implicit information made explicit (Job 41:8)

The Hebrew is translated in English as “Lay hands on it [the Leviathan]; think of the battle; you will not do it again!” or similar. Here and in the Hebrew original the fear of touching the Leviathan again is implied. In Poqomchi’ it had to be made explicit with the addition of “because you’ll be very much afraid of him.”

See also Leviathan.

complete verse (Job 41:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 41:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “Go ahead and disturb (it) to see what it wanted!
    Go and spit on the cooking stones (You shall live to regret it.).” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If you lift your hand against his rebellion
    you will not battle against him again remembering the battle that took place with it” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) can-catch/capture him, you (sing.) will- no longer -forget the hardship in capturing him, and you (sing.) will- not -do this again.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If you grab one of them with your hands, it will fight you in a way that you will never forget,
    and you will never try to do it again!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Job 41:8

Lay hands on him translates an imaginary command which is better expressed as an “if” clause. “If you lay your hands on him….” This expression means “to take hold of him with the hands.” Good News Translation says “Touch him once.” Think is also an imperative. Think of the battle means “imagine the struggle you would have” or “think of the fight that would cause.” If the first clause begins with “if,” we may translate, for example, as “If you lay a hand on him, you will never forget the struggle.” You will not do it again or “You will never do it a second time” gives the result of the condition.

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 .