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Q&A Why does Job 39:19 use 'clothed' for 'Have you clothed his neck with thunder'?

The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its ride...

posted 2y ago by qohelet‭  ·  edited 2y ago by qohelet‭

Answer
#3: Post edited by user avatar qohelet‭ · 2022-01-31T16:05:02Z (about 2 years ago)
  • The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its rider into battle. Ultimately God is questioning Job whether he is the one who gives horses their strength and power (the rhetorical answer is an emphatic "No!").
  • A challenge with this translation is that רַעְמָה (_ra'mah_) is a [_hapax legomenon_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon). The word is often connected with its (likely) root meaning "thunder" (רַעַם, which may also carry the connotation of "quaking" or "rumbling," as these are also associated with thunder).[^4]
  • The Septuagint translators understood it in the sense of fear or terror ("ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ φόβον"[^5] == "[have you] clothed its neck with terror" || "put fear on its neck"), although this may have to do with the root meaning of the Greek word for "mane" being "fear." This seems to fit the context well. The Latin Vulgate focused on the sound ("neighing").
  • >A. B. Davidson thought it referred to the quivering of the neck rather than the mane. Gray thought the sound and not the movement was the point. But without better evidence, a reading that has “quivering mane” may not be far off the mark. But it may be simplest to translate it “mane” and assume that the idea of “quivering” is part of the meaning.[^1]
  • The quivering mane may imply an allusion/pattern as Job 39:13 references the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich. Assuming the connection with the root word for "thunder," the poetic implication of v.19 might be:
  • >poetically for, "he with arched neck inspires fear as thunder does." Translate, "majesty...."[^2]
  • Translators essentially agree that "the image is one of magnificent power."[^3] Individual translations might convey this differently (whether more literally: "flowing mane," or by attempting to translate the metaphor: "clothed with thunder"), but that is the overarching imagery being conveyed.
  • [^1]: Biblical Studies Press, _The NET Bible First Edition Notes_ (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Job 39:19.
  • [^2]: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, _Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,_ vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 342.
  • [^3]: Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., _The Jewish Study Bible_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1558.
  • [^4]: Ludwig Koehler et al., _The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament_ (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1266.
  • [^5]: Joseph Ziegler, ed., Iob, vol. XI, 4, _Vetus Testamentum Graecum. Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis Editum_ (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1982), Job 39:19b.
  • The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its rider into battle. Ultimately God is questioning Job whether he is the one who gives horses their strength and power (the rhetorical answer is an emphatic "No!").
  • A challenge with this translation is that רַעְמָה (_ra'mah_) is a [_hapax legomenon_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon). The word is often connected with its (likely) root meaning "thunder" (רַעַם, which may also carry the connotation of "quaking" or "rumbling," as these are also associated with thunder).[^4]
  • The Septuagint translators understood it in the sense of fear or terror ("ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ φόβον"[^5] == "[have you] clothed its neck with terror" || "put fear on its neck"), although this may have to do with the root meaning of the Greek word for "mane" being "fear." This seems to fit the context well. The Latin Vulgate focused on the sound ("neighing").
  • >A. B. Davidson thought it referred to the quivering of the neck rather than the mane. Gray thought the sound and not the movement was the point. But without better evidence, a reading that has “quivering mane” may not be far off the mark. But it may be simplest to translate it “mane” and assume that the idea of “quivering” is part of the meaning.[^1]
  • The quivering mane may imply an allusion/pattern as Job 39:13 references the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich. Assuming the connection with the root word for "thunder," the poetic implication of v.19 might be:
  • >poetically for, "he with arched neck inspires fear as thunder does." Translate, "majesty...."[^2]
  • Translators essentially agree that "the image is one of magnificent power."[^3] Individual translations might convey this differently (whether more literally: "flowing mane," or by attempting to retain the metaphorical language: "clothed with thunder"), but that is the overarching imagery being conveyed.
  • [^1]: Biblical Studies Press, _The NET Bible First Edition Notes_ (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Job 39:19.
  • [^2]: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, _Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,_ vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 342.
  • [^3]: Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., _The Jewish Study Bible_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1558.
  • [^4]: Ludwig Koehler et al., _The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament_ (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1266.
  • [^5]: Joseph Ziegler, ed., Iob, vol. XI, 4, _Vetus Testamentum Graecum. Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis Editum_ (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1982), Job 39:19b.
#2: Post edited by user avatar qohelet‭ · 2022-01-31T16:04:02Z (about 2 years ago)
updated LXX text to include all translated
  • The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its rider into battle. Ultimately God is questioning Job whether he is the one who gives horses their strength and power (the rhetorical answer is an emphatic "No!").
  • A challenge with this translation is that רַעְמָה (_ra'mah_) is a [_hapax legomenon_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon). The word is often connected with its (likely) root meaning "thunder" (רַעַם, which may also carry the connotation of "quaking" or "rumbling," as these are also associated with thunder).[^4]
  • The Septuagint translators understood it in the sense of fear or terror (ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ == "[have you] clothed its neck with terror" || "put fear on its neck"), although this may have to do with the root meaning of the Greek word for "mane" being "fear." This seems to fit the context well. The Latin Vulgate focused on the sound ("neighing").
  • >A. B. Davidson thought it referred to the quivering of the neck rather than the mane. Gray thought the sound and not the movement was the point. But without better evidence, a reading that has “quivering mane” may not be far off the mark. But it may be simplest to translate it “mane” and assume that the idea of “quivering” is part of the meaning.[^1]
  • The quivering mane may imply an allusion/pattern as Job 39:13 references the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich. Assuming the connection with the root word for "thunder," the poetic implication of v.19 might be:
  • >poetically for, "he with arched neck inspires fear as thunder does." Translate, "majesty...."[^2]
  • Translators essentially agree that "the image is one of magnificent power."[^3] Individual translations might convey this differently (whether more literally: "flowing mane," or by attempting to translate the metaphor: "clothed with thunder"), but that is the overarching imagery being conveyed.
  • [^1]: Biblical Studies Press, _The NET Bible First Edition Notes_ (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Job 39:19.
  • [^2]: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, _Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,_ vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 342.
  • [^3]: Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., _The Jewish Study Bible_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1558.
  • [^4]: Ludwig Koehler et al., _The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament_ (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1266.
  • The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its rider into battle. Ultimately God is questioning Job whether he is the one who gives horses their strength and power (the rhetorical answer is an emphatic "No!").
  • A challenge with this translation is that רַעְמָה (_ra'mah_) is a [_hapax legomenon_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon). The word is often connected with its (likely) root meaning "thunder" (רַעַם, which may also carry the connotation of "quaking" or "rumbling," as these are also associated with thunder).[^4]
  • The Septuagint translators understood it in the sense of fear or terror ("ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ αὐτοῦ φόβον"[^5] == "[have you] clothed its neck with terror" || "put fear on its neck"), although this may have to do with the root meaning of the Greek word for "mane" being "fear." This seems to fit the context well. The Latin Vulgate focused on the sound ("neighing").
  • >A. B. Davidson thought it referred to the quivering of the neck rather than the mane. Gray thought the sound and not the movement was the point. But without better evidence, a reading that has “quivering mane” may not be far off the mark. But it may be simplest to translate it “mane” and assume that the idea of “quivering” is part of the meaning.[^1]
  • The quivering mane may imply an allusion/pattern as Job 39:13 references the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich. Assuming the connection with the root word for "thunder," the poetic implication of v.19 might be:
  • >poetically for, "he with arched neck inspires fear as thunder does." Translate, "majesty...."[^2]
  • Translators essentially agree that "the image is one of magnificent power."[^3] Individual translations might convey this differently (whether more literally: "flowing mane," or by attempting to translate the metaphor: "clothed with thunder"), but that is the overarching imagery being conveyed.
  • [^1]: Biblical Studies Press, _The NET Bible First Edition Notes_ (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Job 39:19.
  • [^2]: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, _Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,_ vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 342.
  • [^3]: Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., _The Jewish Study Bible_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1558.
  • [^4]: Ludwig Koehler et al., _The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament_ (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1266.
  • [^5]: Joseph Ziegler, ed., Iob, vol. XI, 4, _Vetus Testamentum Graecum. Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis Editum_ (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1982), Job 39:19b.
#1: Initial revision by user avatar qohelet‭ · 2022-01-31T15:59:36Z (about 2 years ago)
The "mane" of a horse refers to the hair that grows on the top of its neck. The immediate context of vv. 19–25 is imagery associated with this war horse that fearlessly and eagerly carries its rider into battle. Ultimately God is questioning Job whether he is the one who gives horses their strength and power (the rhetorical answer is an emphatic "No!").

A challenge with this translation is that רַעְמָה (_ra'mah_) is a [_hapax legomenon_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapax_legomenon). The word is often connected with its (likely) root meaning "thunder" (רַעַם, which may also carry the connotation of "quaking" or "rumbling," as these are also associated with thunder).[^4]

The Septuagint translators understood it in the sense of fear or terror (ἐνέδυσας δὲ τραχήλῳ == "[have you] clothed its neck with terror" || "put fear on its neck"), although this may have to do with the root meaning of the Greek word for "mane" being "fear." This seems to fit the context well. The Latin Vulgate focused on the sound ("neighing").

>A. B. Davidson thought it referred to the quivering of the neck rather than the mane. Gray thought the sound and not the movement was the point. But without better evidence, a reading that has “quivering mane” may not be far off the mark. But it may be simplest to translate it “mane” and assume that the idea of “quivering” is part of the meaning.[^1]

The quivering mane may imply an allusion/pattern as Job 39:13 references the "vibrating wing" of the ostrich. Assuming the connection with the root word for "thunder," the poetic implication of v.19 might be:

>poetically for, "he with arched neck inspires fear as thunder does." Translate, "majesty...."[^2]

Translators essentially agree that "the image is one of magnificent power."[^3] Individual translations might convey this differently (whether more literally: "flowing mane," or by attempting to translate the metaphor: "clothed with thunder"), but that is the overarching imagery being conveyed.



[^1]: Biblical Studies Press, _The NET Bible First Edition Notes_ (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Job 39:19.

[^2]: Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, _Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,_ vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 342.

[^3]: Adele Berlin, Marc Zvi Brettler, and Michael Fishbane, eds., _The Jewish Study Bible_ (New York: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1558.

[^4]: Ludwig Koehler et al., _The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament_ (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 1266.