Ayub 23:6

23:6 Would he contend ¹  with me with great power?

No, he would only pay attention to me. ² 

Ayub 27:14

27:14 If his children increase – it is for the sword! ³ 

His offspring never have enough to eat. ⁴ 

Ayub 33:24

33:24 and if ⁵  God ⁶  is gracious to him and says,

‘Spare ⁷  him from going down

to the place of corruption,

I have found a ransom for him,’ ⁸ 

[23:6]  ¹ tn The verb is now רִיב (riv) and not יָכַח (yakhakh, “contend”); רִיב (riv) means “to quarrel; to dispute; to contend,” often in a legal context. Here it is still part of Job’s questioning about this hypothetical meeting – would God contend with all his power?

[23:6]  ² tn The verbal clause יָשִׂם בִּי (yasim bi) has been translated “he would pay [attention] to me.” Job is saying that God will not need all his power – he will just have pay attention to Job’s complaint. Job does not need the display of power – he just wants a hearing.

[27:14]  ³ tn R. Gordis (Job, 294) identifies this as a breviloquence. Compare Ps 92:8 where the last two words also constitute the apodosis.

[27:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “will not be satisfied with bread/food.”

[33:24]  ⁵ tn This verse seems to continue the protasis begun in the last verse, with the apodosis coming in the next verse.

[33:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[33:24]  ⁷ tc The verb is either taken as an anomalous form of פָּדַע (pada’, “to rescue; to redeem,” or “to exempt him”), or it is emended to some similar word, like פָּרַע (para’, “to let loose,” so Wright).

[33:24]  ⁸ sn This verse and v. 28 should be compared with Ps 49:7-9, 15 (8-10, 16 HT) where the same basic vocabulary and concepts are employed.