Job 23:8–9

sn The text has “the left hand,” the Semitic idiom for directions. One faces the rising sun, and so left is north, right is south.

tc The form בַּעֲשֹׂתוֹ (ba’asoto) would be the temporal clause using the infinitive construct with a pronoun (subject genitive). This would be “when he works.” Several follow the Syriac with “I seek him.” The LXX has “[when] he turns.” R. Gordis (Job, 261) notes that there is no need to emend the text; he shows a link to the Arabic cognate ghasa, “to cover.” To him this is a perfect parallel to יַעְטֹף (ya’tof, “covers himself”).

tn The verb is the apocopated form of the imperfect. The object is supplied.

tn The MT has “he turns,” but the Syriac and Vulgate have “I turn.”