Author: Skip Moen, Ph.D.

  • Practice What You Preach

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weak hands.   Your words have helped the stumbling to stand, and you have strengthened [b]feeble knees.  But now it comes to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are horrified.  Is your [c]fear of God not your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?  Job 4:3-6  NASB Horrified –…

  • Look Who’s Talking

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, “If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient?  But who can refrain [a]from speaking?  Job 4:1-2  NASB Eliphaz – It’s always important to know the meaning of the names in a biblical story.  Here the name of the speaker is Eliphaz (אֱלִיפַז), a combination of God’s shortened title and…

  • So What’s The Problem?

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes.  Job 3:26  NASB Turmoil – If you’re not at ease, not quiet, not resting, then why would you be surprised when things are upsetting?  This verse seems entirely counterintuitive.  We could understand if Job claimed ease, quiet, and…

  • Jacob and Job

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    For [j]what I fear comes upon me, and what I dread [k]encounters me.  Job 3:25  NASB What I fear – An unfortunate translation.  By rendering this word as “fear,” we miss the point and the connections.  Even more, when the translators use “dread” in the subsequent phrase, they mix up the real meanings and miss the oxymoron. …

  • The Dirge

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, and my cries pour out like water.  Job 3:24  NASB Cries pour out – It’s not whimpering tears.  No sir.  These Hebrew words say something much more powerful—and distressing.  But we’ll need to arrange the syntax according to the Hebrew, not the English.  Therefore, we investigate “poured…

  • Hunger Strike

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, and my cries pour out like water.  Job 3:24  NASB Groaning – Before we tackle the participle “groaning,” let’s understand the context.  The NASB translates the opening of this verse as “at the sight of my food,” but the Hebrew is perhaps more poignant.  Literally, it reads…

  • Divine Silence

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has shut off? Job 3:23  NASB Way is hidden – The verb is sātar.  Its uses are important. The root in its basic meaning “hide” is common to West, Southwest, and Southeast Semitic. The subordinate thought of protection involved in the root, which helps…

  • Let Me Go

    BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

    “Why is light given to one burdened with grief, and life to the bitter of soul, who [i]long for death, but there is none, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures; who are filled with jubilation, and rejoice when they find the grave?  Job 3:20-22  NASB Burdened with grief – Job might have more in mind than…