Logos Bible Study

Job 4:3

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4:3Look,6 you have instructed7 many;

you have strengthened8 feeble hands.9

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Footnotes

  1. 6 The deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “behold”) summons attention; it has the sense of “consider, look.”
  2. 7 The verb יָסַר (yasar) in the Piel means “to correct,” whether by words with the sense of teach, or by chastening with the sense of punish, discipline. The double meaning of “teach” and “discipline” is also found with the noun מוּסָר (musar).
  3. 8 The parallelism again uses a perfect verb in the first colon and an imperfect in the second; but since the sense of the line is clearly what Job has done in the past, the second verb may be treated as a preterite, or a customary imperfect—what Job repeatedly did in the past ( §107.e). The words in this verse may have double meanings. The word יָסַר (yasar, “teach, discipline”) may have the idea of instruction and correction, but also the connotation of strength (see Y. Hoffmann, “The Use of Equivocal Words in the First Speech of Eliphaz [Job IV–V],” 30 [1980]: 114–19).
  4. 9 The “feeble hands” are literally “hands hanging down.” This is a sign of weakness, helplessness, or despondency (see 2 Sam 4:1; Isa 13:7).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Think how you have instructed many,

how you have strengthened feeble hands.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Indeed, you have instructed many

and have strengthened weak hands.

NLTNew Living Translation

“In the past you have encouraged many people;

you have strengthened those who were weak.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Look, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened weak hands.

KJV 1900King James Version

Behold, thou hast instructed many,

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.