For he has not appointed a time for any man: in 9.32 and 14.13 Job complained of the lack of opportunity to face God in court, and in 24.1 he asked “Why doesn’t God set a time for judging?” Elihu now answers Job’s question. As the Revised Standard Version note shows, the Hebrew text has “yet” where Revised Standard Version translates time. Many scholars interpret the Hebrew word rendered “yet” as the result of its first letter having fallen out, due to the preceding word ending in the same letter, and the scribe copying only one letter where there should have been two. By restoring the dropped letter the word means “a set time, an appointment.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, which accept this change, have a note. Many other translations follow the change without a note. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands the Hebrew word for “yet” to mean “in addition” and translates “for God need not make a further or special judgment.” This seems to be followed by New International Version, “God has no need to examine men further.” Bible en français courant translates “God has no need to summon a man,” and in the footnote, “God has no need to examine a man in a special way….” Bible en français courant provides two satisfactory translation models.

In line b to go before God in judgment means “to appear before God to be judged” or “to go before God’s court and be judged by him.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .