Eliphaz now calls upon his own experience to substantiate the proverb he has just cited. I have seen the fool taking root: for fool see verse 2a above. The picture is that of a tree putting down roots to provide nourishment for itself, and is used here to mean prosperity, solidity, security, well-being. The same verb is used in Isaiah 27.6, where “Jacob will take root,” and in Psalm 80.9, where the vine brought from Egypt “took root and filled the land.” Some commentators change the form of the verb to get “uprooted,” and this is followed by New English Bible with no marginal note. In languages in which the figure of taking root is not applied to a person, it will be necessary to recast the expression to say, for example, “I have seen how prosperous fools can become” or “I have seen how well some fools live.”

But suddenly I cursed his dwelling: Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew text, but the Septuagint and the Syriac version have “a curse fell.” Some interpreters suggest changing the verb to get “it rots.” However, a building does not suddenly rot. Others would change the verb to read “passes away,” “is empty,” or the passive “is cursed.” Most translations agree with Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Dhorme recommends accepting the Hebrew as it stands. Cursed is the same as in 3.8. In Eliphaz’s view the prosperity or security of the fool deserves to be cursed, and that is what Eliphaz does. Suddenly is used to say that Eliphaz was quickly, immediately moved to bring the well-being of the fool to an end, and may sometimes be rendered, for example, “I wasted no time in cursing his house” or “immediately I cursed his home.” Dwelling refers to the house, home, or place where the fool lives. For curse see 1.5; 2.9; 3.1.

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 .