Texts in Conversation
Job 28 describes God’s vision as extending across the entire world, using divine sight as an indication of knowledge and authority. This same language is found in Isaiah, which acknowledges divine sight and appeals for God to notice and respond to human need.
Share:
Isaiah 63:15
Hebrew Bible
13 who led them through the deep water? Like a horse running through the wilderness they did not stumble. 14 As an animal that goes down into a valley to graze, so the Spirit of the Lord granted them rest. In this way you guided your people, gaining for yourself an honored reputation. 15 Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion! 16 For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, Lord, are our father; you have been called our Protector from ancient times. 17 Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways and make our minds stubborn so that we do not obey you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance!
Date: 7th-5th Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Job 28:24
Hebrew Bible
22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.’ 23 God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place. 24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and observes everything under the heavens. 25 When he made the force of the wind and measured the waters with a gauge, 26 when he imposed a limit for the rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... all of the roots may be found in various contexts with the most common of the 'see' words. Both words are found in an imperative form in Habakkuk 1:5: 'See the nations and look!' (Compare Numbers 23:21; 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Kings 3:14; Isaiah 5:12; 38:11; 42:18; 63:15; Job 28:24; Lamentations 1:11 ...) Here there is no reason to suspect that the two words have any substantial difference in meaning, but rather they are simply two roughly synonymous words used in parallel for emphasis.
[What is] usually translated 'reveal, uncover, open,' is found in parallel with Isaiah 47:3: 'Your nakedness will be revealed, moreover your shame will be seen' (compare Isaiah 3:1). In 2 Samuel 22:16 (compare Psalm 18:16) the results of Yahweh's theophany include: 'the channels of water were seen, and the foundations of the world were revealed.' In both contexts both verbs take the Niphal form and seem to be synonymous, and are used together in a number of texts. In Psalm 14:2 and 53:3 God is said to look down from heaven upon the sons of men 'to see if there are any who seek after God.' Here the purpose of looking out or down is to see. As before it seems to emphasize 'looking down' whereas the second verb points to the object ..."
Staton, Cecil P.
And Yahweh appeared: A Study of the Motifs of Seeing God and of God's appearing in Old Testament Narratives
(p. 10) University of Oxford, 1988
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.