Verse 16 gives two descriptions of Job’s face, in the form of consequences he has suffered, and verse 17 states two concessive clauses, meaning that the results in verse 16 are true in spite of the condition in verse 17.

My face is red with weeping: the verb translated is red is found only here and seems to mean “is inflamed.” It is obvious that the use of red to describe a person’s face is not appropriate everywhere. It may be better to speak of the face as “swollen,” “tear stained,” or some similar description. In some languages people say, for example, “My cheeks are hot from crying” or “My face is washed by my tears.” With weeping is the cause of Job’s inflamed face.

And on my eyelids is deep darkness: eyelids stands here as a part for the whole and refers to Job’s entire eyes. Deep darkness may perhaps be understood as “the shadow of death,” which is used in 3.5, but the meaning in this verse is “darkened, very dark” or, as Good News Translation graphically says, “circled with shadows.” These are not shadows of objects cast on Job, but the darkening of the skin around the eyes. Bible en français courant translates this line “My eyes are completely red and circled by shadows from much crying.” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy has “My face has swollen from crying and my vision has become blurred.” We may also say, for example, “I have cried until my eyes are red and I can hardly see” or “I have shed so many tears my eyes are red and swollen with dark circles.”

Although there is no violence in my hands: here Job denies that he has been violent. Zophar advised Job in 11.14 to get rid of the iniquity in his hands. Violence is probably used here to symbolize evil. The line may be rendered, for example, “although I have done nothing wrong,” “and in spite of this I am not guilty of wrong,” or “but I have committed no crime.” My hands is a part for the whole. Job claims that he is innocent, using an expression meaning that he has done no wrong act, has committed no crime, has been violent against no one.

And my prayer is pure: in Isaiah 1.15, when the hands are not clean, prayer is unacceptable to God. In 31.7 Job says his hands are clean. Pure in relation to prayer refers to respecting and honoring God. This line may also be expressed, for example, “and in my prayers I have shown honor to God” or “and my prayers to God have shown him reverence.”

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 .