40 Because the parallel with “light” and “east wind” is not tight, Hoffmann proposed ‘ed instead, “mist.” This has been adopted by many. G. R. Driver suggests “parching heat” (“Problems in the Hebrew text of Job,” 3 [1955]: 91–92).
41 Heb “on a land, no man.”
42 Heb “a desert, no man in it.”
43 Heb “to cause to sprout a source of vegetation.” The word מֹצָא (motsa’) is rendered “mine” in Job 28:1. The suggestion with the least changes is Wright’s: צָמֵא (tsame’, “thirsty”). But others choose מִצִּיָּה (mitsiyyah, “from the steppe”).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

What is the way to the place where the light is distributed,

or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?

“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain

and a way for the thunderbolt,

to bring rain on a land where no man is,

on the desert in which there is no man,

to satisfy the waste and desolate land,

and to make the ground sprout with grass?

“Has the rain a father,

or who has begotten the drops of dew?

NIVNew International Version (2011)

What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,

or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,

and a path for the thunderstorm,

to water a land where no one lives,

an uninhabited desert,

to satisfy a desolate wasteland

and make it sprout with grass?

Does the rain have a father?

Who fathers the drops of dew?

CSBChristian Standard Bible

What road leads to the place where light is dispersed?

Where is the source of the east wind that spreads across the earth?

Who cuts a channel for the flooding rain

or clears the way for lightning,

to bring rain on an uninhabited land,

on a desert with no human life,

to satisfy the parched wasteland

and cause the grass to sprout?

Does the rain have a father?

Who fathered the drops of dew?

NLTNew Living Translation

Where is the path to the source of light?

Where is the home of the east wind?

“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?

Who laid out the path for the lightning?

Who makes the rain fall on barren land,

in a desert where no one lives?

Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground

and make the tender grass spring up?

“Does the rain have a father?

Who gives birth to the dew?

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Where then is the way where the light is distributed,

where he scatters the east wind upon the earth?

“Who has cut open a channel for the torrents

and a way for the thunder bolts,

to bring rain on a land where no one lives,

a desert where no humans live,

to satisfy desert and wasteland,

and to cause the ground to put forth the rising of grass?

Is there a father for the rain,

or who fathered the drops of dew?

KJV 1900King James Version

By what way is the light parted,

Which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters,

Or a way for the lightning of thunder;

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is;

On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground;

And to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

Hath the rain a father?

Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

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