In Dhorme’s view verse 1 does not seem to relate to what goes before or after. Therefore he shifts verse 1 to immediately before 5.8. Many translations, however, keep verse 1 in its traditional position. Call now: Job is challenged to make a futile appeal by shouting out. This may be understood as a rebuke for Job’s calling upon the forces of destruction to remove his origins in 3.3-9. That it is a rebuke is not certain, however, because Eliphaz has until this point been sympathetic with Job. Is there any one who will answer you?: the very general term any one is matched in line b by holy ones. Call now may sometimes be rendered “shout to someone,” “call someone’s name,” or “make a shout.” Answer is not to reply to a question but simply to respond to Job’s call, that is, “help you” or “listen to you.”

To which of the holy ones…?: in 33.23 angels are referred to as mediators, and Eliphaz seems to suppose that Job might think of appealing to them for help. Holy ones translates the Hebrew qedoshim, the same beings that were referred to in 4.18 as “servants” and “angels.” Eliphaz has argued there that these creatures are not fully trustworthy. In the present verse, translations are divided between those that follow Revised Standard Version holy ones and those that follow Good News Translation “angels.” Translators should make certain that a translation of holy ones does not mean “religious teachers or leaders,” as it does in some languages. For further discussion see 4.18. Will you turn: the meaning is look to, appeal to for help, guidance, deliverance. In some languages this expression may be rendered “which angel will you ask to come and help you?” or, as direct address, “to which angel will you say ‘Help me!’?”

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 .