Translation commentary on Job 14:13

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol: in sharp contrast to verses 7-12, which hold out no hope of future life for people, Job now longs for future fellowship with God. The construction in this line is an idiom that suggests that Job realizes that his wish is unlikely to be granted. Hide means to place Job in a position of safety in Sheol where he will be free from his present sufferings. For Sheol see 7.9. It may be necessary to restructure the line to make clear that hiding Job in Sheol is for his safekeeping; for example, “I wish you would keep me safe in Sheol” or “If only you would hide and protect me in the place of the dead.”

That thou wouldest conceal me until thy wrath be past: conceal has the same meaning as hide in the previous line. The thought moves forward to a time when thy wrath be past, or as Good News Translation says, “until your anger is over,” or we may also say “until you have stopped being angry at me.”

That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!: a set time translates the same word rendered “bounds” in verse 5. It refers here to a certain time to be fixed. Job is asking God to fix a limit for his time to spend in Sheol. And remember me!: God would remember, keep his word with Job, that the end for the time in Sheol would be as agreed. The second half of verse 13 may have to be recast to make clear what God is to remember. This may need to be expressed, for example, “I wish you would set the number of days for me to spend there (in Sheol) and not forget me” or “… remember that I am waiting for you there.”

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 .

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