Iron is taken out of the earth: in verse 2 Iron and copper continue the list of valuable metals. In Deuteronomy 8.9 the promised land is described as “a land … in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.” The verb translated is taken is in the passive. However, the parallel verb in line b is active. Revised Standard Version shifts both verbs to the passive, and Good News Translation has both as active. In translation either is possible and should follow the regular rules of style of the translator’s language. Earth translates the Hebrew for “dust,” but the meaning in this context is as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. In languages which lack words for Iron and copper, the same procedure suggested in verse 1a should be followed.

And copper is smelted from the ore: copper is said to have been plentiful in the Middle East, and it was mined and smelted in Cyprus, Edom, and the Sinai Peninsula. Smelted translates a verb meaning “to melt.” Dhorme, however, takes it as an adjective meaning “hard” and translates “and a hard stone becomes copper.” It seems best, however, to follow Revised Standard Version. Ore translates the Hebrew “stones.” Good News Translation “melt copper out of the stones” may give the wrong impression that the copper remains in liquid form. Smelted refers to the process of heating the ore in order to extract the copper from it. The copper hardens as it cools. In these verses “refine” (verse 1) and smelted have similar meanings.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .