1 The reads here מְרִי (méri, “rebellious”). The word is related to the verb מָרָה (marah, “to revolt”). Many commentators follow the , Job, and the to read מַר (mar, “bitter”). The offers no help here.
2 The (followed by the and ) has “my hand is heavy on my groaning.” This would mean “my stroke is heavier than my groaning” (an improbable view from Job). A better suggestion is that the meaning would be that Job tries to suppress his groans but the hand with which he suppresses them is too heavy (H. H. Rowley, Job [], 159). Budde, E. Dhorme, J. E. Hartley, and F. I. Andersen all maintain the as the more difficult reading. F. I. Andersen (Job [], ) indicates that the ִי(i) suffix could be an example of an unusual third masculine singular. Both the and the versions have “his hand,” and many modern commentators follow this, along with the present translation. In this case the referent of “his” would be God, whose hand is heavy upon Job in spite of Job’s groaning.
3 The preposition can take this meaning; it could be also translated simply “upon.” R. Gordis (Job, 260) reads the preposition “more than,” saying that Job had been defiant (he takes that view) but God’s hand had been far worse.