Under the lotus plants he lies seems to depict the animal submerged in the water, but this is most likely inaccurate. The word translated as lotus plants (also used in verse 22a) refers, not to the Egyptian water lily, but to a thorny tree found along the eastern Mediterranean and in North Africa. It flourishes in damp hot areas and is abundant around the Sea of Galilee. In the covert means “in a hidden place.” Good News Translation says “hides.” Reeds translates a common term for tall grass with thick stems which grow in marshy ground. Marsh is also found in 8.11 and refers to a low-lying area covered by shallow water and grasses. The verse may be expressed, for example, “He goes off to lie under the thorn bush or hides himself among the tall grass in the swamp waters.”

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 .