anger

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The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “anger” in English in this verse is translated with a variety of solutions (Bratcher / Nida says: “Since anger has so many manifestations and seems to affect so many aspects of personality, it is not strange that expressions used to describe this emotional response are so varied).”

  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “be warm inside”
  • Mende: “have a cut heart”
  • Mískito: “have a split heart”
  • Tzotzil: “have a hot heart”
  • Mossi: “a swollen heart”
  • Western Kanjobal: “fire of the viscera”
  • San Blas Kuna: “pain in the heart”
  • Chimborazo Highland Quichua: “not with good eye”
  • Citak: two different terms, one meaning “angry” and one meaning “offended,” both are actually descriptions of facial expressions. The former can be represented by an angry stretching of the eyes or by an angry frown. The latter is similarly expressed by an offended type of frown with one’s head lowered. (Source: Graham Ogden)

See also God’s anger.

Translation commentary on Job 36:13

The godless in heart cherish anger: godless translates a word used in 8.13, which refers to people who do not trust God, and so “those who do not trust God” or “people who do not believe in God.” Here in heart is added to make the expression more vivid. In some languages it is translated as “unbelievers in heart.” Dhorme thinks it means “hypocritical,” New Jerusalem Bible calls them “stubborn,” and Bible en français courant “people of bad faith,” that is, people who lack faith. Cherish anger is literally “put anger.” Dhorme makes a change to get “keep their anger,” and this seems to be followed by both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The anger they have is their own, not God’s.

These people do not cry for help; that is, “they do not ask God to help them.” When he binds them describes the extent of the conditions God imposes on them, and still they do not ask for his help. Pope changes the Hebrew verb translated binds to get “chastises,” but the general sense of putting them in bonds is for punishment, and so Good News Translation “even when punished” is adequate without the need for any change. Verse 13 may be rendered, for example, “They are people who do not trust God and who stay angry. Even when God punishes them, they do not ask him to help them.”

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 .