My roots spread out to the waters: Job compares himself in this verse to a tree whose roots have plenty of water to nourish them. The thought is similar to Psalm 1.3, “He is like a tree planted by streams of water.” Similar comparisons were made in 8.16-17; 14.7-9; 18.16. With the dew all night on my branches: at night the warm air cools, and dew forms on the leaves of the branches, appearing as small drops of water. Good News Translation makes the comparison with the tree clearer: “I was like a tree….” Verse 19 may also be rendered “I was like a tree planted close to water and with branches wet at night from the dew.”

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 .