His back is made of rows of shields follows the ancient versions, as the Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation notes indicate. The Hebrew text has “pride” instead of back. Rows of shields translates the literal Hebrew and refers to the hard scales or plates that cover the animal’s back. The line may also be rendered, for example, “His back is covered with rows of thick scales” or “… rows of heavy scales that protect him.”

The shields are said to be shut up closely as with a seal. In the second line Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew text, which may mean that the series of shields or scales are identical and tightly arranged, so they are like a row of impressions made by a single seal or stamp. On the other hand the sense may be that each scale is closed tightly as if sealed shut. Good News Translation follows the Septuagint, which changed the vowel of the Hebrew word rendered closely to get “stone.” In this understanding the scales are compared to the rock-hardness of the seal, and so Good News Translation has “fastened together and hard as stone.” Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation are recommended.

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 .