He paws in the valley: He paws is singular and represents the ancient versions, as the Revised Standard Version note shows. The Hebrew has “they dig.” The first clause depicts the impatient and nervous war horse pawing the ground with its front hooves as it waits to attack the enemy line. In the valley translates a word which in Ugaritic can mean “force” or “valley,” and some scholars prefer the former sense, as it provides a parallel for strength in the next clause. The first clause is then sometimes rendered “He paws vigorously.” New English Bible has “He shows his mettle as he paws and prances.” The expression “shows his mettle” means “he shows that he is a spirited horse, one full of energy.” New International Version is similar with “He paws fiercely.” Armies were placed in battle formation in valleys in Genesis 14.8; Judges 7.1, and it is safe to retain the same expression here. In his strength is taken by some scholars as the beginning of line b. Good News Translation follows this interpretation and places the two verbs together in line a, translating exults as “eagerly.” New International Version divides the verse into three clauses: “He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.” The first line may also be expressed “They dig up the ground with their hooves and show their strength.”

He goes out to meet the weapons describes the war horse (and rider) racing forward to charge the enemy battle line. Weapons refers to both weapons and armor. Good News Translation understands it as a figurative reference for the entire “battle.” The translator may wish to make both explicit, as in “He charges into battle against the enemies’ weapons.”

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 .