Job 21:22

Footnotes

1. 56 The imperfect verb in this question should be given the modal nuance of potential imperfect. The question is rhetorical—it is affirming that no one can teach God.
2. 57 The clause begins with the disjunctive vav (ו) and the pronoun, “and he.” This is to be subordinated as a circumstantial clause. See §142.d.
3. 58 The Hebrew has רָמִים (ramim), a plural masculine participle of רוּם (rum, “to be high; to be exalted”). This is probably a reference to the angels. But M. Dahood restores an older interpretation that it refers to “the Most High” (“Some Northwest Semitic words in Job,” 38 [1957]: 316–17). He would take the word as a singular form with an enclitic mem (ם). He reads the verse, “will he judge the Most High?”