From this secure fortress high in the rocks he spies out the prey. These birds are known to be able to detect even small warm-bodied rodents from great distances in the air. Spies translates a word meaning “to search.” Since he searches from a great distance and without his prey knowing, spies expresses the action well. Prey translates the same word for food used in 38.41 in connection with the raven. Good News Translation says “for something to kill and eat.” Good News Translation “kill” is not necessarily implied, particularly if the bird is the vulture. The vulture, like the raven, usually eats the flesh of animals that are already dead. See 38.41 for discussion.

His eyes behold it afar off depicts the distant eagle or vulture as having fixed its gaze on its victim.

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 .