His roots twine about the stone-heap: the image and wording lend themselves to contrasting points of view. Although the plant will be torn out in verse 18, here it may mean that the roots are solidly entwined about the stones. This is the picture in Good News Translation. It may also be taken to mean that, because the plant is on stony ground, it is weak, and so New English Bible “but its roots become entangled in a stony patch.” It seems preferable to take it as in Good News Translation, so that the wicked appear to be flourishing and secure, yet will be destroyed. Twine means to wind and twist about the stones, penetrating through the cracks. If he has been replaced by “evil people” or “they” in the translation of previous verses, it is important to maintain the same subject also in verses 17-19.

He lives among the rocks translates the Hebrew text, “He sees the house of stones.” The Septuagint has “He lives in the midst of stones,” which involves making two changes in the Hebrew and is the form of Revised Standard Version. The Revised Standard Version footnote says “Hebrew uncertain.” Good News Translation follows a widely-supported textual change giving the meaning “They grasp it,” and so has “holds fast to every rock.” Both Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version follow a change from the Hebrew beth “house” to ben “among” in the expression “house of stones.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project considers “he sees” to be a “B” reading but gives it the meaning “to investigate” or “to break through.” It is possible to interpret the Hebrew text as presenting a picture of spreading roots from garden to rock pile in verses 16b and 17a and then to the house in verse 17b, in which the house of stones is ripped apart. In this way the poetic effect is built up in 17b. We may then render the Hebrew of verse 17 “His roots entangle themselves in the rock pile, and his stone house is ripped apart.”

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 .