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters. For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water.

Job 3:24 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:24 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πρὸ γὰρ τῶν σίτων μου στεναγμός μοι ἥκει δακρύω δὲ ἐγὼ συνεχόμενος φόβῳ πρὸ γὰρ τῶν σίτων μου στεναγμός μοι ἥκει, δακρύω δὲ ἐγὼ συνεχόμενος φόβῳ

Job 3:24 (NETS)

Job 3:24 (English Elpenor)

For sighing comes before my food, and I cry, gripped by fear. For my groaning comes before my food, and I weep being beset with terror.

Job 3:25 (Tanakh)

Job 3:25 (KJV)

Job 3:25 (NET)

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.

Job 3:25 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:25 (Septuagint Elpenor)

φόβος γάρ ὃν ἐφρόντισα ἦλθέν μοι καὶ ὃν ἐδεδοίκειν συνήντησέν μοι φόβος γάρ, ὅν ἐφρόντισα, ἦλθέ μοι, καὶ ὃν ἐδεδοίκειν, συνήντησέ μοι

Job 3:25 (NETS)

Job 3:25 (English Elpenor)

For fear—which was my worry—came to me, and the fear I dreaded befell me. For the terror of which I meditated has come upon me, and that which I had feared has befallen me.

Job 3:26 (Tanakh)

Job 3:26 (KJV)

Job 3:26 (NET)

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came. I have no ease; I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me.”

Job 3:26 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:26 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὔτε εἰρήνευσα οὔτε ἡσύχασα οὔτε ἀνεπαυσάμην ἦλθεν δέ μοι ὀργή οὔτε εἰρήνευσα οὔτε ἡσύχασα οὔτε ἀνεπαυσάμην, ἦλθε δέ μοι ὀργή

Job 3:26 (NETS)

Job 3:26 (English Elpenor)

I was neither at peace, nor did I have quiet, nor was I at rest, but anger came to me.” I was not at peace, nor quiet, nor had I rest; yet wrath came upon me.

Matthew 4:4 (NET)

Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 4:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 4:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· γέγραπται· οὐκ ἐπ᾿ ἄρτῳ μόνῳ ζήσεται ἄνθρωπος, ἀλλ᾿ ἐπὶ παντὶ ρήματι ἐκπορευομένῳ διὰ στόματος θεοῦ ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν γεγραπται ουκ επ αρτω μονω ζησεται ανθρωπος αλλ επι παντι ρηματι εκπορευομενω δια στοματος θεου ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν γεγραπται ουκ επ αρτω μονω ζησεται ανθρωπος αλλ επι παντι ρηματι εκπορευομενω δια στοματος θεου

Luke 12:15 (NET)

Luke 12:15 (KJV)

Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 12:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 12:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς· ὁρᾶτε καὶ φυλάσσεσθε ἀπὸ πάσης πλεονεξίας, ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ περισσεύειν τινὶ ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ ειπεν δε προς αυτους ορατε και φυλασσεσθε απο της πλεονεξιας οτι ουκ εν τω περισσευειν τινι η ζωη αυτου εστιν εκ των υπαρχοντων αυτου ειπεν δε προς αυτους ορατε και φυλασσεσθε απο της πλεονεξιας οτι ουκ εν τω περισσευειν τινι η ζωη αυτω εστιν εκ των υπαρχοντων αυτου

Luke 12:18 (NET)

Luke 12:18 (KJV)

Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Luke 12:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 12:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 12:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εἶπεν· τοῦτο ποιήσω, καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου και ειπεν τουτο ποιησω καθελω μου τας αποθηκας και μειζονας οικοδομησω και συναξω εκει παντα τα γενηματα μου και τα αγαθα μου και ειπεν τουτο ποιησω καθελω μου τας αποθηκας και μειζονας οικοδομησω και συναξω εκει παντα τα γενηματα μου και τα αγαθα μου

1 Matthew 7:11a (NET)

2 Job 2:9b, 9α (English Elpenor) Table

3 Job 3:17a (NETS)

4 Job 3:17a (English Elpenor)

5 Luke 16:23a (NET) Table

6 Luke 16:24a (NET)

7 Luke 16:24b (NET)

8 Job 3:17a (NETS)

9 Luke 16:25 (NET) Table

10 Matthew 4:4 (NET)

11 John 11:25b, 26 (NET)

12 Luke 16:20b (NET) Table

13 Luke 16:21a (NET) Table

14 Job 3:23a (NETS)

15 Luke 16:25b (NET) Table

16 Job 3:20 (NETS)

17 Job 3:26 (English Elpenor)

20 Luke 12:15b (NET)

22 Job 3:25a (NETS)

23 Job 1:5 (NET) Table

Fear – Exodus, Part 3

The Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: “Release my people so that they may serve me!”’”[1]  This is the seventh plague on Egypt.  You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them, the Lord continued.  I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.  So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place.  Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house – the hail will come down on them, and they will die![2]

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared (yârêʼ)[3] the word of the Lord hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.[4]  The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used φοβούμενος (a form of φοβέω).[5]  Jesus told a parable about a judge who neither feared (φοβούμενος) God nor respected people.[6]  But even this judge could be persuaded by a widow’s persistenceI will give her justice, the judge said, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.[7]  But even after six other plagues happened as prophesied by Moses there were still those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously.  The rabbis used προσέσχεν[8] (hold to), they did not hold to the word of the Lord.

It caused me to consider that those who did not take the word of the Lord seriously were actually hardened.  The judge did not fear God but could be persuaded by his own inconvenience.  To lose one’s animals and slaves is a major inconvenience.  Six out of six plagues would seemingly convince one that the seventh was possible if not likely.  Reason alone would persuade one to take precautions at least at the time of day prophesied simply to avoid the greater inconvenience of losing everything.  But only those who feared the word of the Lord acted rationally.  It gave me the impression that the others believed (though did not fear) that the word was the Lord’s, and acted contrary to his word because it was his word.  They were hardened.

The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt.  The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces.  Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.  So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time!  The Lord is righteous, and I and my people are guilty.  Pray to the Lord, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much!  I will release you and you will stay no longer.”[9]

Moses promised to pray that the hail cease.  But as for you, He said to Pharaoh, and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear (yârêʼ) the Lord God.[10]  In the Septuagint the rabbis used πεφόβησθε,[11] (afraid).  This form was not used in the New Testament.

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts.  So Pharaoh’s heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the Lord had predicted through Moses.[12]  Pharaoh certainly believed the word was the Lord’s as a fact, but he did not fear that word.  Here I begin to grasp the fear of the Lord as something that is combined with factual acceptance to become New Testament faith, as opposed to dead faith or faith alone.

This fear is obviously not a flight of terror but a conviction to act in accordance with the word (Septuagint: ῥῆμα) of the Lord.  In New Testament terms it would be equivalent to the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.[13]  And this is because it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.[14]  In a similar sense the New Testament meaning of the fear of the Lord is equivalent to the love of God: Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.  The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.  But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected.[15]

Luke used the phrase fear of the Lord in this association with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened.   Living[16] in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.[17]  At first glance Paul seemed to use fear of the Lord in a more fearful sense: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.  Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people[18]

If I expand the context, however, Paul spoke first of faith: For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.[19]  While the natural person clings to this earthly tent for dear life we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.[20]  Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose, Paul continued (including by the way appearing before the judgment seat of Christ) is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.[21]  So is any of this a cause to be fearful?

Paul continued (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NET):

Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord – for we live by faith, not by sight.  Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.

And what is this ambition to please him but the fear of the LordTherefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.[22]  For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.[23]

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us.  We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”  God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.[24]

So before Christ was crucified, rose again, ascended to heaven and the Holy Spirit was given to provide this love, this desire and this effort, the Lord cultivated fear to motivate his people:  The Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order to display these signs of mine before him, and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the Lord.”[25]  Perhaps more to the point was Moses’ response to Israel’s fear when God spoke the law at Sinai: Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.[26]

Fear – Exodus, Part 4

Back to Fear – Exodus, Part 5

Back to Fear – Numbers, Part 4


[1] Exodus 9:13 (NET)

[2] Exodus 9:17-19 (NET)

[4] Exodus 9:20, 21 (NET)

[6] Luke 18:2 (NET)

[7] Luke 18:5 (NET)

[9] Exodus 9:25-28 (NET)

[10] Exodus 9:30 (NET)

[12] Exodus 9:34, 35 (NET)

[13] Philippians 2:13 (NET)

[14] Romans 9:16 (NET)

[15] 1 John 2:3-5a (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular πορευομένη here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural πορευομεναι (KJV: walking).

[17] Acts 9:31 (NET) [Table] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the singular ἐπληθύνετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural επληθυνοντο (KJV: were multiplied).

[18] 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11 (NET)

[19] 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NET)

[20] 2 Corinthians 5:4 (NET)

[21] 2 Corinthians 5:5 (NET)

[22] 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NET)

[23] 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15 (NET)

[24] 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NET)

[25] Exodus 10:1, 2 (NET)

[26] Exodus 20:20 (NET)