In this final section, dealing with the hawk and the eagle, verses 26 and 27 are questions put to Job, and verses 28-30 are comments on the eagle.

Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars…?: wisdom translates the same noun rendered “understanding” in verse 17. By your wisdom can also be expressed “because you have taught it.” Hawk translates a term used elsewhere in Leviticus 11.16 and Deuteronomy 14.15. At least eighteen species of hawks are reported to exist in Palestine, and it is not certain which one is referred to here. Both the hawk and the eagle are large meat-eating birds. Soars translates a verb found only here, but the word is related to the term translated as “pinions” in verse 13. Dhorme thinks it means “grows feathers,” but most take it to mean “use the wings,” hence “to fly.” Soar means to fly at a great height in the sky.

And spreads his wings toward the south depicts the hawk migrating to the south. Spreads his wings matches soars in line a; it also means “flies,” but is stated with a more graphic verb. In nonpoetic terms the meaning is “and flies away to the south.” If spreads its wings is retained, it may be necessary to indicate for the purpose of flying; for example, “and spreads its wings and flies to the south.”

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 .