Nothing True, Part 1

The book of Job continues with a visitation by three friends. Job’s friends bring provocation rather than comfort, angering the Lord (Job 42:7, 8 NET):

After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has [Table]. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

The Septuagint seems more expansive in its criticism of Job’s friends’ words than the Masoretic text.

Job 42:7, 8 (NETS)

Job 42:7, 8 (English Elpenor)

Now it happened after the Lord spoke all these words to Iob, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true (ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν) in my presence, as has my attendant Iob. And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, [that] the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true (ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν) before me, as my servant Job [has].
Now then, take seven calves and seven rams, and go to my attendant Iob, and he will make offerings for you, and Iob, my attendant, will pray for you, [because only his face will I accept] for, if not for him, I would have destroyed you; for what you spoke against my attendant Job is not true (ἀληθὲς).” Now then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth (ἀληθὲς) against my servant Job.

Apparently it is neither novel nor curious to translate נכונה (kûn), the thing that is right (Tanakh, KJV) or what is right (NET), ἀληθὲς in the Septuagint. The first occurrence in Genesis follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Genesis 41:32 (Tanakh) Table

Genesis 41:32 (NET)

Genesis 41:32 (NETS) Table

Genesis 41:32 (English Elpenor)

And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established (נָכ֤וֹן) by G-d, and G-d will shortly bring it to pass. The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed (kûn, נכון) by God, and God will make it happen soon. And as for Pharao’s dream being repeated twice: because the matter that is from God will be real (ἀληθὲς ἔσται), and God will hasten to do it. And concerning the repetition of the dream to Pharao twice, [it is] because the saying which is from God shall be true (ἀληθὲς ἔσται), and God will hasten to accomplish it.

The Hebrew word אלי (‘ēl) was translated of me (Tanakh, KJV) and about me (NET) in both Job 42:7 and 8. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood it as ἐνώπιόν μου, in my presence (NETS) and before me (English Elpenor), in verse 7, and κατὰ , against, in verse 8, if אלי (‘ēl) was the word they found in the Hebrew text they translated. Actually, the entire final clause is identical in the Hebrew of the Masoretic text.

The essentially Greek nature of the philosophical bent of my mind hears of me (Tanakh, KJV) and about me (NET) as a limitation of the Lord’s criticism specifically to what Job’s friends’ spoke about the Lord. Rather than assuming that the entire final clause of both verses 7 and 8 was altered by the Masoretes after the Septuagint was translated, perhaps I should understand that the rabbis foreknew the error of the essentially Greek nature of the philosophical bent of my mind.

Perhaps they have explained to me that אלי (‘ēl) does not limit the Lord’s criticism. On the contrary, since from him and through him and to him are all things,1 Job’s friends have not said anything true (English Elpenor), and since Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil,2 everything they said was against Job: The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.3

Despite knowing the end and the beginning of the book of Job, when I’ve read it in the past I’ve gotten bogged down. My religious mind favors the arguments of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar over those of Job. I hope this study will help me to know God better and to discern the errors of my religious mind.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:11-13 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:11-13 (NET)

Job 2:11-13 (NETS)

Job 2:11-13 (English Elpenor)

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil (הָֽרָעָ֣ה) that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity (raʿ, הרעה) that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him Now when his three friends heard of all the troubles (τὰ κακὰ) that had come upon him, they came to him, each one from his own country—Eliphaz, the king of the Thaimanites, Baldad, the tyrant of the Sauchites, Sophar, the king of the Minites. And they came to him of one accord, to comfort and to visit with him. Now his three friends having heard of all the evil (τὰ κακὰ) that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of the Kinaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads. But when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they cried out with a loud voice and wept; each of them tore his robe, and they sprinkled themselves with dust. And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon [their heads],
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. They sat with him seven days, [and seven nights] and none of them spoke, for they saw that the calamity was dire and very great. and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and not one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

I visited some with my mother everyday she was in hospice care, but nothing like this. Job was first to break the silence.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:1-3 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:1-3 (NET)

Job 3:1-3 (NETS)

Job 3:1-3 (English Elpenor)

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed (וַיְקַלֵּ֖ל) his day. After this Job opened his mouth and cursed (qālal, ויקלל) the day he was born. After this Iob opened his mouth and cursed (κατηράσατο) his day, After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed (κατηράσατο) his day,
And Job spake, and said, Job spoke up and said: saying: saying,
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A man has been conceived!’ May the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which they said, ‘Look, a man-child!’ Let the day perish in which I was born, and that night in which they said, Behold a man-child!

Moses had a similar lament:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Numbers 11:10-15 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:10-15 (NET)

Numbers 11:10-15 (NETS)

Numbers 11:10-15 (English Elpenor)

And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of HaShem was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased. And Moyses heard them weeping in their divisions. each one at his door. And the Lord was greatly angered with wrath, and before Moyses it was evil. And Moses heard them weeping by their families, every one in his door: and the Lord was very angry; and the thing was evil in the sight of Moses.
And Moses said unto HaShem: ‘Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me? And Moyses said to the Lord, “Why have you mistreated your attendant, and why have I not found favor before you, to lay the onslaught of this people upon me? And Moses said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant, and why have I not found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest lay the weight of this people upon me?
Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me: Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which Thou didst swear unto their fathers? Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to their fathers? Was it I who carried in the womb all this people, or was it I who gave birth to them, that you are saying to me, ‘Take them to your bosom, as a nurse might take up the sucking child,’ into the land, which you swore to their fathers? Have I conceived all this people, or have I born them? that thou sayest to me, Take them into thy bosom, as a nurse would take her suckling, into the land which thou swarest to their fathers?
Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they trouble me with their weeping, saying: Give us flesh, that we may eat. From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat!’ From where do I get meat to give to all this people? For they are weeping to me, saying, ‘Give us meat so that we may eat!’ Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.
I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me. I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me! I shall not be able to bear this people alone, because this thing is too heavy for me. I shall not be able to bear this people alone, for this thing is too heavy for me.
And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not look upon my wretchedness.’ But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.” But if this is how you are going to treat me, kill me by slaying if I have found mercy with you so that I may not see my suffering.” And if thou doest thus to me, slay me utterly, if I have found favour with thee, that I may not see my affliction.

Job lamenting the day of his birth seems benign by comparison.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:4 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:4 (NET)

Job 3:4 (NETS)

Job 3:4 (English Elpenor)

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above (מִמָּ֑עַל), neither let the light shine upon it. That day—let it be darkness; let not God on high (maʿal, ממעל) regard it, nor let light shine on it! May that day be darkness! And may the Lord above (ἄνωθεν) not seek it, or light come to it. Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above (ἄνωθεν), neither let light come upon it.

I’ll pause here a moment to point out that the Hebrew word מִמָּ֑עַל (maʿal), from above (Tanakh/KJV), on high (NET) was translated ἄνωθεν, above (NETS), from above (English Elpenor), in the Septuagint. “I tell you the solemn truth,” Jesus said to Nicodemus, “unless a person is born from above (ἄνωθεν), he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above (ἄνωθεν).’5

Job continued to lament the day of his birth:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 3:5-10 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 3:5-10 (NET)

Job 3:5-10 (NETS)

Job 3:5-10 (English Elpenor)

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it. But may darkness and deathly shadow seize it. May gloom come upon it. But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;
As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. That night—let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months! May that day and night be cursed; may darkness carry it away! May it not exist among the days of the year or be numbered among the days of the months. let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it! Rather, may the night be anguish, and may gladness and joy not come upon it. But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning (לִוְיָתָֽן). Let those who curse the day curse it—those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan6 (livyāṯān, לויתן). Rather, may he who curses that day curse it—he who is about to subdue the great sea-monster (κῆτος). But let him that curses that day curse it, [even] he that is ready to attack the great whale (κῆτος).
Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn, May the stars of that night be dark; may it remain so and not be lit up, and may it not see the morning-star rising— Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain [dark], and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:
Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes. because it did not shut the gates of my mother’s womb, for it would have put away trouble from my eyes. because it shut not up the gates of my mother’s womb, for [so] it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.

Job wasn’t finished but I want to consider a similar lament voiced by Jeremiah:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (Tanakh/KJV)

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NET)

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:14-18 (English Elpenor)

Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me. Cursed be the day on which I was born on it! The day on which my mother bore me—let it not be longed for! Cursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed.
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. Cursed be the man who made my father very glad when he brought him the news that a baby boy had been born to him! Cursed be the person who brought the good news to my father, saying, “A male child was born to you,” being glad. Cursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee.
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; May that man be like the cities that the Lord destroyed without showing any mercy. May he hear a cry of distress in the morning and a battle cry at noon. Let that person be like the cities that the Lord overthrew in anger and did not repent; let him hear a cry in the morning and a shouting at noon, Let that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon;
Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever. because he did not kill me in the womb, and my mother became my grave and the womb one of perpetual conception. because he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me.
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame. Why is it that I came forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and my days continued in shame? Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

I’ll continue with Job’s lament in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 42:8; 2:11; 2:12; 2:13; 3:1; 3:2; 3:3; Numbers 11:10; 11:11; 11:12; 11:13; 11:14; 11:15; Job 3:4; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; Jeremiah 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:17 and 20:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 42:8; 2:11; 2:12; 2:13; 3:1 (3:1, 2a); 3:2 (3:2b); 3:3; Numbers 11:10; 11:11; 11:12; 11:13; 11:14; 11:15; Job 3:4; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:8; 3:9; 3:10; Jeremiah 20:14; 20:15; 20:16; 20:17 and 20:18 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Job 42:8 (Tanakh)

Job 42:8 (KJV)

Job 42:8 (NET)

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Job 42:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 42:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νῦν δὲ λάβετε ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριοὺς καὶ πορεύθητε πρὸς τὸν θεράποντά μου Ιωβ καὶ ποιήσει κάρπωσιν περὶ ὑμῶν Ιωβ δὲ ὁ θεράπων μου εὔξεται περὶ ὑμῶν ὅτι εἰ μὴ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ λήμψομαι εἰ μὴ γὰρ δι᾽ αὐτόν ἀπώλεσα ἂν ὑμᾶς οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἀληθὲς κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου Ιωβ νῦν δὲ λάβετε ἑπτὰ μόσχους καὶ ἑπτὰ κριοὺς καὶ πορεύθητε πρὸς τὸν θεράποντά μου ᾿Ιώβ, καὶ ποιήσει κάρπωσιν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν. ᾿Ιὼβ δὲ ὁ θεράπων μου εὔξεται περὶ ὑμῶν, ὅτι εἰ μὴ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ λήψομαι· εἰ μὴ γὰρ δι᾿ αὐτόν, ἀπώλεσα ἂν ὑμᾶς· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἀληθὲς κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου ᾿Ιώβ

Job 42:8 (NETS)

Job 42:8 (English Elpenor)

Now then, take seven calves and seven rams, and go to my attendant Iob, and he will make offerings for you, and Iob, my attendant, will pray for you, [because only his face will I accept] for, if not for him, I would have destroyed you; for what you spoke against my attendant Job is not true.” Now then take seven bullocks, and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and he shall offer a burnt-offering for you. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will only accept him: for but his sake, I would have destroyed you, for ye have not spoken the truth against my servant Job.

Job 2:11 (Tanakh)

Job 2:11 (KJV)

Job 2:11 (NET)

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. When Job’s three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him.

Job 2:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῗς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα αὐτῷ παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν Ελιφας ὁ Θαιμανων βασιλεύς Βαλδαδ ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος Σωφαρ ὁ Μιναίων βασιλεύς καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδὸν τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ τρεῖς φίλοι αὐτοῦ τὰ κακὰ πάντα τὰ ἐπελθόντα αὐτῷ, παρεγένοντο ἕκαστος ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας χώρας πρὸς αὐτόν· ᾿Ελιφὰζ ὁ Θαιμανῶν βασιλεύς, Βαλδὰδ ὁ Σαυχαίων τύραννος, Σωφὰρ ὁ Μιναίων βασιλεύς, καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁμοθυμαδόν, τοῦ παρακαλέσαι καὶ ἐπισκέψασθαι αὐτόν

Job 2:11 (NETS)

Job 2:11 (English Elpenor)

Now when his three friends heard of all the troubles that had come upon him, they came to him, each one from his own country—Eliphaz, the king of the Thaimanites, Baldad, the tyrant of the Sauchites, Sophar, the king of the Minites. And they came to him of one accord, to comfort and to visit with him. Now his three friends having heard of all the evil that was come upon him, came to him each from his own country: Eliphaz the king of the Thaemans, Baldad sovereign of the Saucheans, Sophar king of the Kinaeans: and they came to him with one accord, to comfort and to visit him.

Job 2:12 (Tanakh)

Job 2:12 (KJV)

Job 2:12 (NET)

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.

Job 2:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν καὶ βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν ῥήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολὴν καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν πόρρωθεν οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν· καὶ βοήσαντες φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἔκλαυσαν ρήξαντες ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ στολήν. καὶ καταπασάμενοι γῆν

Job 2:12 (NETS)

Job 2:12 (English Elpenor)

But when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they cried out with a loud voice and wept; each of them tore his robe, and they sprinkled themselves with dust. And when they saw him from a distance they did not know him; and they cried with a loud voice, and wept, and rent every one his garment, and sprinkled dust upon [their heads],

Job 2:13 (Tanakh)

Job 2:13 (KJV)

Job 2:13 (NET)

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

Job 2:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

παρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν ἑώρων γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν δεινὴν οὖσαν καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα παρεκάθισαν αὐτῷ ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ἐλάλησεν· ἑώρων γὰρ τὴν πληγὴν δεινὴν οὖσαν καὶ μεγάλην σφόδρα

Job 2:13 (NETS)

Job 2:13 (English Elpenor)

They sat with him seven days, [and seven nights] and none of them spoke, for they saw that the calamity was dire and very great. and they sat down beside him seven days and seven nights, and not one of them spoke; for they saw that his affliction was dreadful and very great.

Job 3:1 (Tanakh)

Job 3:1 (KJV)

Job 3:1 (NET)

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.

Job 3:1, 2a (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μετὰ τοῦτο ἤνοιξεν Ιωβ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ (2) καὶ κατηράσατο τὴν ἡμέραν αὐτοῦ ΜΕΤΑ τοῦτο ἤνοιξεν ᾿Ιὼβ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ καὶ κατηράσατο τὴν ἡμέραν αὐτοῦ

Job 3:1 (NETS)

Job 3:1 (English Elpenor)

After this Iob opened his mouth and cursed his day, After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,

Job 3:2 (Tanakh)

Job 3:2 (KJV)

Job 3:2 (NET)

And Job spake, and said, And Job spake, and said, Job spoke up and said:

Job 3:2b (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λέγων λέγων

Job 3:2 (NETS)

Job 3:2 (English Elpenor)

saying: saying,

Job 3:3 (Tanakh)

Job 3:3 (KJV)

Job 3:3 (NET)

Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, ‘A man has been conceived!’

Job 3:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀπόλοιτο ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθην καὶ ἡ νύξ ἐν ᾗ εἶπαν ἰδοὺ ἄρσεν ἀπόλοιτο ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθην, καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη ᾗ εἶπαν· ἰδοὺ ἄρσεν

Job 3:3 (NETS)

3:3 (English Elpenor)

May the day perish in which I was born, and the night in which they said, ‘Look, a man-child!’ Let the day perish in which I was born, and that night in which they said, Behold a man-child!

Numbers 11:10 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:10 (KJV)

Numbers 11:10 (NET)

And Moses heard the people weeping, family by family, every man at the door of his tent; and the anger of HaShem was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased. Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.

Numbers 11:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἤκουσεν Μωυσῆς κλαιόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ κύριος σφόδρα καὶ ἔναντι Μωυσῆ ἦν πονηρόν καὶ ἤκουσε Μωυσῆς κλαιόντων αὐτῶν κατὰ δήμους αὐτῶν, ἕκαστον ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐθυμώθη ὀργῇ Κύριος σφόδρα, καὶ ἔναντι Μωυσῆ ἦν πονηρόν

Numbers 11:10 (NETS)

Numbers 11:10 (English Elpenor)

And Moyses heard them weeping in their divisions. each one at his door. And the Lord was greatly angered with wrath, and before Moyses it was evil. And Moses heard them weeping by their families, every one in his door: and the Lord was very angry; and the thing was evil in the sight of Moses.

Numbers 11:11 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:11 (KJV)

Numbers 11:11 (NET)

And Moses said unto HaShem: ‘Wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with Thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in Thy sight, that Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

Numbers 11:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς πρὸς κύριον ἵνα τί ἐκάκωσας τὸν θεράποντά σου καὶ διὰ τί οὐχ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου ἐπιθεῖναι τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ καὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον· ἱνατί ἐκάκωσας τὸν θεράποντά σου, καὶ διατί οὐχ εὕρηκα χάριν ἐναντίον σου, ἐπιθεῖναι τὴν ὁρμὴν τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου ἐπ’ ἐμέ

Numbers 11:11 (NETS)

Numbers 11:11 (English Elpenor)

And Moyses said to the Lord, “Why have you mistreated your attendant, and why have I not found favor before you, to lay the onslaught of this people upon me? And Moses said to the Lord, Why hast thou afflicted thy servant, and why have I not found grace in thy sight, that thou shouldest lay the weight of this people upon me?

Numbers 11:12 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:12 (KJV)

Numbers 11:12 (NET)

Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say unto me: Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which Thou didst swear unto their fathers? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to their fathers?

Numbers 11:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ ἐγὼ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβον πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ἢ ἐγὼ ἔτεκον αὐτούς ὅτι λέγεις μοι λαβὲ αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου ὡσεὶ ἄραι τιθηνὸς τὸν θηλάζοντα εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν μὴ ἐγὼ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβον πάντα τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, ἢ ἐγὼ ἔτεκον αὐτούς, ὅτι λέγεις μοι, λάβε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν κόλπον σου, ὡσεὶ ἄραι τιθηνὸς τὸν θηλάζοντα, εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ὤμοσας τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν

Numbers 11:12 (NETS)

Numbers 11:12 (English Elpenor)

Was it I who carried in the womb all this people, or was it I who gave birth to them, that you are saying to me, ‘Take them to your bosom, as a nurse might take up the sucking child,’ into the land, which you swore to their fathers? Have I conceived all this people, or have I born them? that thou sayest to me, Take them into thy bosom, as a nurse would take her suckling, into the land which thou swarest to their fathers?

Numbers 11:13 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:13 (KJV)

Numbers 11:13 (NET)

Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they trouble me with their weeping, saying: Give us flesh, that we may eat. Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat!’

Numbers 11:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πόθεν μοι κρέα δοῦναι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ ὅτι κλαίουσιν ἐπ᾽ ἐμοὶ λέγοντες δὸς ἡμῖν κρέα ἵνα φάγωμεν πόθεν μοι κρέα δοῦναι παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ; ὅτι κλαίουσιν ἐπ’ ἐμοί, λέγοντες· δὸς ἡμῖν κρέα, ἵνα φάγωμεν

Numbers 11:13 (NETS)

Numbers 11:13 (English Elpenor)

From where do I get meat to give to all this people? For they are weeping to me, saying, ‘Give us meat so that we may eat!’ Whence have I flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

Numbers 11:14 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:14 (KJV)

Numbers 11:14 (NET)

I am not able to bear all this people myself alone, because it is too heavy for me. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me!

Numbers 11:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ δυνήσομαι ἐγὼ μόνος φέρειν τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ὅτι βαρύτερόν μοί ἐστιν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο οὐ δυνήσομαι ἐγὼ μόνος φέρειν τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, ὅτι βαρύτερόν μοί ἐστι τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο

Numbers 11:14 (NETS)

Numbers 11:14 (English Elpenor)

I shall not be able to bear this people alone, because this thing is too heavy for me. I shall not be able to bear this people alone, for this thing is too heavy for me.

Numbers 11:15 (Tanakh)

Numbers 11:15 (KJV)

Numbers 11:15 (NET)

And if Thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in Thy sight; and let me not look upon my wretchedness.’ And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.”

Numbers 11:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Numbers 11:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ δὲ οὕτως σὺ ποιεῖς μοι ἀπόκτεινόν με ἀναιρέσει εἰ εὕρηκα ἔλεος παρὰ σοί ἵνα μὴ ἴδω μου τὴν κάκωσιν εἰ δ’ οὕτω σὺ ποιεῖς μοι, ἀπόκτεινόν με ἀναιρέσει, εἰ εὕρηκα ἔλεος παρὰ σοί, ἵνα μὴ ἴδω τὴν κάκωσίν μου

Numbers 11:15 (NETS)

Numbers 11:15 (English Elpenor)

But if this is how you are going to treat me, kill me by slaying if I have found mercy with you so that I may not see my suffering.” And if thou doest thus to me, slay me utterly, if I have found favour with thee, that I may not see my affliction.

Job 3:4 (Tanakh)

Job 3:4 (KJV)

Job 3:4 (NET)

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it. That day—let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!

Job 3:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἡμέρα ἐκείνη εἴη σκότος καὶ μὴ ἀναζητήσαι αὐτὴν ὁ κύριος ἄνωθεν μηδὲ ἔλθοι εἰς αὐτὴν φέγγος νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη σκότος, καὶ μὴ ἀναζητήσαι αὐτὴν ὁ Κύριος ἄνωθεν, μηδὲ ἔλθοι εἰς αὐτὴν φέγγος

Job 3:4 (NETS)

Job 3:4 (English Elpenor)

May that day be darkness! And may the Lord above not seek it, or light come to it. Let that night be darkness, and let not the Lord regard it from above, neither let light come upon it.

Job 3:5 (Tanakh)

Job 3:5 (KJV)

Job 3:5 (NET)

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it.

Job 3:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐκλάβοι δὲ αὐτὴν σκότος καὶ σκιὰ θανάτου ἐπέλθοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν γνόφος ἐκλάβοι δὲ αὐτὴν σκότος καὶ σκιὰ θανάτου, ἐπέλθοι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν γνόφος. καταραθείη ἡμέρα

Job 3:5 (NETS)

Job 3:5 (English Elpenor)

But may darkness and deathly shadow seize it. May gloom come upon it. But let darkness and the shadow of death seize it; let blackness come upon it;

Job 3:6 (Tanakh)

Job 3:6 (KJV)

Job 3:6 (NET)

As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months. That night—let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!

Job 3:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:5b, 6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καταραθείη ἡ ἡμέρα καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη ἀπενέγκαιτο αὐτὴν σκότος μὴ εἴη εἰς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ μηδὲ ἀριθμηθείη εἰς ἡμέρας μηνῶν (5b) καταραθείη ἡ ἡμέρα (6) καὶ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη, ἀπενέγκαιτο αὐτὴν σκότος· μὴ εἴη εἰς ἡμέρας ἐνιαυτοῦ, μηδὲ ἀριθμηθείη εἰς ἡμέρας μηνῶν

Job 3:6 (NETS)

Job 3:6 (English Elpenor)

May that day and night be cursed; may darkness carry it away! May it not exist among the days of the year or be numbered among the days of the months. let that day and night be cursed, let darkness carry them away; let it not come into the days of the year, neither let it be numbered with the days of the months.

Job 3:7 (Tanakh)

Job 3:7 (KJV)

Job 3:7 (NET)

Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein. Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!

Job 3:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀλλὰ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη ὀδύνη καὶ μὴ ἔλθοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν εὐφροσύνη μηδὲ χαρμονή ἀλλὰ ἡ νὺξ ἐκείνη εἴη ὀδύνη, καὶ μὴ ἔλθοι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν εὐφροσύνη μηδὲ χαρμονή

Job 3:7 (NETS)

Job 3:7 (English Elpenor)

Rather, may the night be anguish, and may gladness and joy not come upon it. But let that night be pain, and let not mirth come upon it, nor joy.

Job 3:8 (Tanakh)

Job 3:8 (KJV)

Job 3:8 (NET)

Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning. Let those who curse the day curse it—those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.

Job 3:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀλλὰ καταράσαιτο αὐτὴν ὁ καταρώμενος τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην ὁ μέλλων τὸ μέγα κῆτος χειρώσασθαι ἀλλὰ καταράσαιτο αὐτὴν ὁ καταρώμενος τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην, ὁ μέλλων τὸ μέγα κῆτος χειρώσασθαι

Job 3:8 (NETS)

Job 3:8 (English Elpenor)

Rather, may he who curses that day curse it—he who is about to subdue the great sea-monster. But let him that curses that day curse it, [even] he that is ready to attack the great whale.

Job 3:9 (Tanakh)

Job 3:9 (KJV)

Job 3:9 (NET)

Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day: Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,

Job 3:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

σκοτωθείη τὰ ἄστρα τῆς νυκτὸς ἐκείνης ὑπομείναι καὶ εἰς φωτισμὸν μὴ ἔλθοι καὶ μὴ ἴδοι ἑωσφόρον ἀνατέλλοντα σκοτωθείη τὰ ἄστρα τῆς νυκτὸς ἐκείνης, ὑπομείναι καὶ εἰς φωτισμὸν μὴ ἔλθοι καὶ μὴ ἴδοι ἑωσφόρον ἀνατέλλοντα

Job 3:9 (NETS)

Job 3:9 (English Elpenor)

May the stars of that night be dark; may it remain so and not be lit up, and may it not see the morning-star rising— Let the stars of that night be darkened; let it remain [dark], and not come into light; and let it not see the morning star arise:

Job 3:10 (Tanakh)

Job 3:10 (KJV)

Job 3:10 (NET)

Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes. because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes.

Job 3:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 3:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι οὐ συνέκλεισεν πύλας γαστρὸς μητρός μου ἀπήλλαξεν γὰρ ἂν πόνον ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου ὅτι οὐ συνέκλεισε πύλας γαστρὸς μητρός μου· ἀπήλλαξε γὰρ ἂν πόνον ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν μου

Job 3:10 (NETS)

Job 3:10 (English Elpenor)

because it did not shut the gates of my mother’s womb, for it would have put away trouble from my eyes. because it shut not up the gates of my mother’s womb, for [so] it would have removed sorrow from my eyes.

Jeremiah 20:14 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 20:14 (KJV)

Jeremiah 20:14 (NET)

Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.

Jeremiah 20:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 20:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐπικατάρατος ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἐτέχθην ἐν αὐτῇ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἔτεκέν με ἡ μήτηρ μου μὴ ἔστω ἐπευκτή ᾿Επικατάρατος ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἐτέχθην ἐν αὐτῇ· ἡ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ ἔτεκέ με ἡ μήτηρ μου, μὴ ἔστω ἐπευκτή

Jeremiah 20:14 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:14 (English Elpenor)

Cursed be the day on which I was born on it! The day on which my mother bore me—let it not be longed for! Cursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed.

Jeremiah 20:15 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 20:15 (KJV)

Jeremiah 20:15 (NET)

Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad. Cursed be the man who made my father very glad when he brought him the news that a baby boy had been born to him!

Jeremiah 20:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 20:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εὐαγγελισάμενος τῷ πατρί μου λέγων ἐτέχθη σοι ἄρσεν εὐφραινόμενος ἐπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εὐαγγελισάμενος τῷ πατρί μου λέγων· ἐτέχθη σοι ἄρσην, εὐφραινόμενος

Jeremiah 20:15 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:15 (English Elpenor)

Cursed be the person who brought the good news to my father, saying, “A male child was born to you,” being glad. Cursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee.

Jeremiah 20:16 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 20:16 (KJV)

Jeremiah 20:16 (NET)

And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; May that man be like the cities that the Lord destroyed without showing any mercy. May he hear a cry of distress in the morning and a battle cry at noon.

Jeremiah 20:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 20:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἔστω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὡς αἱ πόλεις ἃς κατέστρεψεν κύριος ἐν θυμῷ καὶ οὐ μετεμελήθη ἀκουσάτω κραυγῆς τὸ πρωὶ καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ μεσημβρίας ἔστω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ὡς αἱ πόλεις, ἃς κατέστρεψε Κύριος ἐν θυμῷ καὶ οὐ μετεμελήθη· ἀκουσάτω κραυγῆς τῷ πρωΐ καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ μεσημβρίας

Jeremiah 20:16 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:16 (English Elpenor)

Let that person be like the cities that the Lord overthrew in anger and did not repent; let him hear a cry in the morning and a shouting at noon, Let that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon;

Jeremiah 20:17 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 20:17 (KJV)

Jeremiah 20:17 (NET)

Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me. For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother’s womb my grave forever.

Jeremiah 20:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 20:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέκτεινέν με ἐν μήτρᾳ μητρὸς καὶ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ μήτηρ μου τάφος μου καὶ ἡ μήτρα συλλήμψεως αἰωνίας ὅτι οὐκ ἀπέκτεινέ με ἐν μήτρᾳ μητρὸς καὶ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ μήτηρ μου τάφος μου καὶ ἡ μήτρα συλλήψεως αἰωνίας

Jeremiah 20:17 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:17 (English Elpenor)

because he did not kill me in the womb, and my mother became my grave and the womb one of perpetual conception. because he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me.

Jeremiah 20:18 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 20:18 (KJV)

Jeremiah 20:18 (NET)

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Why did I ever come forth from my mother’s womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.

Jeremiah 20:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 20:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵνα τί τοῦτο ἐξῆλθον ἐκ μήτρας τοῦ βλέπειν κόπους καὶ πόνους καὶ διετέλεσαν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ αἱ ἡμέραι μου ἱνατί τοῦτο ἐξῆλθον ἐκ μήτρας τοῦ βλέπειν κόπους καὶ πόνους, καὶ διετέλεσαν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ αἱ ἡμέραι μου

Jeremiah 20:18 (NETS)

Jeremiah 20:18 (English Elpenor)

Why is it that I came forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and my days continued in shame? Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 10

This is a continuation of my consideration of God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job: the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) allowed Satan to carry out his scientific experiment on Job, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.1 Satan had a hypothesis why Job feared God, and a test for that hypothesis. But when the experiment was over Job didn’t curse God to his face as Satan’s test had predicted (Job 1:20-22 NET).

Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground [Table]. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!” [Table] In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety [Table].

This result effectively falsified Satan’s hypothesis.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:4, 5 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:4, 5 (NET)

Job 2:4, 5 (NETS)

Job 2:4, 5 (English Elpenor)

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life (נַפְשֽׁוֹ). But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life (nep̄eš, נפשו). Then the slanderer continued and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin; whatever a person has he will use to pay for his life (τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ). And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life (τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ).
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse (יְבָֽרְכֶֽךָּ) thee to thy face But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse (bāraḵ, יברכך) you to your face!” However, stretch out your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh; surely he will bless (εὐλογήσει) you to your face!” Nay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless (εὐλογήσει) thee to [thy] face.

In other words, Satan rejected the conclusion that his hypothesis was false. He said he would have gotten the result he desired, if not for the Lord’s arbitrary condition placed on his test. The Lord had said to Satan (Job 1:12b NET [Table]):

All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!

The Lord (יהוה) didn’t debate the merits of the scientific method with Satan:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:6 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:6 (NET)

Job 2:6 (NETS)

Job 2:6 (English Elpenor)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life (נַפְשׁ֖וֹ). So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life (nep̄eš, נפשו).” Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Very well, I am handing him over to you; only spare his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ).” And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ).

The Lord’s love, kindness and patience toward Satan is, frankly, a bit perplexing to me here. Is it simply who He is because God is love?2 Was He demonstrating his superiority? Was He leading Satan to repentance? Or was He goading Satan to store up wrath for [himself] in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed?3

I also admit to being confused about Satan’s hypothesis at this point: Is it for nothing that Job fears God? [Table] Have you not made a hedge around him4 [Table] to shield him from disease? It seems even less likely to me now that Satan was conducting a scientific experiment to ascertain why/how Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.5 I’m thinking that Satan just wanted Job to curse God.

I, on the other hand, am more interested in how Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil6 even when Satan by the Lord’s leave took everything from him. The Lord’s confidence to continue with Satan’s charade encourages me that I’m on the right track with the idea that Job believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.7 The Lord’s confidence to continue with Satan’s test didn’t come from his faith in Job, but from his faith in the life-transforming power of his own credited righteousness.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:7, 8 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:7, 8 (NET)

Job 2:7, 8 (NETS)

Job 2:7, 8 (English Elpenor)

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. So the slanderer went out from the Lord, and he struck Iob with a grievous festering sore from his feet to his head. So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from [his] feet to [his] head.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes. And he took a potsherd, so that he could scrape away the pus, and sat on the rubbish heap outside the city. And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

Job’s wife seemed to have an uncanny grasp of the situation, even more so because her advice seems more in line with Satan’s reasoning than the Lord’s.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:9 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:9 (NET)

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!” Then after a long time had passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you persist and say, ‘Look, I will hang on a little longer, while I wait for the hope of my deliverance?’ For look, your legacy has vanished from the earth—sons and daughters, my womb’s birth pangs and labors, for whom I wearied myself with hardships in vain. And you? You sit in the refuse of worms as you spend the night in the open air. As for me, I am one that wanders about and a hired servant—from place to place and house to house, waiting for when the sun will set, so I can rest from the distresses and griefs that now beset me. Now say some word to the Lord and die!” And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, 9α Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? 9β for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, [even thy] sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; 9γ and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, 9δ and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

If I thought this was contemporary fiction I might go off on a feminist rant about misogyny and the patriarchy. Though I do think the literary form of Job is drama, I believe the story is true. But as drama, Job’s wife is the first everyman character one encounters. She reacts more like what Satan claimed to expect from his scientific experiment on Job, not because she is female but because she is human. I say “claimed” because Satan (Septuagint: διάβολος) is a liar.

I’m becoming more and more convinced that Satan already knew that Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil8 because Job believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.9 Satan already knew, even if he held onto some vague hope, that because of the power of the Lord’s credited righteousness there was nothing he could do to cause Job to curse God. Satan’s actual intent was to baffle us with misdirection, and to terrorize us with all he would do to us if we believed the Lord and the Lord credited it as righteousness to us.

Job’s wife sounds like Satan because everyman is from [their] father the devil, and [we] want to do what [our] father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.10

That everyman is from [their] father the devil is a point for everyman to concede to Jesus, the shut door at the entrance to the kingdom of God, and the light that will highlight our inner devil all too clearly. God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am,11 is the key to open the shut door that is Jesus, the light of the world.

Did the rabbis who translated the Septuagint add words to Job’s wife’s soliloquy to make her more sympathetic? Or did the editors of the Masoretic text delete them to make her more direct? I’m favoring the latter here because in the Masoretic text Job’s wife quotes the Lord almost verbatim even as she sounds more like Satan:

Job 2:3 (NET) The Lord

Job 2:9 (NET) Job’s Wife

he still (ʿôḏ, ועדנו) holds firmly (ḥāzaq, מחזיק) to his integrity (tummâ, בתמתו) Are you still (ʿôḏ, עדך) holding firmly (ḥāzaq, מחזיק) to your integrity (tummâ, בתמתך)?

Here is a comparison of the Greek in the Septuagint for contrast:

Job 2:3 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Job 2:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἔτι δὲ ἔχεται ἀκακίας ἔτι δὲ ἔχετε ἀκακίας μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων

Job 2:3 (NETS)

Job 2:3 (English Elpenor)

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)

And he still maintains his innocence and he yet cleaves to innocence How long will you persist and say How long wilt thou hold out, saying

Quoting the Lord verbatim is a clever synopsis that cuts immediately to the point. But the longer version of her speech seems more like a wife’s anguish watching her husband suffer, as well as her own anguish as long as he lives and she is not free to marry again. All this demonstrates perhaps is that the rabbis wrote better fiction. But I have faith that the story is true, and the Greek of the Septuagint seems much less like Job’s wife was privy to the Lord’s words verbatim.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Job 2:10 (Tanakh/KJV)

Job 2:10 (NET)

Job 2:10 (NETS)

Job 2:10 (English Elpenor)

But [Job] said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil (הָרָ֖ע)? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil (raʿ, הרע)?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said. But Iob looked up and said to her, “You have spoken like one of the foolish women. If we received the good things from the Lord’s hand, shall we not bear the bad (τὰ κακὰ)?” In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all with his lips before God. But he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things (τὰ κακὰ)? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.

In one sense, Job’s faith sounds naive. He accepts what has happened to him as evil from the hand of God (Septuagint: of the Lord, Κυρίου). He seems oblivious to Satan’s part in any of it. I wondered briefly whether Job thought of Satan as one of the gods. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint seem to have anticipated that question and answered it in the negative by translating האלהים (‘ĕlōhîm) Κυρίου here rather than θεοῦ. But Job’s theology was absolutely correct since Satan could do nothing without the Lord’s permission.

Job’s wife, especially in the Masoretic text, seems to believe that Job’s blamelessness is a personal achievement, a righteousness derived from law: Job still holds firmly to his integrity. But Job’s acceptance of both good and evil from the hand of the Lord sounds more to me like the fruit of a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness12 so many years before the Word became flesh and took up residence among us.13

The Lord boasts about Job: There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.14 The Lord has every right to boast. Job’s righteousness is the Lord’s handiwork. Job does not boast: The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!15 What do you have that you did not receive? Paul wrote the Corinthians. And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?16 He also wrote to the Romans: Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?17

Satan doesn’t appear again in the book of Job except by proxy in his influence over natural born human beings. I want to continue to study the book of Job in another essay series, but here I’ll sum up a bit. This side excursion into the book of Job began for me with a question: Who did Jesus command, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”18

The narrative is quite clear that Jesus spoke to Judas Iscariot. But right before Jesus spoke those words, John also made it clear that Satan ( σατανᾶς) had entered into Judas. In the book of Job Satan needed the Lord’s permission to do anything to Job. Was, What you are about to do, do quickly, Jesus’ permission? I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again, Jesus said. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will (ἐμαυτοῦ). I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.19

“It’s difficult to say that He was speaking to both: ποίησον is singular. But was He speaking to Satan/Judas, a unitary singular, at that moment?”20 Then Satan entered into him21 (τότε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον σατανᾶς) seems to be something more than You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.22 And now I wonder if that “ something more” exempts Judas somehow from all people Jesus will draw to Himself if or when He was crucified.23

Tables comparing Job 2:4; 2:5; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9 and 2:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 2:4; 2:5; 2:6; 2:7; 2:8; 2:9 and 2:10 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.

Job 2:4 (Tanakh)

Job 2:4 (KJV)

Job 2:4 (NET)

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life.

Job 2:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπεν τῷ κυρίῳ δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος ὅσα ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτείσει ὑπολαβὼν δὲ ὁ διάβολος εἶπε τῷ Κυρίῳ· δέρμα ὑπὲρ δέρματος· καὶ πάντα, ὅσα ὑπάρχει ἀνθρώπῳ, ὑπὲρ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ ἐκτίσει

Job 2:4 (NETS)

Job 2:4 (English Elpenor)

Then the slanderer continued and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin; whatever a person has he will use to pay for his life. And the devil answered and said to the Lord, Skin for skin, all that a man has will he give as a ransom for his life.

Job 2:5 (Tanakh)

Job 2:5 (KJV)

Job 2:5 (NET)

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

Job 2:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῗρά σου ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ εἰ μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρά σου ἅψαι τῶν ὀστῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ σαρκῶν αὐτοῦ· μὴν εἰς πρόσωπόν σε εὐλογήσει

Job 2:5 (NETS)

Job 2:5 (English Elpenor)

However, stretch out your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh; surely he will bless you to your face!” Nay, but put forth thine hand, and touch his bones and his flesh: verily he will bless thee to [thy] face.

Job 2:6 (Tanakh)

Job 2:6 (KJV)

Job 2:6 (NET)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.”

Job 2:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶπεν δὲ ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ ἰδοὺ παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον εἶπε δὲ ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· ἰδοὺ παραδίδωμί σοι αὐτόν, μόνον τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ διαφύλαξον

Job 2:6 (NETS)

Job 2:6 (English Elpenor)

Then the Lord said to the slanderer, “Very well, I am handing him over to you; only spare his life.” And the Lord said to the devil, Behold, I deliver him up to thee; only save his life.

Job 2:7 (Tanakh)

Job 2:7 (KJV)

Job 2:7 (NET)

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Job 2:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐξῆλθεν δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἔπαισεν τὸν Ιωβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς ᾿Εξῆλθε δὲ ὁ διάβολος ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου καὶ ἔπαισε τὸν ᾿Ιὼβ ἕλκει πονηρῷ ἀπὸ ποδῶν ἕως κεφαλῆς

Job 2:7 (NETS)

Job 2:7 (English Elpenor)

So the slanderer went out from the Lord, and he struck Iob with a grievous festering sore from his feet to his head. So the devil went out from the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from [his] feet to [his] head.

Job 2:8 (Tanakh)

Job 2:8 (KJV)

Job 2:8 (NET)

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes.

Job 2:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἔλαβεν ὄστρακον, ἵνα τὸν ἰχῶρα ξύῃ, καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐπὶ τῆς κοπρίας ἔξω τῆς πόλεως

Job 2:8 (NETS)

Job 2:8 (English Elpenor)

And he took a potsherd, so that he could scrape away the pus, and sat on the rubbish heap outside the city. And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.

Job 2:9 (Tanakh)

Job 2:9 (KJV)

Job 2:9 (NET)

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Then his wife said to him, “Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!”

Job 2:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων Χρόνου δὲ πολλοῦ προβεβηκότος εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ· μέχρι τίνος καρτερήσεις λέγων· 9α ἰδοὺ ἀναμένω χρόνον ἔτι μικρὸν προσδεχόμενος τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας μου; ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἠφάνισταί σου τὸ μνημόσυνον ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, υἱοὶ καὶ θυγατέρες, ἐμῆς κοιλίας ὠδῖνες καὶ πόνοι, οὓς εἰς τὸ κενὸν ἐκοπίασα μετὰ μόχθων·σύ τε αὐτὸς ἐν σαπρίᾳ σκωλήκων κάθησαι διανυκτερεύων αἴθριος,κἀγὼ πλανῆτις καὶ λάτρις, τόπον ἐκ τόπου περιερχομένη καὶ οἰκίαν ἐξ οἰκίας, προσδεχομένη τὸν ἥλιον πότε δύσεται, ἵνα ἀναπαύσωμαι τῶν μόχθων μου καὶ τῶν ὀδυνῶν, αἵ με νῦν συνέχουσιν· ἀλλὰ εἰπόν τι ῥῆμα πρὸς Κύριον καὶ τελεύτα

Job 2:9 (NETS)

Job 2:9 (English Elpenor)

Then after a long time had passed, his wife said to him, “How long will you persist and say, ‘Look, I will hang on a little longer, while I wait for the hope of my deliverance?’ For look, your legacy has vanished from the earth—sons and daughters, my womb’s birth pangs and labors, for whom I wearied myself with hardships in vain. And you? You sit in the refuse of worms as you spend the night in the open air. As for me, I am one that wanders about and a hired servant—from place to place and house to house, waiting for when the sun will set, so I can rest from the distresses and griefs that now beset me. Now say some word to the Lord and die!” And when much time had passed, his wife said to him, How long wilt thou hold out, saying, 9α Behold, I wait yet a little while, expecting the hope of my deliverance? 9β for, behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, [even thy] sons and daughters, the pangs and pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows; 9γ and thou thyself sittest down to spend the nights in the open air among the corruption of worms, 9δ and I am a wanderer and a servant from place to place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and my pangs which now beset me: but say some word against the Lord, and die.

Job 2:10 (Tanakh)

Job 2:10 (KJV)

Job 2:10 (NET)

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. But he replied, “You’re talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?” In all this Job did not sin by what he said.

Job 2:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 2:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ δὲ ἐμβλέψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς κυρίου τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν ἐν πᾶσιν τούτοις τοῗς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν Ιωβ τοῗς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ δὲ ἐμβλέψας εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ἵνα τί ὥσπερ μία τῶν ἀφρόνων γυναικῶν ἐλάλησας οὕτως; εἰ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐδεξάμεθα ἐκ χειρὸς Κυρίου, τὰ κακὰ οὐχ ὑποίσομεν; ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις τοῖς συμβεβηκόσιν αὐτῷ οὐδὲν ἥμαρτεν ᾿Ιὼβ τοῖς χείλεσιν ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ

Job 2:10 (NETS)

Job 2:10 (English Elpenor)

But Iob looked up and said to her, “You have spoken like one of the foolish women. If we received the good things from the Lord’s hand, shall we not bear the bad?” In all these things that happened to him Iob did not sin at all with his lips before God. But he looked on her, and said to her, Thou hast spoken like one of the foolish women. If we have received good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things? In all these things that happened to him, Job sinned not at all with his lips before God.

1 Job 1:8b (NET) Table

2 1 John 4:8 (NET)

3 Romans 2:5 (NET) Table

4 Job 1:9b, 10a (NET)

5 Job 1:1b (NET) Table

6 Ibid.

7 Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table

8 Job 1:1b (NET) Table

9 Genesis 15:6 (NET) Table

10 John 8:44 (NET) Table

11 Luke 18:13 (NET) Table

12 Philippians 3:9b (NET)

13 John 1:14a (NET)

14 Job 1:8b (NET) Table

15 Job 1:21b (NET) Table

16 1 Corinthians 4:7b (NET)

17 Romans 8:32 (NET) Table

18 John 13:27b (NET)

19 John 10:17b, 18 (NET)

21 John 13:27a (NET)

22 John 8:44a (NET) Table

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 5

Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.[1]  And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”[2]

Jesus’ command here—do quickly (ποίησον τάχιον)—fills me with awe as I consider the responsibility of authority.  Was He speaking to Judas?  Was He speaking to Satan?  It’s difficult to say that He was speaking to both: ποίησον is singular.  But was He speaking to Satan/Judas, a unitary singular, at that moment?

It leads me to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:7-12 NET):

I became[3] a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given[4] to me by the exercise of his power.  To me—less than the least of all the[5] saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to[6] the Gentiles the[7] unfathomable riches[8] of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan[9]—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.[10]  The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.  This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ[11] Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access[12] to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness.

I’m assuming that the rulers (ἀρχαῖς, a form of ἀρχή) and the authorities (ἐξουσίαις, a form of ἐξουσία) in the heavenly realms here are identical to those Paul mentioned later in the same letter (Ephesians 6:10-12 NET):

Finally,[13] be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers (ἀρχάς, another form of ἀρχή), against the powers (ἐξουσίας, another form of ἐξουσία), against the world rulers of this darkness,[14] against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

These are the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms to whom the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed through the church (διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας).  I want to be careful to think in terms of the ἐκκλησία, those called by God to faith in Christ, since churches include both the ἐκκλησία and those still dominated by the rulers (ἀρχάς), the powers (ἐξουσίας), the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.  While this is a constant source of perplexity and disappointment to us, I think Satan probably knows at any given moment those who are his and those who are not.

I’m assuming also that this disclosure to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms has more to do with our actions prompted by faith than our words.  Perhaps, it has even more to do with God’s actions toward and through us than our actions per se.  And if that’s true I may be straining gnats to distinguish between the ἐκκλησία and churches.  God’s acts through us to those among us who are Satan’s own could be as much a part of this disclosure (Matthew 5:43-48) as anything else I might be imagining.

This brings me to God’s love for Satan revealed in the book of Job.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:1 (Tanakh/KJV) Table Job 1:1 (NET) Job 1:1 (NETS)

Job 1:1 (Elpenor English)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.  And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There was a certain man in the land of Ausitis, whose name was Iob, and that man was genuine, blameless, righteous, religious, staying away from every evil thing. There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name [was] Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, [and] godly, abstaining from everything evil.

The first time I read the book of Job I didn’t think of it as God’s love for Satan, or, frankly, his love for anyone.  It struck me as a strange tale, actually a strange drama of unseen forces, choices and actions that might impact my life and peace of mind.  At first, I didn’t believe that God is love.[15]  Now I want to remember that fact as I consider the beginning of Job.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:6 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:6 (NET) Job 1:6 (NETS)

Job 1:6 (Elpenor English)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֖ן) came also among them. Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן) also arrived among them. And when the set day came, then, look, the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the slanderer (διάβολος) came with them. And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil (διάβολος) came with them.

The Greek transliterations of הַשָּׂטָ֖ן (śāṭān) used in the New Testanment—σατανᾶς, σατανᾶ and σατανᾶν—do not occur in the Septuagint: σατανᾶς, σατανᾶ and σατανᾶν.  The Greek word σαταν occurs in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text versions of 2 Corinthians 12:7, along with 1 Kings (3 Reigns, 3 Kings) 11:14 in the Septuagint.  Here is 2 Corinthians 12:7 quoted from the KJV:

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,[16] there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan[17] (Σατᾶν) to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

A table of 1 Kings 11:14 follows:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
1 Kings 11:14 (Tanakh/KJV) 1 Kings 11:14 (NET) 3 Reigns 11:14 (NETS)

3 Kings 11:14 (Elpenor English)

And the LORD stirred up an adversary (שָׂטָן֙) unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. The Lord brought against Solomon an enemy (śāṭān, שׁטן), Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king. And the Lord raised up a satan (σαταν) against Salomon, Hader the Idumean and Hesrom son of Eliadae who was in Raemmath, Hadrazar, king of Souba, his master, and men were gathered around him, and he was leader of a band, and he first captured Damasek, and they were a satan (σαταν) to Israel all the days of Salomon.  And Hader the Idumean was of the seed of the kingdom in Idumea. And the Lord raised up and [sic] enemy (σατὰν) to Solomon, Ader the Idumaean, and Esrom son of Eliadae who [dwelt] in Raama, [and] Adadezer king of Suba his master; (and men gathered to him, and he was head of the conspiracy, and he seized on Damasec,) and they were adversaries (σατὰν) to Israel all the days of Solomon: and Ader the Idumaean [was] of the seed royal in Idumaea.

The Greek translation διάβολος in Job 1:6 doesn’t cause me to question the originality of הַשָּׂטָ֖ן (śāṭān) in the Masoretic text.  A verse near the end of the New Testament ties both of these words together (Revelation 12:9 NET):

So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil (Διάβολος) and Satan[18] (Σατανᾶς), who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.

I was familiar with Revelation when I first read Job.  And I was familiar with the ancient serpent ( ὄφιςἀρχαῖος) from the story in Genesis.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Genesis 3:1 (Tanakh) Genesis 3:1 (NET) Genesis 3:1 (NETS)

Genesis 3:1 (Elpenor English)

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which HaShem G-d had made.  And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath G-d said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’ Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” Now the snake (ὄφις) was the most sagacious of all the wild animals that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had made.  And the snake (ὄφις) said to the woman, “Why is it that God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree that is in the orchard’?” NOW the serpent (ὄφις) was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent (ὄφις) said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?

I assume that before the fall most if not all of the animals Adam and Eve had anything to do with had the ability to speak.  Genesis 3:2 does not read:

And the woman fled in terror, saying, “Help, help, a talking snake!”

On the contrary, Eve doesn’t comment on the serpent’s ability to speak at all.  She proceeds as if it is perfectly natural for one in dominion over the animals to be questioned by, and to teach, them about the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) God (‘ĕlōhîm, אלהים).  So when I first read Job, the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) seemed a little too chummy for my taste with Satan (השׁטן), the ancient serpent who had deceived her.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:7 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:7 (NET) Job 1:7 (NETS)

Job 1:7 (Elpenor English)

And the LORD said unto Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֖ן), Whence comest thou?  Then Satan (הַשָּׂטָ֚ן) answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. The Lord said to Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן), “Where have you come from?”  And Satan (śāṭān, השׁטן) answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” And the Lord said to the slanderer (διαβόλῳ), “Where have you come from?”  And the slanderer (διάβολος) answered the Lord, “I have come after going round the earth and walking about what is under heaven.” And the Lord said to the devil (διαβόλῳ), Whence art thou come?  And the devil (διάβολος) answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

But if I believe that God is love, I recall that love is not easily angered or resentful.[19]  The Greek words translated easily angered were οὐ παροξύνεται (a form of παροξύνω).  The Greek words translated resentful were οὐ λογίζεται τὸ κακόν (literally: “not counting the evil”).  Another translation reads: love keeps no record of wrongs.[20]  Here λογίζεται (a form of λογίζομαι) was translated keeps no record.  Another form of λογίζομαι was translated not counting in 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NET):

In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting (μὴ λογιζόμενος, another form of λογίζομαι) people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.

I’ll continue with the next verse in Job:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 1:8 (Tanakh/KJV) Job 1:8 (NET) Job 1:8 (NETS)

Job 1:8 (Elpenor English)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.” And the Lord said to him, “Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob—because there is no one of those on the earth like him, a man who is blameless, genuine, religious, staying away from every evil thing?” And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

When I first read this I heard the Lord (Yᵊhōvâ, יהוה) bragging to Satan about Job.  Considering what happened next, I was led to Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 NIV).

Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—why destroy yourself?  Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—why die before your time?  It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.  Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

I sensed the growing hunger and thirst for righteousness within me.  My misunderstanding of God in the book of Job, my natural instinct to seek out ballast and the philosophical bent of my mind made this little bit of Aristotelian sagacity quite compelling.  I even quoted it to my second wife.

Everything turned out fine for me.  I lead a ridiculously blessed life that seems completely undeserved.  It didn’t turn out so well for my family, and so I am repenting of practicing this particular mean between the extremes.  Whatever Solomon meant it is no excuse to quench the Holy Spirit.  By the grace of God I will do my best now to follow wherever his hunger and thirst for righteousness leads.

And believing that God is love, I no longer hear Him bragging to Satan: Love is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.[21]  [Y]our word is truth,[22] Jesus prayed to his Father.  I’ll continue with this in another essay.

Tables comparing Job 1:6; 1 Kings 11:14; Genesis 3:1; Job 1:7; 1:8; Ecclesiastes 7:16; 7:17 and 7:18 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 1:6; 1 Kings (3 Reigns, 3 Kings) 11:14; Genesis 3:1; Job 1:7; 1:8; Ecclesiastes 7:16; 7:17 and 7:18 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Ephesians 3:7-9; 3:11, 12; 6:10; 6:12; 2 Corinthians 12:7 and Revelation 12:9 in the NET and KJV follow.

Job 1:6 (Tanakh)

Job 1:6 (KJV)

Job 1:6 (NET)

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them.

Job 1:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθεν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν Καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἡ ἡμέρα αὕτη, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθον οἱ ἄγγελοι τοῦ Θεοῦ παραστῆναι ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ ὁ διάβολος ἦλθε μετ᾿ αὐτῶν

Job 1:6 (NETS)

Job 1:6 (English Elpenor)

And when the set day came, then, look, the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the slanderer came with them. And it came to pass on a day, that behold, the angels of God came to stand before the Lord, and the devil came with them.

1 Kings 11:14 (Tanakh)

1 Kings 11:14 (KJV)

1 Kings 11:14 (NET)

And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom. The Lord brought against Solomon an enemy, Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king.

1 Kings 11:14 (Septuagint BLB)

3 Kings 11:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἤγειρεν κύριος σαταν τῷ Σαλωμων τὸν Αδερ τὸν Ιδουμαῗον καὶ τὸν Εσρωμ υἱὸν Ελιαδαε τὸν ἐν Ραεμμαθ Αδραζαρ βασιλέα Σουβα κύριον αὐτοῦ καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄνδρες καὶ ἦν ἄρχων συστρέμματος καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν Δαμασεκ καὶ ἦσαν σαταν τῷ Ισραηλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Σαλωμων καὶ Αδερ ὁ Ιδουμαῗος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς βασιλείας ἐν Ιδουμαίᾳ Καὶ ἤγειρε Κύριος σατὰν τῷ Σαλωμὼν τὸν ῎Αδερ τὸν ᾿Ιδουμαῖον καὶ τὸν ᾿Εσρὼμ υἱὸν ᾿Ελιαδαέ, τὸν ἐν Ῥαεμμὰθ ᾿Αδραζὰρ βασιλέα Σουβὰ κύριον αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν ἄνδρες, καὶ ἦν ἄρχων συστρέμματος καὶ προκατελάβετο τὴν Δαμασέκ· καὶ ἦσαν σατὰν τῷ ᾿Ισραὴλ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας Σαλωμών. καὶ ῎Αδερ ὁ ᾿Ιδουμαῖος ἐκ τοῦ σπέρματος τῆς βασιλείας ἐν ᾿Ιδουμαίᾳ

3 Reigns 11:14 (NETS)

3 Kings 11:14 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord raised up a satan against Salomon, Hader the Idumean and Hesrom son of Eliadae who was in Raemmath, Hadrazar, king of Souba, his master, and men were gathered around him, and he was leader of a band, and he first captured Damasek, and they were a satan to Israel all the days of Salomon.  And Hader the Idumean was of the seed of the kingdom in Idumea. And the Lord raised up and enemy to Solomon, Ader the Idumaean, and Esrom son of Eliadae who [dwelt] in Raama, [and] Adadezer king of Suba his master; (and men gathered to him, and he was head of the conspiracy, and he seized on Damasec,) and they were adversaries to Israel all the days of Solomon: and Ader the Idumaean [was] of the seed royal in Idumaea.

Genesis 3:1 (Tanakh)

Genesis 3:1 (KJV)

Genesis 3:1 (NET)

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which HaShem G-d had made.  And he said unto the woman: ‘Yea, hath G-d said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”

Genesis 3:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 3:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ δὲ ὄφις ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ὧν ἐποίησεν κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί τί ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ θεός οὐ μὴ φάγητε ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ Ο δὲ ὄφις ἦν φρονιμώτατος πάντων τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὧν ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεός. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ὄφις τῇ γυναικί· τί ὅτι εἶπεν ὁ Θεός, οὐ μὴ φάγητε ἀπὸ παντὸς ξύλου τοῦ παραδείσου

Genesis 3:1 (NETS)

Genesis 3:1 (English Elpenor)

Now the snake was the most sagacious of all the wild animals that were upon the earth, which the Lord God had made.  And the snake said to the woman, “Why is it that God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree that is in the orchard’?” NOW the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden?

Job 1:7 (Tanakh)

Job 1:7 (KJV)

Job 1:7 (NET)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”  And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”

Job 1:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ πόθεν παραγέγονας καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος τῷ κυρίῳ εἶπεν περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν ὑπ᾽ οὐρανὸν πάρειμι καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τῷ διαβόλῳ· πόθεν παραγέγονας; καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ διάβολος τῷ Κυρίῳ εἶπε· περιελθὼν τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσας τὴν ὑπ᾿ οὐρανὸν πάρειμι

Job 1:7 (NETS)

Job 1:7 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord said to the slanderer, “Where have you come from?”  And the slanderer answered the Lord, “I have come after going round the earth and walking about what is under heaven.” And the Lord said to the devil, Whence art thou come?  And the devil answered the Lord, and said, I am come from compassing the earth, and walking up and down in the world.

Job 1:8 (Tanakh)

Job 1:8 (KJV)

Job 1:8 (NET)

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

Job 1:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου Ιωβ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατ᾽ αὐτὸν τῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἄνθρωπος ἄμεμπτος ἀληθινός θεοσεβής ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Κύριος· προσέσχες τῇ διανοίᾳ σου κατὰ τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιώβ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατ᾿ αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἄνθρωπος ἄμεμπτος, ἀληθινός, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος

Job 1:8 (NETS)

Job 1:8 (English Elpenor)

And the Lord said to him, “Did you give thought to your disposition against my servant Iob—because there is no one of those on the earth like him, a man who is blameless, genuine, religious, staying away from every evil thing?” And the Lord said to him, Hast thou diligently considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a man blameless, true, godly, abstaining from everything evil?

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Tanakh)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (NET)

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολὺ καὶ μὴ σοφίζου περισσά μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολύ, μηδὲ σοφίζου περισσά, μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:16 (English Elpenor)

Do not be very righteous, and do not be excessively wise, lest you be horrified. Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Tanakh)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (NET)

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:17 (English Elpenor)

Do not be very ungodly, and do not become hard so that you should not die when it is not your time. Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Tanakh)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NET)

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ ἀνῇς τὴν χεῗρά σου ὅτι φοβούμενος τὸν θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ, καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ μιάνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου, ὅτι φοβουμένοις τὸν Θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NETS)

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (English Elpenor)

It is good that you hold on to the one; indeed, do not let your hand go from the other, for the one who fears God will go forth in all things. It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth [well].

Epehesians 3:7-9 (NET)

Epehesians 3:7-9 (KJV)

I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ ου εγενομην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου ου εγενομην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου
To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη, τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων των αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου
and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ φωτίσαι [πάντας] τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι και φωτισαι παντας τις η κοινωνια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου και φωτισαι παντας τις η οικονομια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου

Ephesians 3:11, 12 (NET)

Ephesians 3:11, 12 (KJV)

This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων
in whom we have boldness and confident access to God by way of Christ’s faithfulness. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και την προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και την προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου
Ephesians 6:10 (NET)

Ephesians 6:10 (KJV)

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

Τοῦ λοιποῦ, ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν κυρίῳ καὶ ἐν τῷ κράτει τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ το λοιπον αδελφοι μου ενδυναμουσθε εν κυριω και εν τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου το λοιπον αδελφοι μου ενδυναμουσθε εν κυριω και εν τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου

Ephesians 6:12 (NET)

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡμῖν ἡ πάλη πρὸς αἷμα καὶ σάρκα ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὰς ἀρχάς, πρὸς τὰς ἐξουσίας, πρὸς τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τούτου, πρὸς τὰ πνευματικὰ τῆς πονηρίας ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις οτι ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη προς αιμα και σαρκα αλλα προς τας αρχας προς τας εξουσιας προς τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου προς τα πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις οτι ουκ εστιν ημιν η παλη προς αιμα και σαρκα αλλα προς τας αρχας προς τας εξουσιας προς τους κοσμοκρατορας του σκοτους του αιωνος τουτου προς τα πνευματικα της πονηριας εν τοις επουρανιοις

2 Corinthians 12:7 (NET)

2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV)

even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations.  Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ τῇ ὑπερβολῇ τῶν ἀποκαλύψεων. διὸ ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι, ἐδόθη μοι σκόλοψ τῇ σαρκί, ἄγγελος σατανᾶ, ἵνα με κολαφίζῃ, ἵνα μὴ ὑπεραίρωμαι και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι

Revelation 12:9 (NET)

Revelation 12:9 (KJV)

So that huge dragon—the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

καὶ ἐβλήθη ὁ δράκων ὁ μέγας, ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὁ καλούμενος Διάβολος καὶ Σατανᾶς, ὁ πλανῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅλην, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐβλήθησαν και εβληθη ο δρακων ο μεγας ο οφις ο αρχαιος ο καλουμενος διαβολος και ο σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην εβληθη εις την γην και οι αγγελοι αυτου μετ αυτου εβληθησαν και εβληθη ο δρακων ο μεγας ο οφις ο αρχαιος ο καλουμενος διαβολος και σατανας ο πλανων την οικουμενην ολην εβληθη εις την γην και οι αγγελοι αυτου μετ αυτου εβληθησαν

[1] Luke 22:3 (NET) Table

[2] John 13:27 (NET)

[3] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐγενήθην here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενομην (KJV: I was made).

[4] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δοθείσης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δοθεισαν (KJV: given).

[5] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article των preceding saints.  The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[6] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν (KJV: among) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[7] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the nominative/accusative neuter article τὸ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the accusative masculine article τον.

[8] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the masculine/neuter noun πλοῦτος in the nominative case here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine noun πλουτον in the accusative case.

[9] The Stephanus Textus Receptus had κοινωνια (KJV: fellowship) here, where the NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had οἰκονομία.

[10] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δια ιησου χριστου (KJV: by Jesus Christ) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[11] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article τῷ preceding Christ.  The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[12] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article την preceding access.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[13] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Τοῦ λοιποῦ here in the genitive case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had το λοιπον αδελφοι μου (KJV: Finally, my brethren).

[14] The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had του αιωνος (KJV: of this world) here.  The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

[15] 1 John 4:8, 16 (NET)

[16] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had διὸ (NET: Therefore) following revelations.  The Sephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[17] The Sephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had σαταν here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had σατανᾶ.

[18] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article preceding Satan.  The Byzantine Majority Text did not.

[19] 1 Corinthians 13:5b (NET)

[20] 1 Corinthians 13:5b (NIV)

[21] 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NET)

[22] John 17:17b (NET) Table

The Lost Son of Perdition, Part 3

Then [Jesus] dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son [Table].  And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him.  Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”[1]

Jesus’ instruction sounds so strange.  Alexander MacLaren wrote of his words, “I hear in them, first, the voice of despairing love abandoning the conflict.”[2]

If I have rightly construed the meaning of the incident, this is the plain meaning of it. And you will observe that the Revised Version, more accurately and closely rendering the words of our text, begins with a ‘Therefore.’ ‘Therefore said Jesus unto him,’ because the die was cast; because the will of Judas had conclusively welcomed Satan, and conclusively rejected Christ; therefore, knowing that remonstrance was vain, knowing that the deed was, in effect, done, Jesus Christ, that Incarnate Charity which ‘believeth all things, and hopeth all things,’ abandoned the man to himself, and said, ‘There, then, if thou wilt thou must. I have done all I can; my last arrow is shot, and it has missed the target. That then doest, do quickly.’

I, too, want more emotional conflict in this scene.  But John’s Gospel narrative continued (John 13:28, 29 NET):

Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas.  Some thought that because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.

Nothing of the high drama Mr. MacLaren and I crave was evident to others present at the time.  In fact, John, who was privy (John 13:23-26) to this exchange, didn’t write any drama into the scene, certainly not that Jesus had lost a contest of wills to Judas Iscariot or Satan and was abandoning the field.  On the contrary, the Greek word translated do in the phrase do quickly was ποίησον, an imperative form of ποιέω.  In John’s Gospel narrative Jesus commanded Judas Iscariot, What you are about to do, do quickly, and Judas (and Satan apparently) obeyed Him (John 13:30a NET):

Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately.[3]

Did Jesus just absolve Judas Iscariot of his betrayal?  Mr. MacLaren’s description of Jesus as the “Incarnate Charity” caught my ear.  Should he have paid more heed to the fact that Charity never faileth (NET: ends)?[4]

David’s son Absalom hated his half brother Amnon ever since Amnon had raped Absalom’s sister (2 Samuel 13:1-22).  Two years laterAbsalom instructed his servants, “Look!  When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there.  Don’t fear!  Is it not I who have given you these instructions?  Be strong and courageous!”  So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed.[5]  It is taken for granted here that Absalom killed Amnon rather than the unnamed servants who carried out his command.

When David got the clever idea to kill Uriah the Hittite by commanding Joab to station him at the front in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed,[6] יהוה (Yehovah) sent Nathan the Prophet to David (2 Samuel 12:1a), not to Joab who had carried out the command.  Nathan said to David (2 Samuel 12:9 NET [Table]):

Why have you shown contempt for the Lord’s (Yehovah, יהוה) decrees by doing evil in my sight?  You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife to be your own wife!  You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Jesus was intent on fulfilling the Scriptures.  It shouldn’t surprise me that He would take ultimate responsibility for Judas’ betrayal.  I think the tendency to judge Judas before the time, to condemn him prematurely to an eternity in the lake of fire, makes it more difficult to see or believe Jesus’ intervention here.

So I’ll begin the longer task of studying the Greek words, starting with ἀπώλετο (a form of ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπόλλω, ἀπολλύω), translated lost in Jesus’ prayer:  Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.[7]

The first two occurrences of ἀπώλετο in the Septuagint are found in the book of Job.  I had planned to skip them because this book is tricky.  For the most part the advice Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar gave Job seemed alright to my religious mind.  Yehovah disagreed.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 42:7b (Tanakh) Job 42:7b (NET) Job 42:7b (NETS)

Job 42:7b (Elpenor English)

the LORD (יְהֹוָה֜) said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. he (Yehovah, יהוה) said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has. the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true in my presence, as has my attendant Iob. the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job [has].

In one day Job heard that his five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys had been stolen.  The servants who attended them were killed (Job 1:13-15).  His seven thousand sheep and their attendants were burned up in a lightning strike (Job 1:16).  His three thousand camels were stolen and their attendants were also killed (Job 1:17).  His seven sons and three daughters, eating and drinking together in one house, died when a windstorm brought the house down on them (Job 1:18, 19).  Later Job was afflicted with oozing sores (Job 2:7, 8).

Eliphaz, one of the three who came to comfort Job (Job 2:11-13), after seven days and seven nights of sitting silently with him, spoke in answer to Job’s longing for death (Job 3).

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 4:7 (Tanakh) Job 4:7 (NET) Job 4:7 (NETS)

Job 4:7 (Elpenor English)

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished (אָבָ֑ד), being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off (נִכְחָֽדוּ)? Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished (ʼâbad, אבד)?  And where were upright people ever destroyed (kâchad, נכחדו)? “Think now, who, being pure, perished (ἀπώλετο), or when did the true perish (ἀπώλοντο) root and all? Remember then who has perished (ἀπώλετο), being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed (ἀπώλοντο)?

His words seem fairly typical of the way the religious mind rationalizes the misfortune of others.  To say them out loud to Job’s face is less typical but not unheard of.  Though the first half of Job 4:12 is missing from the Masoretic text, the Septuagint puts a fine point on the thrust of Eliphaz’s discourse: But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee.[8]  The reader of the book of Job knows, however, that all of these evils fell upon Job precisely because he was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.[9]

Job was not dead.  He was not burning in a lake of fire for all eternity.  He had lost his family, his servants, his possessions, his health and his desire to live.  The Hebrew word translated perished was אָבָ֑ד (ʼâbad).

The definition from Strong’s Concordance reads: “to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy).”  The Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon reads: “to be lost, to lose oneself, to wander…especially used of a lost and wandering sheep…”  This helps considerably.

This word describes the one who wanders away from God, not away from the flock necessarily.  A herd mentality is portrayed as a negative example in Scripture.  The Bible is a collection of stories about clans and entire nations that wandered away from God interspersed with stories of individuals who pursued Him and followed where He led.  The first occurrence of אָבַד (ʼâbad) follows here.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 10:7 (Tanakh) Exodus 10:7 (NET) Exodus 10:7 (NETS)

Exodus 10:7 (Elpenor English)

And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him: ‘How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve HaShem their G-d, knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed (אָֽבְדָ֖ה)?’ Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a menace to us?  Release the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed (ʼâbad, אבדה)?” Then the attendants of Pharao say to him, “For how long will this be a stumbling-block for us?  Send away the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Or do you wish to know that Egypt lies in ruins (ἀπόλωλεν)?” And the servants of Pharao say to him, How long shall this be a snare to us? send away the men, that they may serve their God; wilt thou know that Egypt is destroyed (ἀπόλωλεν)?

Again, though אָֽבְדָ֖ה (ʼâbad) was translated is destroyed the narrative clearly explained what the Egyptians had lost.  They lost readily accessible fresh water and fish for seven days when the waters were turned to blood (Exodus 7:14-25).  They lost their comfort and peace to an invasion of frogs for a time (Exodus 8:1-15), then to gnats (Exodus 8:16-19) and finally to swarms of flies (Exodus 8:20-32).  They lost livestock, horses, donkeys, camels, herds and flocks to disease (Exodus 9:1-7), people’s health and comfort to boils (Exodus 9:8-12) and then some lost people, livestock, barley and flax to hail damage (Exodus 9:18-32).  Others saved their people and livestock.

This distinction among the Egyptians was stated explicitly (Exodus 9:20, 21 NET):

Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the Lord’s message hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, but those who did not take the Lord’s message seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Though it seems a bit odd to think of Egyptians as having wandered away from יהוה (Yehovah), He has an entirely different perspective than my history teachers had.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Exodus 9:14-16 (Tanakh) [Tableb] Exodus 9:14-16 (NET) Exodus 9:14-16 (NETS)

Exodus 9:14-16 (Elpenor English)

For I will this time send all My plagues upon thy person, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For at the present time I am sending out all my encounters into the heart of you and your attendants and your people so that you may know that there is no other like me in all the land. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off (וַתִּכָּחֵ֖ד) from the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed (kachad, ותכחד) from the earth. For if now I sent my hand, I would strike you and your people with death, and you would be destroyed (ἐκτριβήσῃ) from the land. For now I will stretch forth my hand and smite thee and kill thy people, and thou shalt be consumed (ἐκτριβήσῃ) from off the earth.
But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth. And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

Here the possibility of a more complete destruction was וַתִּכָּחֵ֖ד (kachad) in Hebrew and the rabbis chose ἐκτριβήσῃ (a form of ἐκτρίβω) in the Septuagint.  In the table above נִכְחָֽדוּ (kachad) occurred in Eliphaz’s second rhetorical question: or where were the righteous cut off?  Here the rabbis chose ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο.  Though ἀπώλοντο is another form of ἀπόλλυμι, ἀπόλλω, ἀπολλύω, it is telling to me that they felt the need to add ὁλόρριζοι (a form ὁλόρριζος; NETS: “root and all”) to match the intensity of נִכְחָֽדוּ (kachad).

The second occurrence of ἀπώλετο in the Septuagint is found in Job’s lament.  Actually, I can’t tell if Job was lamenting his loss of social status, confessing (if not repenting of) his treatment of those he considered of lower social or moral status, or justifying himself.  A skillful actor would have a field day with the emotional depth of this monologue.  It bears mentioning that this is a glimpse into the mores of wealthy men, not the families of Job’s dead servants, for instance, lamenting their loss.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint
Job 30:1-3 (Tanakh) Job 30:1-3 (NET) Job 30:1-3 (NETS)

Job 30:1-3 (Elpenor English)

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. “But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs. “But now they have laughed me to scorn; now the least of them reprove me in turn—[whose fathers I used to disdain] whom I did not deem worthy of my shepherd dogs! But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished (אָ֣בַד)? Moreover, the strength of their hands—what use was it to me?  Those whose strength had perished (ʼâbad, אבד), indeed, the strength of their hands—what is it to me?  Completion perished (ἀπώλετο) upon them. Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost (ἀπώλετο).
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. gaunt with want and hunger, they would roam the parched land, by night a desolate waste. In want and hunger, he was childless, those who yesterday were fleeing in an arid place, dismay and misery, [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

Here, the fathers Job disdained are said to have lost old age, the strength to complete the full term of life from want and hunger.

Tables comparing 2 Samuel 13:28; 13:29; 11:15; Job 42:7; 4:7; 4:12; 1:1; Exodus 10:7; 9:20; 9:21; 9:14; 9:15; 9:16; Job 30:1; 30:2 and 30:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and 2 Samuel (Reigns, Kings) 13:28; 13:29; 11:15; Job 42:7; 4:7; 4:12; 1:1; Exodus 10:7; 9:20; 9:21; 9:14; 9:15; 9:16; Job 30:1; 30:2 and 30:3 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor) follow.  A table comparing John 13:30 in the NET and KJV follows those.

2 Samuel 13:28 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 13:28 (KJV)

2 Samuel 13:28 (NET)

And Absalom commanded his servants, saying: ‘Mark ye now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you: Smite Amnon, then kill him, fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.’ Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. Absalom instructed his servants, “Look! When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ kill him then and there.  Don’t fear!  Is it not I who have given you these instructions?  Be strong and courageous!”

2 Samuel 13:28 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 13:28 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐνετείλατο Αβεσσαλωμ τοῗς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ λέγων ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἀγαθυνθῇ ἡ καρδία Αμνων ἐν τῷ οἴνῳ καὶ εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς πατάξατε τὸν Αμνων καὶ θανατώσατε αὐτόν μὴ φοβηθῆτε ὅτι οὐχὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ἐντέλλομαι ὑμῗν ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς υἱοὺς δυνάμεως καὶ ἐνετείλατο ᾿Αβεσσαλὼμ τοῖς παιδαρίοις αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἴδετε ὡς ἂν ἀγαθυνθῇ ἡ καρδία ᾿Αμνὼν ἐν τῷ οἴνῳ καὶ εἴπω πρὸς ὑμᾶς· πατάξατε τὸν ᾿Αμνών, καὶ θανατώσατε αὐτόν· μὴ φοβηθῆτε, ὅτι οὐχὶ ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ἐντελλόμενος ὑμῖν; ἀνδρίζεσθε καὶ γίνεσθε εἰς υἱοὺς δυνάμεως

2 Reigns 13:28 (NETS)

2 Kings 13:28 (English Elpenor)

And Abessalom commanded his lads, saying, “Watch, when the heart of Amnon is made good with wine, and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon, and put him to death.’  Don’t be afraid, for I am—I am commanding you, am I not?  Act like men and be sons of power.” And Abessalom charged his servants, saying, Mark when the heart of Amnon shall be merry with wine, and I shall say to you, Smite Amnon, and slay him: fear not; for is it not I that command you?  Be courageous, and be valiant.

2 Samuel 13:29 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 13:29 (KJV)

2 Samuel 13:29 (NET)

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got him up upon his mule, and fled. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded.  Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled. So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed.  Then all the king’s sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.

2 Samuel 13:29 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 13:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἐποίησαν τὰ παιδάρια Αβεσσαλωμ τῷ Αμνων καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῗς Αβεσσαλωμ καὶ ἀνέστησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπεκάθισαν ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμίονον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγαν καί ἐποίησαν τὰ παιδάρια ᾿Αβεσσαλὼμ τῷ ᾿Αμνὼν καθὰ ἐνετείλατο αὐτοῖς ᾿Αβεσσαλώμ. καὶ ἀνέστησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἐπεκάθισαν ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ τὴν ἡμίονον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφυγαν

2 Reigns 13:29 (NETS)

2 Kings 13:29 (English Elpenor)

And the lads of Abessalom did to Amnon just as Abessalom had commanded them.   And all the sons of the king rose, and they sat, a man upon his mule, and fled. And the servants of Abessalom did to Amnon as Abessalom commanded them: and all the sons of the king rose up, and they mounted every man his mule, and fled.

2 Samuel 11:15 (Tanakh)

2 Samuel 11:15 (KJV)

2 Samuel 11:15 (NET)

And he wrote in the letter, saying: ‘Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.’ And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. In the letter he wrote: “Station Uriah at the front in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.”

2 Samuel 11:15 (Septuagint BLB)

2 Kings 11:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ λέγων εἰσάγαγε τὸν Ουριαν ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῦ πολέμου τοῦ κραταιοῦ καὶ ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ καὶ πληγήσεται καὶ ἀποθανεῗται καὶ ἔγραψεν ἐν βιβλίῳ λέγων· εἰσάγαγε τὸν Οὐρίαν ἐξ ἐναντίας τοῦ πολέμου τοῦ κραταιοῦ, καὶ ἀποστραφήσεσθε ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πληγήσεται ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πληγήσεται καὶ ἀποθανεῖται

2 Reigns 11:15 (NETS)

2 Kings 11:15 (English Elpenor)

And he wrote in the document, saying, “Lead Ourias opposite the hardest fighting, and you shall draw back from behind him, and he will be struck and will die.” And he wrote in the letter, saying, Station Urias in front of the severe [part] of the fight, and retreat from behind him, so shall he be wounded and die.

Job 42:7 (Tanakh)

Job 42:7 (KJV)

Job 42:7 (NET)

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. After the Lord had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.

Job 42:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 42:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι τὸν κύριον πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα τῷ Ιωβ εἶπεν ὁ κύριος Ελιφας τῷ Θαιμανίτῃ ἥμαρτες σὺ καὶ οἱ δύο φίλοι σου οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἐνώπιόν μου ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν ὥσπερ ὁ θεράπων μου Ιωβ ἐγένετο δὲ μετὰ τὸ λαλῆσαι τὸν Κύριον πάντα τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα τῷ ᾿Ιώβ, εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος ᾿Ελιφὰζ τῷ Θαιμανίτῃ· ἥμαρτες σὺ καὶ οἱ δύο φίλοι σου· οὐ γὰρ ἐλαλήσατε ἐνώπιόν μου ἀληθὲς οὐδὲν ὥσπερ ὁ θεράπων μου ᾿Ιώβ

Job 42:7 (NETS)

Job 42:7 (English Elpenor)

Now it happened after the Lord spoke all these words to Iob, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaimanite, “You have sinned, and your two friends, for you have spoken nothing true in my presence, as has my attendant Iob. And it came to pass after the Lord had spoken all these words to Job, [that] the Lord said to Eliphaz the Thaemanite, Thou hast sinned, and thy two friends: for ye have not said anything true before me, as my servant Job [has].

Job 4:7 (Tanakh)

Job 4:7 (KJV)

Job 4:7 (NET)

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished?  And where were upright people ever destroyed?

Job 4:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 4:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μνήσθητι οὖν τίς καθαρὸς ὢν ἀπώλετο ἢ πότε ἀληθινοὶ ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο μνήσθητι οὖν, τίς καθαρὸς ὢν ἀπώλετο ἢ πότε ἀληθινοὶ ὁλόρριζοι ἀπώλοντο

Job 4:7 (NETS)

Job 4:7 (English Elpenor)

“Think now, who, being pure, perished, or when did the true perish root and all? Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

Job 4:12 (Tanakh)

Job 4:12 (KJV)

Job 4:12 (NET)

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. “Now a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.

Job 4:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 4:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ δέ τι ῥῆμα ἀληθινὸν ἐγεγόνει ἐν λόγοις σου οὐθὲν ἄν σοι τούτων κακὸν ἀπήντησεν πότερον οὐ δέξεταί μου τὸ οὖς ἐξαίσια παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰ δέ τι ρῆμα ἀληθινὸν ἐγεγόνει ἐν λόγοις σου, οὐθὲν ἄν σοι τούτων κακὸν ἀπήντησε. πότερον οὐ δέξεταί μου τὸ οὖς ἐξαίσια παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Job 4:12 (NETS)

Job 4:12 (English Elpenor)

But if there had been anything truthful in your words, nothing bad in them would have met you.  “Will my ear not receive remarkable things from him? But if there had been any truth in thy words, none of these evils would have befallen thee.  Shall not mine ear receive excellent [revelations] from him?

Job 1:1 (Tanakh)

Job 1:1 (KJV)

Job 1:1 (NET)

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.  And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil

Job 1:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 1:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αυσίτιδι ᾧ ὄνομα Ιωβ καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῗνος ἀληθινός ἄμεμπτος δίκαιος θεοσεβής ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ τις ἦν ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αὐσίτιδι, ᾧ ὄνομα ᾿Ιώβ, καὶ ἦν ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος ἀληθινός, ἄμεμπτος, δίκαιος, θεοσεβής, ἀπεχόμενος ἀπὸ παντὸς πονηροῦ πράγματος

Job 1:1 (NETS)

Job 1:1 (English Elpenor)

There was a certain man in the land of Ausitis, whose name was Iob, and that man was genuine, blameless, righteous, religious, staying away from every evil thing. There was a certain man in the land of Ausis, whose name [was] Job; and that man was true, blameless, righteous, [and] godly, abstaining from everything evil.

Exodus 10:7 (Tanakh)

Exodus 10:7 (KJV)

Exodus 10:7 (NET)

And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him: ‘How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve HaShem their G-d, knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?’ And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a menace to us?  Release the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?”

Exodus 10:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 10:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ θεράποντες Φαραω πρὸς αὐτόν ἕως τίνος ἔσται τοῦτο ἡμῗν σκῶλον ἐξαπόστειλον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὅπως λατρεύσωσιν τῷ θεῷ αὐτῶν ἢ εἰδέναι βούλει ὅτι ἀπόλωλεν Αἴγυπτος καὶ λέγουσιν οἱ θεράποντες Φαραὼ πρὸς αὐτόν· ἕως τίνος ἔσται τοῦτο ἡμῖν σκῶλον; ἐξαπόστειλον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ὅπως λατρεύσωσι τῷ Θεῷ αὐτῶν· ἢ εἰδέναι βούλῃ ὅτι ἀπόλωλεν Αἴγυπτος

Exodus 10:7 (NETS)

Exodus 10:7 (English Elpenor)

Then the attendants of Pharao say to him, “For how long will this be a stumbling-block for us?  Send away the people so that they may serve the Lord their God.  Or do you wish to know that Egypt lies in ruins?” And the servants of Pharao say to him, How long shall this be a snare to us? send away the men, that they may serve their God; wilt thou know that Egypt is destroyed?

Exodus 9:20 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:20 (KJV)

Exodus 9:20 (NET)

He that feared the word of HaShem among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses; He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: Those of Pharaoh’s servants who feared the Lord’s message hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses,

Exodus 9:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ φοβούμενος τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου τῶν θεραπόντων Φαραω συνήγαγεν τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ὁ φοβούμενος τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου τῶν θεραπόντων Φαραὼ συνήγαγε τὰ κτήνη αὐτοῦ εἰς τοὺς οἴκους

Exodus 9:20 (NETS)

Exodus 9:20 (English Elpenor)

The one among Pharao’s attendants who feared the word of the Lord gathered his animals into dwellings. He of the servants of Pharao that feared the word of the Lord, gathered his cattle into the houses.

Exodus 9:21 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:21 (KJV)

Exodus 9:21 (NET)

and he that regarded not the word of HaShem left his servants and his cattle in the field. And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field. but those who did not take the Lord’s message seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.

Exodus 9:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὃς δὲ μὴ προσέσχεν τῇ διανοίᾳ εἰς τὸ ῥῆμα κυρίου ἀφῆκεν τὰ κτήνη ἐν τοῗς πεδίοις ὃς δὲ μὴ προσέσχε τῇ διανοίᾳ εἰς τὸ ρῆμα Κυρίου, ἀφῆκε τὰ κτήνη ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις

Exodus 9:21 (NETS)

Exodus 9:21 (English Elpenor)

But whoever did not pay attention with his mind to the word of the Lord left the animals on the plain. And he that did not attend in his mind to the word of the Lord, left the cattle in the fields.

Exodus 9:14 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:14 (KJV)

Exodus 9:14 (NET)

For I will this time send all My plagues upon thy person, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

Exodus 9:14 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:14 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν τῷ γὰρ νῦν καιρῷ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω πάντα τὰ συναντήματά μου εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων σου καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου ἵν᾽ εἰδῇς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ἐγὼ ἄλλος ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ ἐν τῷ γὰρ νῦν καιρῷ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω πάντα τὰ συναντήματά μου εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου καὶ τῶν θεραπόντων σου καὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου, ἵνα εἰδῇς ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς ἐγὼ ἄλλος ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

Exodus 9:14 (NETS)

Exodus 9:14 (English Elpenor)

For at the present time I am sending out all my encounters into the heart of you and your attendants and your people so that you may know that there is no other like me in all the land. For at this present time do I send forth all my plagues into thine heart, and the heart of thy servants and of thy people; that thou mayest know that there is not another such as I in all the earth.

Exodus 9:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:15 (KJV)

Exodus 9:15 (NET)

Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth. For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth.

Exodus 9:15 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νῦν γὰρ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῗρα πατάξω σε καὶ τὸν λαόν σου θανάτῳ καὶ ἐκτριβήσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς νῦν γὰρ ἀποστείλας τὴν χεῖρα πατάξω σε, καὶ τὸν λαόν σου θανατώσω, καὶ ἐκτριβήσῃ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς

Exodus 9:15 (NETS)

Exodus 9:15 (English Elpenor)

For if now I sent my hand, I would strike you and your people with death, and you would be destroyed from the land. For now I will stretch forth my hand and smite thee and kill thy people, and thou shalt be consumed from off the earth.

Exodus 9:16 (Tanakh)

Exodus 9:16 (KJV)

Exodus 9:16 (NET)

But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth.

Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Exodus 9:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ καὶ ἕνεκεν τούτου διετηρήθης, ἵνα ἐνδείξωμαι ἐν σοὶ τὴν ἰσχύν μου, καὶ ὅπως διαγγελῇ τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ

Exodus 9:16 (NETS)

Exodus 9:16 (English Elpenor)

And for this reason you have been spared in order that I might display in you my power and in order that my name might be proclaimed in all the land. And for this purpose hast thou been preserved, that I might display in thee my strength, and that my name might be published in all the earth.

Job 30:1 (Tanakh)

Job 30:1 (KJV)

Job 30:1 (NET)

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. “But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs.

Job 30:1 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

νυνὶ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι νῦν νουθετοῦσίν με ἐν μέρει ὧν ἐξουδένουν πατέρας αὐτῶν οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην εἶναι ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων ΝΥΝΙ δὲ κατεγέλασάν μου ἐλάχιστοι, νῦν νουθετοῦσί με ἐν μέρει ὧν ἐξουδένουν τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν, οὓς οὐχ ἡγησάμην ἀξίους κυνῶν τῶν ἐμῶν νομάδων

Job 30:1 (NETS)

Job 30:1 (English Elpenor)

“But now they have laughed me to scorn; now the least of them reprove me in turn—[whose fathers I used to disdain] whom I did not deem worthy of my shepherd dogs! But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.

Job 30:2 (Tanakh)

Job 30:2 (KJV)

Job 30:2 (NET)

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? Moreover, the strength of their hands—what use was it to me? Those whose strength had perished,

Job 30:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἵνα τί μοι ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια καί γε ἰσχὺς χειρῶν αὐτῶν ἱνατί μοι; ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἀπώλετο συντέλεια

Job 30:2 (NETS)

Job 30:2 (English Elpenor)

indeed, the strength of their hands—what is it to me?  Completion perished upon them. Yea, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.

Job 30:3 (Tanakh)

Job 30:3 (KJV)

Job 30:3 (NET)

For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. gaunt with want and hunger, they would roam the parched land, by night a desolate waste.

Job 30:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 30:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν ἐν ἐνδείᾳ καὶ λιμῷ ἄγονος· οἱ φεύγοντες ἄνυδρον ἐχθὲς συνοχὴν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν,

Job 30:3 (NETS)

Job 30:3 (English Elpenor)

In want and hunger, he was childless, those who yesterday were fleeing in an arid place, dismay and misery, [One is] childless in want and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.

John 13:30 (NET)

John 13:30 (KJV)

Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.) He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

NET Parallel Greek

Stephanus Textus Receptus

Byzantine Majority Text

λαβὼν οὖν τὸ ψωμίον ἐκεῖνος ἐξῆλθεν εὐθύς. (ἦν δὲ νύξ.) λαβων ουν το ψωμιον εκεινος ευθεως εξηλθεν ην δε νυξ λαβων ουν το ψωμιον εκεινος ευθεως εξηλθεν ην δε νυξ