Gloss – olalia

“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has hedged in?” Job 3:23  NASB

Why is light given to – If you check the Hebrew text, you will find something quite unusual.  None of these “translated” words have any Hebrew counterpart.  The Hebrew text simply begins, “To the man.”  Actually, there is a bit more involved even here, but one thing is certain.  “Why is light given” is a gloss.  It doesn’t occur in Hebrew.  Notice how the gloss alters the meaning of the verse.  The verse shifts from a statement that God hides our way to a question about frustrated insight.  With the gloss, the verse appears to suggest that God gives light but, at the same time, hides the meaning of that light.  Without the gloss, the verse simply says that a man’s way is hidden.

So, where did the gloss come from?  The gloss is imported into this verse from the previous verse 20.  In other words, the translators felt that the same question found in verse 20 should be extended into verse 23.  That’s why some English translations have the question, “Why is light given” and some have the question, “Why is life given.”  Either one is a gloss.  Neither one is in the real text.

Does this mean the translations are incorrect?  Technically, yes.  But the translators are not attempting to simply provide word correspondence.  They are attempting to provide meaning and for this reason, they add the gloss.  Of course, you know something isn’t quite right when the English translation puts these words in italics (and if they are not in italics in your Bible, get a different Bible).  This is an indication that there is a problem with the word correspondence.  Of course, you wouldn’t know what the problem is unless you read the Hebrew.  We might consider this a case of theological glossolalia because the translators have multiplied words without an interpreter.  They speak a language not known to men or angels.

Now we need another look at the real Hebrew text.  First we find that the word “man” is gever, not just an ordinary man but rather a mighty man.  Even the strongest, the most upright, the greatest heroes of the faith find their path hidden.  Once again consider Abraham.  “Come to a place I will show you” is not the same as, “Let me tell you the plan I have prepared for your life.”  What is hidden?  Asher-darko.  Not just any path but the path.  My way to travel.  Your way to travel.  Look ahead.  What do you see over the horizon?  Oh, of course.  You can’t see over the horizon, can you? The way is dark.  It is hidden.

Wait!  Does that mean I can’t know the will of God?  Does that mean life is just a “shot in the dark”?  Of course not!  I absolutely know God’s will within the mitzvot.  I know what He is like and I know what He asks of all men.  I just don’t know how that will all be unraveled (and revealed) in my life, on my path.  I know what to eat, who to lend to without interest, who to help, how to worship, but I don’t know how that will be played out in tomorrow’s circumstances.

AND I DON’T NEED TO KNOW!

Really!  If someone told you ten years ago what you would have to go through to get where you are today, would you have done what needed to be done?  We don’t actually follow a plan.  We follow a person within a paradigm.  “God has a wonderful plan for your life” is irrelevant.  He isn’t going to tell you what it is.

Topical Index:  gloss, man, gever, path, derek, plan, Job 3:23