juice of mallows (Job 6:6)

The Hebrew in Job 6:6 that typically is translated as “juice of mallows” or similar in English is translated in the English translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) as “juice of chubeza .” Greenstein (p. 27) explains: “A Middle Eastern herb, lacking in taste. The Hebrew word (read halamit) is known from ancient Syria (Alalakh). The term for ‘taste’ is polysemous, denoting ‘reason’ as well; see also Job 12:11 and Job 34:3. Job is telling Eliphaz that his argument is lacking in reason and that he will have none of it.”

people of the East

The Hebrew in Job 1:3 that is translated as “people of the East” in English might present an obstacle to translations for people living east of Israel and that have different associations what place this refers to.

There are a at least two kinds of strategies dealing with this:

  • “people in all the lands” or “people in those regions” (see the Dari common language translation or the Iranian Persian (Farsi) translation by Biblica)
  • “people in the east of Israel” or “people in all the area east of the Jordan River” (see the Hiligaynon or the English Translation for Translators — for both see complete verse (Job 1:3))

The English translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) translates it as sons of Qedem and explains: “Qedem, ‘the East,’ is identified with the area of Harran, the Hebrew patriarchs’ homeland, in Genesis 29:1-4; see also Numbers 23:7; but here it may refer to the entire Transjordan .”

you put my feet in the stocks (Job 13:27)

The Hebrew in Job 13:27 that typically is translated as “you put my feet in the stocks” or similar in English is translated in the English translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) as “and mark my feet with lime.” Greenstein (p. 59) explains: “Reading be-sid for ba-sad ‘in stocks,’ which makes no sense: fettered feet cannot go anywhere, so they cannot be followed. Job develops the same point in 14:16.”

See also stocks.

bag (Job 14:17)

The Hebrew in Job 14:17 that typically is translated as “bag” in English is translated in the English translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) as “pouch.” Greenstein explains (p. 62): “If the evidencer aggawqinst Job is kept in aw pouch — asw was the ancient practive preceding a trial — Job cannot be convicted. For the image, compare Job 7:1 that typically is translated as “hard service” or similar in English is translated in the English[/tip_languaghttps://tips.translation.bible/tip_verse/hos-1312/”>Hosea 13:12.

formed from a piece of clay (Job 33:6)

The Hebrew in Job 33:6 that typically is translated as “formed from a piece of clay” or similar in English is translated in the English translation by E.L. Greenstein (2019) as “pinched from clay,” “a figure for creating a human in the ancient Semitic world.”