Job dismisses the comforters — 'you are plasterers of lies, You are all physicians of no value' — and stakes everything on a hearing: 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; But I will argue my ways before Him.' He asks two things only: 'Withdraw Your hand far from me; And let not Your terror make me afraid.' Then the question under all the speeches: 'Why do You hide Your face, And hold me for Your enemy?'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Lo, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.
verse value 1827
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "to·her" (לָֽהּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "lo·all" (הֶן־כֹּ֭ל, 4 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "lo·all" (הֶן־כֹּ֭ל), "and·she·understood" (וַתָּ֥בֶן). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "she·saw" (root ראה, 52x in Job); "my·eye" (root עין, 46x in Job); "she·heard" (root שמע, 42x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·eye', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: הֶן־כֹּ֭ל [lo·all] (105) + רָאֲתָ֣ה [she·saw] (606) + עֵינִ֑י [my·eye] (140) + שָֽׁמְעָ֥ה [she·heard] (415) + אׇ֝זְנִ֗י [my·ear] (68) + וַתָּ֥בֶן [and·she·understood] (458) + לָֽהּ [to·her] (35) = 1827.
Metzudat David
"Lo, [my eye has seen] all this" — (that is, "these") — all these matters that I have said: behold, my eye has seen the things that can be seen, and my ear has heard the things that can be heard, and both the eye and the ear have come to understand, each of them, that all this happened by the word of Hashem.
Malbim
‘Lo, my eye has seen all this’ — regarding all this you cannot say that man’s intellect fails to attain the truth because it attains only sense-perceptible things and not the true reality of things in themselves. For I attained all these things through my senses — both through the sense of sight, for my eye saw all of this, and you cannot say that my sense of sight deceived me, for my ear likewise heard it — until it became clear to me that other people too saw the sight just as I saw it, and it is impossible to say that the sense of sight of all mankind errs in one and the same way. And also, ‘and understood it’: so this is not imagination and error, but true apprehension. Nor can you say that you attain these things in some other way than I attained them, for your understanding differs from mine. For:
What you know, do I know also; I am not inferior to you.
verse value 1524
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "from·you" (מִכֶּֽם, 3 letters) and the longest is "like·your·knowledge" (כְּֽ֭דַעְתְּכֶם, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "like·your·knowledge" (כְּֽ֭דַעְתְּכֶם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·know" (root ידע, 73x in Job); "from·you" (root מן, 33x in Job); "also·I" (root אני, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'also·I', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כְּֽ֭דַעְתְּכֶם [like·your·knowledge] (554) + יָדַ֣עְתִּי [I·know] (494) + גַם־אָ֑נִי [also·I] (104) + לֹֽא־נֹפֵ֖ל [not·falling] (191) + אָנֹכִ֣י [I] (81) + מִכֶּֽם [from·you] (100) = 1524.
Ralbag
'I am not inferior to you' — meaning: I lack nothing compared to you.
Metzudat David
"What you know" — to the same measure as your knowledge, I too know; I am not less than you, nor inferior to you, in knowledge. So why do you recount to me the wonders of Hashem?
Metzudat Zion
'not inferior' — not lesser or worse.
Malbim
‘What you know, do I know also’ — our understanding is equal in quality, and we all know and apprehend in the same way. Nor can you say that at any rate your understanding is greater and higher than mine in quantity, and that your grasp exceeds mine — for ‘I am not inferior to you.’
Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
verse value 976
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "I" (אֲ֭נִי, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·Almighty" (אֶל־שַׁדַּ֣י, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "to·the·Almighty" (אֶל־שַׁדַּ֣י), "I·desire" (אֶחְפָּֽץ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אל, 86x in Job); "I·would·speak" (root דבר, 58x in Job); "to·the·Almighty" (root שדי, 31x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·would·speak', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. 6 of the verse's 7 words begin with the letter א. Full calculation: אוּלָ֗ם [notwithstanding] (77) + אֲ֭נִי [I] (61) + אֶל־שַׁדַּ֣י [to·the·Almighty] (345) + אֲדַבֵּ֑ר [I·would·speak] (207) + וְהוֹכֵ֖חַ [and·to·reason] (45) + אֶל־אֵ֣ל [God] (62) + אֶחְפָּֽץ [I·desire] (179) = 976.
Rashi
But I would speak I wish only to speak to Him and I wish to debate with Him.
Metzudat David
"I would speak to the Almighty" — I no longer wish to argue with you; rather, I would speak to the Almighty, and it is with Him that I wish to reason.
Malbim
(Verses 3–4) ‘Notwithstanding’ — the difference between me and you, in that your view does not agree with mine, is not on the side of apprehension itself or of the one who apprehends; it comes only from the goal and the means that each of us has set for himself as the aim of our argument. And the two statements run in parallel: ‘I would speak to the Almighty,’ but ‘you are forgers of lies’ — meaning: the goal and aim of what I say and argue is directed to the Almighty, to justify His conduct precisely insofar as He is the Almighty; and it is fitting that no injustice come forth from His conduct, for if we were to say that particular Providence over each individual comes from Him, that would contradict the laws of righteousness and justice that are proper to Him as the Almighty and Guide [of the world]. But you are forgers of lies, for you wish to justify His conduct with words of falsehood, not in accordance with truth. ‘And I desire to reason with God, but you are all physicians of no value’ — I argue in order to establish my view concerning His divinity: that by virtue of His divinity He must necessarily know all future things, yet nevertheless no change of knowledge, increase of knowledge, or new knowledge ever arises in Him — as he proved in chapter 10. But you have ascribed to Him an increase of knowledge, and change, and knowledge of particulars without end, while maintaining that, despite all this, the nature of free choice remains with man. You are ‘physicians of no value’ [elil] — meaning, in this you have not treated matters of divinity at all, but something that has no existence whatever; for it is impossible for a being to exist possessing attributes that contradict one another in their very essence and contradict its own existence — since anything that contradicts itself is impossible, and that is ‘elil’: something with no existence, that is naught, nothing, and non-being.
But you are plasterers of lies, You are all physicians of no value.
verse value 1715
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "you" (אַתֶּ֥ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "plasterers·of·lie" (טֹפְלֵי־שָׁ֑קֶר, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "plasterers·of·lie" (טֹפְלֵי־שָׁ֑קֶר), "physicians·of" (רֹפְאֵ֖י), "no·value" (אֱלִ֣ל). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·of·you" (root כל, 31x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'plasterers·of·lie', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְֽאוּלָ֗ם [and·but] (83) + אַתֶּ֥ם [you] (441) + טֹפְלֵי־שָׁ֑קֶר [plasterers·of·lie] (729) + רֹפְאֵ֖י [physicians·of] (291) + אֱלִ֣ל [no·value] (61) + כֻּלְּכֶֽם [all·of·you] (110) = 1715.
Rashi
combine lies Heb. טפלי שקר,combine false words of falsehood. all of you are quacks Heb. רפאי אלל. Every אֱלִיל in Scripture is an expression of אַל, nought. Our Sages, however, explained that this is the cervical ligament, which [if damaged] has no cure, and it is called אֱלָל.
Ralbag
'Of no value' — the word el ['nought'] within elil is derived from the word for 'not,' and its sense is 'the deficient one, the lacking one.'
Metzudat David
"But [you are plasterers of lies]" — but from you I have no benefit, for you stitch together words of falsehood, heaping upon me a great sin that is not true; and since this is so, you are all worthless physicians. Meaning: when you comfort me by saying that if I return to Hashem my end will be great, this is indeed empty, for there is no sin in me for which to repent.
Metzudat Zion
'plasterers' — a term for attaching and sticking something on, as in 'and You coat over my iniquity' (below, 14:17). 'of no value' — [from] al and lo, [both meaning] 'no' and 'not'; that is why idols are called elilim ('nothings') for this same reason.
Oh that you would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.
verse value 2611
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָכֶ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "you·would·be·silent" (תַּחֲרִישׁ֑וּן, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "you·would·be·silent" (תַּחֲרִישׁ֑וּן), "to·wisdom" (לְחׇכְמָֽה). The root חרש appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·would·be" (root היה, 50x in Job); "who?·he·gives" (root נתן, 33x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·would·be·silent', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: מִי־יִ֭תֵּן [who?·he·gives] (510) + הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ [to·be·silent] (513) + תַּחֲרִישׁ֑וּן [you·would·be·silent] (974) + וּתְהִ֖י [and·it·would·be] (421) + לָכֶ֣ם [to·you] (90) + לְחׇכְמָֽה [to·wisdom] (103) = 2611.
Metzudat David
"And it would be your wisdom" — for through your words you appear foolish; so be silent, and perhaps someone will think you wise.
Malbim
‘Oh that you would altogether hold your peace’ — since all your response amounts to saying that man’s intellect cannot attain these matters, it would be well for you to keep silent in this — after the manner of ‘even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise’ (Proverbs 17:28). And this would be counted for you as wisdom. For one who says, ‘I do not know,’ his wisdom lies in being silent, and not arguing.
Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
verse value 3138
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "my·lips" (שְׂפָתַ֣י, 4 letters) and the longest is "hear·now" (שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֥א, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "hear·now" (שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֥א), "my·reasoning" (תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י), "and·pleadings·of" (וְרִב֖וֹת). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "hear·now" (root שמע, 42x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·reasoning', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֥א [hear·now] (467) + תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י [my·reasoning] (844) + וְרִב֖וֹת [and·pleadings·of] (614) + שְׂפָתַ֣י [my·lips] (790) + הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ [hearken] (423) = 3138.
Rashi
the contentions The proofs.
Metzudat David
"Hear" — understand now the argument of my words. "And the pleadings" — this refers to the argument; the matter is repeated in other words.
Malbim
‘Hear’ — he begins to argue with them for having come out to contend with him and to condemn him with empty arguments, as though they had come to flatter Hashem and to speak deceitfully on His behalf. And so he says, ‘hear now my reasoning’ — which is the substance of the argument itself. And also, ‘hearken to the pleadings of my lips’ — that is, what I will argue with you concerning my honor, which you have profaned.
Will you speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?
verse value 1698
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 25 letters. The shortest word is "and·for·Him" (וְ֝ל֗וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "will·you·speak" (תְּדַבְּר֣וּ, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 612: will·you·speak, will·you·speak. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·for·Him" (וְ֝ל֗וֹ). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·God" (root אל, 86x in Job); "will·you·speak" (root דבר, 58x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'unrighteousness', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הַ֭לְאֵל [for·God] (66) + תְּדַבְּר֣וּ [will·you·speak] (612) + עַוְלָ֑ה [unrighteousness] (111) + וְ֝ל֗וֹ [and·for·Him] (42) + תְּֽדַבְּר֥וּ [will·you·speak] (612) + רְמִיָּֽה [deceit] (255) = 1698.
Rashi
Will you speak unjustly for God Since you come to contend in the place of God, it is not good that you should speak unjustly. and will you speak deceitfully for Him? Heb. ולו [usually “to him”]. For His sake will you speak deceitfully? As in (below 33:6), “Behold I am like your mouth for God (לאל),” and like (Deut. 9:28), “to the land that He spoke for them (להם),” for their benefit, and like (Exod. 14:14), “will fight for you (לכם)”; (Jud. 6:31), “Will you contend for the Baal (לבעל)?” (I find it difficult to compare these instances to here [this verse]. Rather, this is analogous to [Num. 17: 5], “through Moses concerning him [לו],” concerning Korah.)
Ralbag
'For God' — meaning: is it for the sake of God? 'And talk deceitfully for Him' — meaning: and is it on His behalf that you speak deceit?
Metzudat David
"[Will you speak unrighteously] for God" — is it in order to vindicate God that you speak injustice, pinning upon me a great sin? "[And talk deceitfully] for Him" — and is it for His sake that you speak deceit? This is said in astonishment: is such a thing fitting?
Malbim
‘Will you speak unrighteously for God’ — this is directed at the position of Eliphaz and Bildad, who both attributed injustice to God: that He punishes heavily for a light sin, in Eliphaz’s view; or that harm comes to a person so that, in exchange, good will afterward be given him, in Bildad’s view — for this too is unrighteousness, since there may be a person who would not want such a trade. ‘And talk deceitfully for Him’ — this is directed at the position of Zophar: that Hashem punishes the righteous man because he is wicked as regards his soul and his inner essence, even though he himself knows that he is righteous; and that He punishes him for a wickedness that Hashem already knew he would commit and that he is compelled to commit — for this is deceit.
Will you show Him favor? Will you contend for God?
verse value 1678
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 21 letters. The shortest word is "His·face" (הֲפָנָ֥יו, 5 letters) and the longest is "will·you·contend" (תְּרִיבֽוּן, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "His·face" (הֲפָנָ֥יו), "God" (אִם־לָאֵ֥ל), "will·you·contend" (תְּרִיבֽוּן). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "God" (root אל, 86x in Job); "His·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job); "will·you·lift" (root נשא, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'will·you·lift', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 2 words. Full calculation: הֲפָנָ֥יו [His·face] (151) + תִּשָּׂא֑וּן [will·you·lift] (757) + אִם־לָאֵ֥ל [God] (102) + תְּרִיבֽוּן [will·you·contend] (668) = 1678.
Rashi
Will you show Him favor? Have you come to flatter Him by being partial to Him? for God will you debate deceitfully?
Ibn Ezra
'Will you contend for God' — that is, 'on His behalf'; like 'and Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel' (Exodus 14:3) [where the preposition means 'concerning,' not 'to'].
Metzudat David
"Will you show Him favor" — will you show Him partiality, flattering Him, when you contend on His behalf? And is this truly His will?
Malbim
‘Will you show Him favor’ — sometimes people flatter a great man to his face and justify his conduct contrary to what is proper, out of favoritism; and sometimes they contend on behalf of his honor when they hear him disgraced, and for this reason they speak unrighteousness or deceit. But none of this applies to Hashem, for He does not desire flattering speech or a deceitful tongue.
Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocks a man, will you mock Him?
verse value 2535
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 32 letters. Verse gematria: 2535 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "in·Him" (בֽוֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·He·should·search" (כִּֽי־יַחְקֹ֣ר, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "that·He·should·search" (כִּֽי־יַחְקֹ֣ר), "or·as·to·mock" (אִם־כְּהָתֵ֥ל), "will·you·mock" (תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּ). The root תלל appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: הֲ֭טוֹב [is·good] (22) + כִּֽי־יַחְקֹ֣ר [that·He·should·search] (348) + אֶתְכֶ֑ם [you] (461) + אִם־כְּהָתֵ֥ל [or·as·to·mock] (496) + בֶּ֝אֱנ֗וֹשׁ [in·man] (359) + תְּהָתֵ֥לּוּ [will·you·mock] (841) + בֽוֹ [in·Him] (8) = 2535.
Rashi
Will it be good when He searches you out and you are found to be liars? Will you mock him as one mocks a mortal by saying, “We made liars of ourselves for Your honor”?
Metzudat David
"Would it be good" — would it be good for you when He examines you in judgment concerning these matters? And will you mock Him, saying before Him mocking words such as, "It was for Your honor that we said all this" — the way one man mocks another?
Metzudat Zion
'as one mocks' — a term for derision, as in 'you have mocked me' (Judges 16:10).
Malbim
‘Would it be good’ — after all, you yourselves know that there is nothing substantive in your words, and that you are merely flattering Hashem, seeking to justify Him with words of falsehood — a thing Hashem hates, for He desires that a person speak truth in his mouth and in his heart. If so, would it be good in your eyes should Hashem wish ‘to search you out,’ to test what is in your heart? ‘Or as one mocks a man, will you mock Him’ — that is, will He wish to know whether the answers you gave to justify Hashem’s judgments were spoken in good faith and with a whole heart, or whether it was mere flattery, and you mocked Him the way one mocks a man by speaking falsehoods to his face, one thing with the mouth and another with the heart? And Hashem will search you out and test the matter. With what?
He will surely reprove you, If you do secretly show favor.
verse value 2194
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "reprove" (הוֹכֵ֣חַ, 4 letters) and the longest is "if·in·the·secret·place" (אִם־בַּ֝סֵּ֗תֶר, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "he·will·reprove" (יוֹכִ֣יחַ), "if·in·the·secret·place" (אִם־בַּ֝סֵּ֗תֶר). The root יכח appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "face" (root פנים, 68x in Job); "you·shall·lift" (root נשא, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הוֹכֵ֣חַ [reprove] (39) + יוֹכִ֣יחַ [he·will·reprove] (54) + אֶתְכֶ֑ם [you] (461) + אִם־בַּ֝סֵּ֗תֶר [if·in·the·secret·place] (703) + פָּנִ֥ים [face] (180) + תִּשָּׂאֽוּן [you·shall·lift] (757) = 2194.
Rashi
He will surely reprove you Will He not let you know your speech? When you stand before Him in judgment, will you secretly show Him partiality, saying there. “We showed You partiality”?
Metzudat David
"He will surely reprove" — know that He will reprove you, if you flatter Him by showing Him favor in secret, in the depths of the heart; for He knows the hidden things of the heart, that you speak with willful intent, and these are no mere unwitting error.
Malbim
‘He will surely reprove you’ — He will rebuke you through suffering, to see whether ‘you do secretly show favor’ — that is, whether, at the time you are chastised with suffering and pain, you will, in the secrecy of your hearts, bear up for Him, to justify Hashem’s judgments and rulings. But will you not then, in truth, complain against His judgments? And then it will become clear that everything you urged in God’s defense was mere mocking talk, and that your heart does not match your hand [you are not sincere] — for everything you said in justifying God was only out of fear and dread of Him. For:
Shall not His majesty terrify you, And His dread fall upon you?
verse value 2470
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 28 letters. Notable word values: "shall·not" (הֲלֹ֣א) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 2470 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "shall·not" (הֲלֹ֣א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·His·dread" (וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "His·majesty" (שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ), "shall·terrify" (תְּבַעֵ֣ת), "and·His·dread" (וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "shall·not" (root לא, 142x in Job); "upon·you" (root על, 90x in Job). First appearance of the root שאת ("His·majesty") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: הֲלֹ֣א [shall·not] (36) + שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ [His·majesty] (707) + תְּבַעֵ֣ת [shall·terrify] (872) + אֶתְכֶ֑ם [you] (461) + וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ [and·His·dread] (104) + יִפֹּ֥ל [shall·fall] (120) + עֲלֵיכֶֽם [upon·you] (170) = 2470.
Rashi
Will not His majesty Heb. שאתו. [Will not] His exaltation and His awesomeness terrify you? Others define שְׂאֵתוֹ as “His burning fire.” like (II Sam. 5:21), “and David and his men burned them (וישאם),” and like (Jud. 20:38), “a great pillar of (משאת) smoke.”
Ibn Ezra
'His majesty' [se'eto] — His fire, like 'and the beacon fire had begun to rise' (Judges 20:40); or in the sense of 'be exalted above the heavens' (Psalms 57:6).
Ralbag
'His majesty' — meaning: His loftiness and exaltedness.
Metzudat David
"Shall not His majesty" — the burning flame that will terrify you. "And His dread, etc." — and how will you be able to justify yourselves in judgment?
Metzudat Zion
'His majesty' — the blaze of His fire [i.e., its rising flame], as in 'the earth heaved before Him' (Nahum 1:5). 'terrify' — from the term for terror and dread.
Malbim
(11-12) 'Shall not His majesty terrify you' — [Job says] that you spoke deceitfully out of fear of Him alone, not because you were genuinely convinced of it in your hearts. And the two halves of these verses are parallel: 'shall not His majesty terrify you' corresponds to 'your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,' and 'and His dread fall upon you' corresponds to 'your bulwarks are bulwarks of clay' — meaning, that you spoke deceitfully either out of fear of His loftiness and majesty, or out of fear and dread of His punishment. That is: His majesty and greatness terrified you, in that you consider your own worth lowly against His greatness, so that your memorable sayings are, in your own eyes, comparable to ashes before Him — as in the phrase, 'Behold now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to Hashem, though I am but dust and ashes' (Genesis 18:27) — it was on this account that His majesty terrified you. Or, that you feared the fear of punishment, since He is able to level your bulwarks to the level of clay. He pictures man as created from clay, resembling a ridge or elevation rising out of that clay; and when the ridge is taken away, it is leveled flat with the rest of the clay beside it. So too He could reduce your body, which is dust from the earth, to be leveled with the earth beside it, so that no trace of it would remain recognizable at all. And it was on this account that you were afraid, and flattered Him by speaking deceptions.
Your memorials shall be like to ashes, Your eminences to eminences of clay.
verse value 1376
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 26 letters. Verse gematria: 1376 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "your·eminences" (גַּבֵּיכֶֽם, 5 letters) and the longest is "your·memorials" (זִֽ֭כְרֹנֵיכֶם, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "your·memorials" (זִֽ֭כְרֹנֵיכֶם), "proverbs·of·ashes" (מִשְׁלֵי־אֵ֑פֶר), "to·eminences·of·clay" (לְגַבֵּי־חֹ֝֗מֶר). The root גב appears 2 times in this verse. 3 unique roots are used. First appearance of the root משל ("proverbs·of·ashes") in Job. First appearance of the root גב ("to·eminences·of·clay") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'proverbs·of·ashes', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 2 words. Full calculation: זִֽ֭כְרֹנֵיכֶם [your·memorials] (347) + מִשְׁלֵי־אֵ֑פֶר [proverbs·of·ashes] (661) + לְגַבֵּי־חֹ֝֗מֶר [to·eminences·of·clay] (293) + גַּבֵּיכֶֽם [your·eminences] (75) = 1376.
Rashi
your memorials are compared to ashes Your memorials are compared to ashes. You expect to be compared to Abraham, who said (Genesis 18:27), “I am only dust and ashes.” are like eminences of clay Your eminences ore equal to eminences of clay, compared to Him. The word גביכם means, your height, like (Ezek. 16:24), “and you built for yourself a platform (גב).”
Ibn Ezra
'Your memorials shall be like to ashes' — remember that you yourselves are comparable to ashes.
Metzudat David
"Your memorials" — meaning: are you not all mere mortal men? Your memorials are comparable to a memorial of ashes, and your bodies are like a body of clay. Why then did you not fear the dread of judgment?
Metzudat Zion
'to eminences of' — a term for a surface, as in 'plowers plowed upon my back' (Psalms 129:3).
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, And let come on me what will.
verse value 1391
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Verse gematria: 1391 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "what" (מָֽה, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·speak" (וַאֲדַבְּרָה־אָ֑נִי, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "hold·your·peace" (הַחֲרִ֣ישׁוּ), "and·I·will·speak" (וַאֲדַבְּרָה־אָ֑נִי), "and·let·it·pass" (וְיַעֲבֹ֖ר). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·me" (root על, 90x in Job); "and·I·will·speak" (root דבר, 58x in Job); "from·me" (root מן, 33x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·I·will·speak', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הַחֲרִ֣ישׁוּ [hold·your·peace] (529) + מִ֭מֶּנִּי [from·me] (140) + וַאֲדַבְּרָה־אָ֑נִי [and·I·will·speak] (279) + וְיַעֲבֹ֖ר [and·let·it·pass] (288) + עָלַ֣י [upon·me] (110) + מָֽה [what] (45) = 1391.
Rashi
and let come upon me what may Whatever comes upon me because of the sin of my outcry, let it come upon me and do not care. For what reason must I bring up and hold...
Metzudat David
"Hold your peace" — so be silent from now on, and do not speak against me, pinning upon me a great sin, so that I may speak my words; and let come upon me whatever evils may come, whether much or little. Meaning: I will not refrain from speaking out of fear of punishment.
Malbim
'Hold your peace' — that is to say: since everything you said to justify God was only out of fear and dread, and not out of regard for truth, then who compelled you to speak? You would already have discharged your duty had you simply kept silent. Since in your hearts you know that the truth is with me, and you were only afraid to say so in words like mine, you ought to have held your peace before me and let me speak, come what may upon me — for I am no longer afraid of anything at all. For—
Why? I will take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand.
verse value 2230
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "I·will·take" (אֶשָּׂ֣א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·my·life" (וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "in·my·teeth" (בְשִׁנָּ֑י), "and·my·life" (וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·will·put" (root שים, 38x in Job); "and·my·life" (root נפש, 35x in Job); "I·will·take" (root נשא, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·my·teeth', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: עַל־מָ֤ה [upon·what] (145) + אֶשָּׂ֣א [I·will·take] (302) + בְשָׂרִ֣י [my·flesh] (512) + בְשִׁנָּ֑י [in·my·teeth] (362) + וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י [and·my·life] (446) + אָשִׂ֥ים [I·will·put] (351) + בְּכַפִּֽי [in·my·hand] (112) = 2230.
Rashi
my flesh up into my teeth to afflict myself and force myself to silence? and take my life into my hand to bring my life close to death with the agonies of silence.
Ralbag
[Apparently on 'your defenses are defenses of clay,' 13:12] 'Bulwarks of clay' — your bodies are compared to bodies of clay. [Apparently on 'and let come on me what may,' 13:13] — meaning: let whatever evil befalls me come to pass, whether little or much.
Metzudat David
"Why" — for what reason, meaning: what sin is it, for the sake of which I should carry all my flesh in my teeth? For all my flesh has been afflicted and ruined, and nothing remains of it except the flesh clinging to my teeth, as it says below, "I escape with the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20). "And put my life" — and why is my life so light, so ready to part from me, as though it lay in the palm of my hand, from which, the instant the hand opens, it falls?
Malbim
'Why? I will take my flesh in my teeth' — meaning, I bite my own flesh with my teeth from the sheer intensity of the pain, so that my mouth stays shut and does not cry out — the way a person in pain, wanting to force himself to keep silent, bites down on his own finger with his teeth. 'Since, even so, I put my life in my hand' — since even so I am in danger every moment, even while I stay silent — and so it is better that I speak.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; But I will argue my ways before Him.
verse value 857
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 33 letters. Notable word values: "in·Him" (ל֣וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "though" (הֵ֣ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "He·slays·me" (יִ֭קְטְלֵנִי, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "He·slays·me" (יִ֭קְטְלֵנִי), "but·my·ways" (אַךְ־דְּ֝רָכַ֗י), "to·His·face" (אֶל־פָּנָ֥יו). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·His·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job); "but·my·ways" (root דרך, 35x in Job); "though" (root הן, 23x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·will·trust', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words.
Rashi
Behold, let Him kill me I will not separate from Him, and I will always hope for Him. Therefore, there is no rebellion or transgression in my words, but I will reason to His face about my way and my character traits ... with which I have conducted myself, to know of what He will find me guilty.
Metzudat David
"Though He slay me" — meaning: do not think that my outcry shows that, because I believe my hope is lost, my fear of Hashem has therefore departed from me. It is not so; for even if He slays me, I will still hope in Him, to delight my soul with spiritual pleasure. Why then would fear depart from me? And all my words are not meant to rail against Him; rather, my wish is to clarify my ways before Him, to weigh them out.
Metzudat Zion
'before Him' — in His presence.
Malbim
'Though' — that is to say: shall I fear that He will kill me when I speak against Him? Why, 'to Him I hope' — that is indeed my longing, that He hasten to put me to death, so that I may be freed from suffering harsher than death. 'But I will argue my ways before Him' — and I will make it clear to Him that I am in the right in my case — or else the opposite will be shown.
This also shall be my salvation, That a hypocrite cannot come before Him.
verse value 910
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Verse gematria: 910 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "hypocrite" (חָנֵ֥ף, 3 letters) and the longest is "also·this·to·me" (גַּם־הוּא־לִ֥י, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "also·this·to·me" (גַּם־הוּא־לִ֥י), "to·salvation" (לִישׁוּעָ֑ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·not" (root כי, 75x in Job); "to·His·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job); "shall·come" (root בוא, 51x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·salvation', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 4 words. Full calculation: גַּם־הוּא־לִ֥י [also·this·to·me] (95) + לִישׁוּעָ֑ה [to·salvation] (421) + כִּי־לֹ֥א [that·not] (61) + לְ֝פָנָ֗יו [to·His·face] (176) + חָנֵ֥ף [hypocrite] (138) + יָבֽוֹא [shall·come] (19) = 910.
Rashi
He is also Just as I am wholehearted with Him, so is He also my salvation, but you will not find favor in His eyes. because a hypocrite cannot come before Him This is what was said to them (below 42:7): “because you did not speak to Me properly.”
Metzudat David
"This also" — indeed I know that, beyond my merits, which are many and will speak in my favor, this too shall be my salvation: the honesty of my words. For my desire is for truth, not to flatter Him by saying before Him, "Indeed You are righteous, for truly I have sinned," when this is not so — for a flatterer cannot come before Him, since he is hateful to Him.
Malbim
'This also shall be my salvation' — for it must be that, through my making the truth plain before Him, this itself will be my salvation, and He will not punish me on account of it. For Hashem does not want to be flattered with words of falsehood, since 'a hypocrite cannot come before Him'; nor does He want me to stay silent and fail to state the truth and what is just.
Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.
verse value 1873
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 25 letters. The shortest word is "hear" (שִׁמְע֣וּ, 4 letters) and the longest is "in·your·ears" (בְּאׇזְנֵיכֶֽם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 416: hear, hear. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·my·declaration" (וְ֝אַחֲוָתִ֗י), "in·your·ears" (בְּאׇזְנֵיכֶֽם). The root שמע appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "hear" (root שמע, 42x in Job); "my·speech" (root מלה, 34x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·speech', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: שִׁמְע֣וּ [hear] (416) + שָׁ֭מוֹעַ [hear] (416) + מִלָּתִ֑י [my·speech] (480) + וְ֝אַחֲוָתִ֗י [and·my·declaration] (431) + בְּאׇזְנֵיכֶֽם [in·your·ears] (130) = 1873.
Ibn Ezra
'And let my declaration' — the alef stands in place of a heh; it is from 'I also will declare my opinion' (Job 32:17).
Ralbag
'My declaration' — meaning: what I have told, declared.
Metzudat David
"Hear" — understand my words, and let them enter your ears.
Metzudat Zion
'and my declaration' — my utterance, as in 'proclaims knowledge' (Psalms 19:3).
Malbim
'Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears' — that is, you should hear the substance of my proofs and arguments, and also the very words with which I have arranged my case.
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
verse value 2020
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "cause" (מִשְׁפָּ֑ט, 4 letters) and the longest is "behold·now" (הִנֵּה־נָ֭א, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "I·have·ordered" (עָרַ֣כְתִּי), "that·I" (כִּי־אֲנִ֥י), "shall·be·justified" (אֶצְדָּֽק). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·know" (root ידע, 73x in Job); "that·I" (root אני, 28x in Job); "cause" (root משפט, 23x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'cause', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הִנֵּה־נָ֭א [behold·now] (111) + עָרַ֣כְתִּי [I·have·ordered] (700) + מִשְׁפָּ֑ט [cause] (429) + יָ֝דַ֗עְתִּי [I·know] (494) + כִּי־אֲנִ֥י [that·I] (91) + אֶצְדָּֽק [shall·be·justified] (195) = 2020.
Rashi
I have set up judgement [I have prepared] my case. I have arranged my arguments in my heart viz. what to answer.
Metzudat David
"I have ordered my cause" — I have arranged my words to plead my case in judgment, and I know that through them I will be vindicated.
Malbim
'Behold' — that is, for me to stay silent and not argue my case to demonstrate my righteousness is conceivable only in one of two ways: (1) If I had not yet arranged and prepared my argument, and found it difficult to marshal the proofs and claims; (2) Or, even if my arguments were arranged, one could imagine I would stay silent if I were in doubt whether I would come out vindicated in my judgment. But since I have already prepared my case, and all the words of my argument are already arranged and organized within me, and I also know that I will be found right, having no doubt at all that I will surely come out vindicated in my judgment — therefore—
Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.
verse value 1518
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. Notable word values: "and·I·would·die" (וְאֶגְוָֽע) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "he·will·contend" (יָרִ֣יב, 4 letters) and the longest is "who?·he" (מִי־ה֭וּא, 5 letters). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "who?·he" (root הוא, 48x in Job); "with·me" (root עמד, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: מִי־ה֭וּא [who?·he] (62) + יָרִ֣יב [he·will·contend] (222) + עִמָּדִ֑י [with·me] (124) + כִּֽי־עַתָּ֖ה [for·now] (505) + אַחֲרִ֣ישׁ [I·would·hold·my·peace] (519) + וְאֶגְוָֽע [and·I·would·die] (86) = 1518.
Rashi
I will be silent and perish If I will not contend, I will be silent and perish.
Ralbag
'For then would I hold my peace and die' — the sense is: if I were silent, I would perish from the intensity of the pain; yet I find relief in recounting the matters of my suffering.
Metzudat David
"Who is he that will contend" — meaning, who is it whose heart is bold enough to approach and contend with me, to silence me without valid arguments? "For then" — if I were to fall silent now because of the false arguments spoken by my companions, would I not die and expire from the pain of being kept from speaking?
Malbim
'Who is he that will contend with me' — [that would] tell me that now, even though I would come out righteous in my judgment, I should hold my peace and not put forward my words of argument, but instead perish like one who dies guilty and wicked in his judgment?
Only do not two things to me, Then will I not hide myself from You:
verse value 2596
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "then" (אָ֥ז, 2 letters) and the longest is "only·two" (אַךְ־שְׁ֭תַּיִם, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "only·two" (אַךְ־שְׁ֭תַּיִם), "do·not·do" (אַל־תַּ֣עַשׂ), "from·Your·face" (מִ֝פָּנֶ֗יךָ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 142x in Job); "from·Your·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job); "do·not·do" (root עשה, 36x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: אַךְ־שְׁ֭תַּיִם [only·two] (771) + אַל־תַּ֣עַשׂ [do·not·do] (801) + עִמָּדִ֑י [with·me] (124) + אָ֥ז [then] (8) + מִ֝פָּנֶ֗יךָ [from·Your·face] (200) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + אֶסָּתֵֽר [I·will·hide·myself] (661) = 2596.
Rashi
But do not do two things to me viz. Heavenly judgment and earthly judgment. If You come to judgment with one [of these], I will not hide from before You. If with Heavenly judgment, I will say, “I have sinned.” [because] (Prov. 28:13), “He who conceals his sins will not succeed.” If with earthly judgment, even I will not confess to concealing sin. I did not hear this (absent in some editions).
Metzudat David
"Only two things" — he turns his face toward Hashem, and says: only, do not do to me these two things, which are stated below, and then I will not hide myself from You, for I will find an answer with which to argue.
Malbim
(1) 'Only' — since I am approaching to debate with You, I ask that then, at the time of the debate, I not hide from before You, but stand before You face to face to debate with You, as one man debates with his fellow. At that time, 'do not do two things to me.' And these are:
Withdraw Your hand far from me; And let not Your terror make me afraid.
verse value 2013
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 24 letters. The shortest word is "Your·hand" (כַּ֭פְּךָ, 3 letters) and the longest is "do·not·terrify·me" (אַֽל־תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "withdraw" (הַרְחַ֑ק), "and·Your·terror" (וְ֝אֵ֥מָתְךָ֗). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·me" (root על, 90x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'withdraw', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: כַּ֭פְּךָ [Your·hand] (120) + מֵעָלַ֣י [from·me] (150) + הַרְחַ֑ק [withdraw] (313) + וְ֝אֵ֥מָתְךָ֗ [and·Your·terror] (467) + אַֽל־תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי [do·not·terrify·me] (963) = 2013.
Rashi
Distance Your compulsion from upon me Heb. כפי, Your compulsion, as Elihu answered him (below 33:7), “and my compulsion (ואכפי) shall not weigh heavily upon you.” Some interpret כפך as “your hand.” However, it is difficult for me to say that, because we do not find כַּף in the sense of evil, but [meaning] to protect, as in (Exod. 33:22), “And I will cover you with My hand (כפי).”
Ibn Ezra
'Withdraw Your hand' — Your blow; for the blow a person characteristically deals is with the palm of the hand [kaf]. Likewise: 'behold, the hand of Hashem is upon [your cattle]' (Exodus 9:3).
Ralbag
'Your hand' — meaning: Your stroke, Your blow.
Metzudat David
"Your hand" — the first is that, during the time of the argument, You should keep the blow of Your hand far from me, so that it does not distract me; and the second is that, at that time, Your terror should not frighten me, lest my arguments be stopped up.
Malbim
'Withdraw Your hand far from me' — that during the debate, the blows You strike me with Your hand should cease. 'And let not Your terror make me afraid' — that I not then be overwhelmed by dread of Your greatness and majesty. For through these two things my arguments would be stopped up — either from fear of Your majesty, or from fear of the blows.
Then call You, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer You me.
verse value 1117
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "and·call" (וּ֭קְרָא, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·answer·me" (וַהֲשִׁיבֵֽנִי, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·call" (וּ֭קְרָא), "or·let·me·speak" (אֽוֹ־אֲ֝דַבֵּ֗ר), "and·answer·me" (וַהֲשִׁיבֵֽנִי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·will·answer" (root ענה, 60x in Job); "or·let·me·speak" (root דבר, 58x in Job); "and·answer·me" (root שוב, 39x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·will·answer', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: וּ֭קְרָא [and·call] (307) + וְאָנֹכִ֣י [and·I] (87) + אֶעֱנֶ֑ה [I·will·answer] (126) + אֽוֹ־אֲ֝דַבֵּ֗ר [or·let·me·speak] (214) + וַהֲשִׁיבֵֽנִי [and·answer·me] (383) = 1117.
Metzudat David
'Then call' — either You call out to ask what my transgression is, and I will answer You; or I will speak of the uprightness of my ways, and You will answer me.
Malbim
'Then call You' — then You will call out and reckon up my iniquities, and I will answer You, acknowledging them. Or, if You do not wish to call, then at least let me speak, and You answer me. That is what is meant by 'call You.'
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
verse value 2110
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִ֭י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·sins" (וְחַטָּא֑וֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·sins" (וְחַטָּא֑וֹת), "and·my·sin" (וְ֝חַטָּאתִ֗י), "make·me·know" (הֹדִיעֵֽנִי). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "make·me·know" (root ידע, 73x in Job); "how·many" (root מה, 23x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·sins', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: כַּמָּ֣ה [how·many] (65) + לִ֭י [to·me] (40) + עֲוֺנ֣וֹת [iniquities] (532) + וְחַטָּא֑וֹת [and·sins] (430) + פִּֽשְׁעִ֥י [my·transgression] (460) + וְ֝חַטָּאתִ֗י [and·my·sin] (434) + הֹדִיעֵֽנִי [make·me·know] (149) = 2110.
Metzudat David
'How many' — how many in number are the iniquities and sins You reckon against me? Let me know how many they are, and also make known to me what my transgression and my sin are — for I myself know nothing; there is no transgression or sin in my hand.
Malbim
'How many are my iniquities and sins' — that You make known to me the number of my iniquities and their extent; or, at the very least, make known to me my transgression and my sin. If You will not make known to me their extent and number, then make known to me their nature. For I say that not only have I not committed many sins that would fall under the category of number — I have not sinned at all.
Why do You hide Your face, And hold me for Your enemy?
verse value 2180
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "to·You" (לָֽךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "why·Your·face" (לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "why·Your·face" (לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ), "You·hide" (תַסְתִּ֑יר), "and·You·hold·me" (וְתַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "why·Your·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job). First appearance of the root איב ("for·enemy") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'You·hide', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: לָֽמָּה־פָנֶ֥יךָ [why·Your·face] (235) + תַסְתִּ֑יר [You·hide] (1070) + וְתַחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי [and·You·hold·me] (776) + לְאוֹיֵ֣ב [for·enemy] (49) + לָֽךְ [to·You] (50) = 2180.
Rashi
Why do You hide Your face from seeing the ways of my uprightness?
Metzudat David
'Why do You hide Your face' — he draws the image from the way of a man who orders someone to be punished and hides his own face so as not to see him, lest his compassion be stirred for him. 'And hold me' — You regard me as an enemy and a rebel against You, so much so that You take great pains to bring evils upon me.
Malbim
'Why' — yet You do the opposite: not only do You refuse to stand against me and debate with me, for 'You hide Your face' and do not wish to debate and make known to me my sin, but even so, You 'hold me for Your enemy.'
Will You harass a driven leaf? And will You pursue the dry stubble?
verse value 2813
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 24 letters. The shortest word is "driven" (נִדָּ֣ף, 3 letters) and the longest is "You·harass" (תַּעֲר֑וֹץ, 5 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "will·leaf" (הֶעָלֶ֣ה), "driven" (נִדָּ֣ף), "You·harass" (תַּעֲר֑וֹץ). 6 unique roots are used. First appearance of the root קש ("and·stubble") in Job. First appearance of the root רדף ("You·pursue") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'You·harass', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הֶעָלֶ֣ה [will·leaf] (110) + נִדָּ֣ף [driven] (134) + תַּעֲר֑וֹץ [You·harass] (766) + וְאֶת־קַ֖שׁ [and·stubble] (807) + יָבֵ֣שׁ [dry] (312) + תִּרְדֹּֽף [You·pursue] (684) = 2813.
Rashi
Will You frighten Heb. תערוץ, will You scare?
Ibn Ezra
'Will You harass' — that is, will You terrify; or, will You overpower it; and the first is correct.
Ralbag
'Will You harass' — meaning: will You shatter, break.
Metzudat David
'A driven leaf' — will You terrify a driven leaf, and will You pursue dry stubble? Is this Your honor? Am I not like one of them?
Metzudat Zion
'a leaf' — the leaf of a tree. 'driven' — driven about, as in 'like driven stubble' (Isaiah 41:2). 'harass' — [literally] will You break, as in 'to overawe the earth' (Isaiah 2:19). 'stubble' — fine straw.
Malbim
(25-26) 'A leaf' — the two halves of these verses are parallel. 'Will You harass a driven leaf, for You write bitter things against me' — a leaf was specially used for writing in ancient times, and good things were written on whole, unbroken leaves. But You regard me as a driven leaf, unfit to have good things written upon it, and so You write bitter things against me — referring to the sufferings and blows recorded upon his body, like writing upon a document, as it is said below, 'Behold, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me' (Job 31:35). 'And will You pursue the dry stubble, for You make me inherit the iniquities of my youth' — for while the stalk is still fresh and full of grain, people chase after it to thresh it, to bring the grain out of the ear upon it; but no one chases after the dry stalk. And he is arguing, in effect, that You pursue the dry stalk because You remember for it the days of its youth, when it was full of grain. So too, even though I am now worn with age and frailty, You pursue me, in that You make me inherit the iniquities of my youth — for then I was full of youthful vigor and strength, and it was then that I sinned before You.
That You should write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
verse value 3658
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "against·me" (עָלַ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·You·make·me·inherit" (וְ֝תוֹרִישֵׁ֗נִי, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "that·You·should·write" (כִּֽי־תִכְתֹּ֣ב), "bitter·things" (מְרֹר֑וֹת), "and·You·make·me·inherit" (וְ֝תוֹרִישֵׁ֗נִי). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "against·me" (root על, 90x in Job). First appearance of the root כתב ("that·You·should·write") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'bitter·things', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּֽי־תִכְתֹּ֣ב [that·You·should·write] (852) + עָלַ֣י [against·me] (110) + מְרֹר֑וֹת [bitter·things] (846) + וְ֝תוֹרִישֵׁ֗נִי [and·You·make·me·inherit] (982) + עֲוֺנ֥וֹת [iniquities·of] (532) + נְעוּרָֽי [my·youth] (336) = 3658.
Rashi
disobediences Heb. מררות. The cases of obstinacy in which I obeyed Your orders, You write [down] but not the good deeds that I performed.
Ibn Ezra
'Bitter things' — from the root meaning 'bitterness.'
Ralbag
'That You should write bitter things against me' — meaning: You decree harsh and bitter decrees against me.
Metzudat David
'That You should write' — every act of defiance and rebellion found in me, You write down against me in Your book, so that it not be forgotten; and even the iniquities I committed in my youth, before my understanding was complete, You make me inherit, to make me bear the penalty for them as well — the way a person is exacting with one who resembles him.
Metzudat Zion
'bitter things' — from the term for bitterness and rebelliousness. 'and make me inherit' — from the term for inheritance.
You put my feet also in the stocks, And look narrowly to all my paths; You draw Yourself a line about the soles of my feet;
verse value 4748
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "in·the·stocks" (בַּסַּ֨ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·my·paths" (כׇּל־אׇרְחוֹתָ֑י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 243: my·feet, my·feet. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·You·put" (וְתָ֘שֵׂ֤ם), "and·You·watch" (וְתִשְׁמ֥וֹר), "all·my·paths" (כׇּל־אׇרְחוֹתָ֑י). The root רגל appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·my·paths', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְתָ֘שֵׂ֤ם [and·You·put] (746) + בַּסַּ֨ד [in·the·stocks] (66) + רַגְלַ֗י [my·feet] (243) + וְתִשְׁמ֥וֹר [and·You·watch] (952) + כׇּל־אׇרְחוֹתָ֑י [all·my·paths] (675) + עַל־שׇׁרְשֵׁ֥י [about·roots·of] (910) + רַ֝גְלַ֗י [my·feet] (243) + תִּתְחַקֶּֽה [You·mark·Yourself] (913) = 4748.
Rashi
in the stocks Heb. בסד. In Aramaic (Pesachim 28a), “The one who makes the stocks (סדנא) sits in his own stocks (בסדניה).” [This is] a large [block of] wood in which the prisoners’ feet are inserted, and in Greek it is astock(?). You engrave Heb. תתחקה. You Yourself engrave my footsteps. So did this one transgress (step—Ed. Furth]), and so he did. Like (Ezek. 43:14), “from the bottom (ומחיק) upon the ground”; [and] (verse 13), “the bottom (וחיק) shall be a cubit.” This is the foundation, affishe in Old French, to affix. (Isa. 49:16): “Behold on [My] hands have I engraved you (חקותיך).”
Ibn Ezra
'In the stocks' [ba-sad] — like 'and you shall coat them with plaster' (Deuteronomy 27:2) [a wordplay on sad/sid], so that all my paths are visible through it. And Rabbeinu Hai, of blessed memory, said that it means a fetter, in the language of our Sages. 'About the soles of my feet' — upon the very roots of my feet You have set a boundary and a limit; and this is an allusion concerning man [in general].
Ralbag
'In the stocks' — this is one of the implements of imprisonment, by which the feet of a prisoner are bound so that he cannot walk about; called tsippush in the vernacular [Old French, apparently related to 'cep,' meaning stocks]. 'You draw Yourself a line about the soles of my feet' — this refers back to 'the stocks.' The sense is that the engraved groove of that imprisoning device, in which his feet are bound, is as though carved into the very soles of his feet — fitted so precisely to the size of his feet that they stand in it tightly, under pressure. According to this reading, 'stocks' [sad] is treated as feminine — which is not unusual in the language, since a number of nouns that are grammatically masculine are nonetheless used with feminine verb forms. On this reading, it is also possible that the earlier phrase, 'look narrowly to all my paths,' likewise refers to the stocks — since he is confined by it and cannot leave it or go wherever he wishes.
Metzudat David
'You put my feet also in the stocks' — not only have You shut my feet in wooden fetters, but You further insist on watching all my paths so that I cannot flee — yet are my feet not already shut in? How could I possibly flee? And still You add more pain: You carve the holes of the stocks so tightly, fitted exactly to the width of the roots of my feet — that is, the bones of the foot — that they press against the flesh of the foot and cause the greatest anguish. Meaning: You afflict me with pain heaped upon pain, more than I can bear.
Metzudat Zion
'in the stocks' — carved pieces of wood made to lock in the feet of one who is seized; so too, 'He puts my feet in the stocks' (below, 33:11); and in the words of our Sages, 'everyone remains at his own block [i.e., stays in his accustomed place]' (Pesachim 28). 'the soles of my feet' — [literally, the roots of my feet] these are the leg-bones, which are their foundation. 'You draw a line' — from the term for engraving.
Malbim
'You put my feet also in the stocks' — so that they cannot move from their place. And besides this, You 'look narrowly to all' my 'paths' that I walk, even though I do not walk by my own power, since my feet are in the stocks. That is to say: even though my actions are compelled, You watch my paths in order to punish me, as though I walked by my own choice. Now, if You were to examine the roots of my feet, to trace the root from which the movement of my feet issues, then You would see that—
Though I am like a wine-skin that consumes, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
verse value 843
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 22 letters. Notable word values: "and·he" (וְ֭הוּא) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "moth" (עָֽשׁ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·he" (וְ֭הוּא, 4 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "like·a·wine-skin" (כְּרָקָ֣ב), "he·consumes" (יִבְלֶ֑ה), "like·a·garment" (כְּ֝בֶ֗גֶד). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he" (root הוא, 48x in Job); "he·eats·it" (root אכל, 24x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'he·consumes', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְ֭הוּא [and·he] (18) + כְּרָקָ֣ב [like·a·wine-skin] (322) + יִבְלֶ֑ה [he·consumes] (47) + כְּ֝בֶ֗גֶד [like·a·garment] (29) + אֲכָ֣לוֹ [he·eats·it] (57) + עָֽשׁ [moth] (370) = 843.
Rashi
And it is like rot that decays The body You pursue will decay like rot, and it is beneath Your dignity to pursue it.
Ralbag
'Like a wine-skin that consumes' — meaning: like a decaying thing, which wastes away easily.
Metzudat David
'Though I am' — is not the body You pursue wasting away and rotting like a decaying thing, like a garment eaten by the moth? Is it Your honor to pursue so lowly a creature as this?
Metzudat Zion
'consumes' — from the term for decay and rot. 'moth' — this is the name of the worm that eats clothing; so too, 'like a garment the moth shall eat them' (Isaiah 51:8).
Malbim
'Though I am like a wine-skin that consumes' — meaning, the power of decay and rot is found within it, inherently. 'Like a garment that is moth-eaten' — which is ruined by a destroyer from outside itself. So too the human body is prone to ruin — both from its own constitution and makeup, and from causes external to it.
Metzudat David
Malbim