Logos Bible Study

Job 4:3–4

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4:3Look,6 you have instructed7 many;

you have strengthened8 feeble hands.9

4:4Your words have supported10 those

who stumbled,11

and you have strengthened the knees

that gave way.12

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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).
  5. 10 Both verbs in this line are imperfects, and probably carry the same nuance as the last verb in v. 3, namely, either customary imperfect or preterite. The customary has the aspect of stressing that this was what Job used to do.
  6. 11 The form is the singular active participle, interpreted here collectively. The verb is used of knees that give way (Isa 35:3; Ps 109:24).
  7. 12 The expression is often translated as “feeble knees,” but it literally says “the bowing [or “tottering”] knees.” The figure is one who may be under a heavy load whose knees begin to shake and buckle (see also Heb 12:12). Job had been successful at helping others not be crushed by the weight of trouble and misfortune. It is easier to help others than to preserve a proper perspective when one’s self is afflicted (E. Dhorme, Job, 44).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

and you have made firm the feeble knees.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Think how you have instructed many,

how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled;

you have strengthened faltering knees.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Indeed, you have instructed many

and have strengthened weak hands.

Your words have steadied the one who was stumbling

and braced the knees that were buckling.

NLTNew Living Translation

“In the past you have encouraged many people;

you have strengthened those who were weak.

Your words have supported those who were falling;

you encouraged those with shaky knees.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Look, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened weak hands.

Your words have raised up the one who stumbles,

and you have strengthened knees giving way.

KJV 1900King James Version

Behold, thou hast instructed many,

And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

Thy words have upholden him that was falling,

And thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.