Job 4:16

It became still,

   I could not discern its appearance,

      A form loomed before my eyes.

Silence,

   Then I heard a voice.

 

Options to “it became still” include a “he” inplace of “it” and “stood”, “stopped”, “halted”, and “there was standing” for “became still”. “He” was out more on selection by seven sources over one “it” than any attempt to be politically correct. “Became still” won out over “stood”, “stopped”, and “there was standing” more over preference for action being involved and over “halted” just because it sounds cooler.

“Discern its appearance” won out over “tell what is was” because this is not written for a person learning to read. Other interesting alternatives were “discern the form thereof”, “its appearance was strange to me”, “I could not make him out”, and “its look an unfamiliar”. It seems either Eliphaz could not quite see it or he could not figure out how to describe it. I leaned towards the option that he could not quite figure out its appearance over he could not describe it. I like the feel of that with the rest of the event.

I chose “loomed” over “was” and “stood” mainly due to the spooky feel and the out of the ordinariness. I chose “form” over “image” or “shape” as it fit the intent of something was there and not just a immaterial picture.

I used “silence” over “there was silence”, “hushed” (as an adjective for the voice), “a murmur” (as a repeat of term “the voice”), “Hush!”, and “stillness”. I do not believe the intent was to describe the voice as hushed or as a murmur. I do not like the command of “Hush” at all. “Stillness” seemed a repeat of stitch one and “silence” more fit with the eventual coming of sound from the voice. I almost used “Out of the silence, I heard a voice”, but it seemed too prosaic.

And lastly, I picked “voice” over “sound” or “his voice” as words follow, not noises, and the non-gender specific nature of a form. I did also delete the idea of the voice “saying” as it should be obvious the voice delivers the next verses and how unpoetic that sounded in my head.

Another baseball season is over. It is almost the same as becoming still. The parties are working on a new contract so that no one knows what baseball will look like. It is almost the same as not being able to discern its appearance. A life without baseball. It is almost the same as a form looming before my eyes. Silence. The perception of life without baseball does seem like silence. So now I just need to hear from God and it will be like hearing a voice. I expect to hear from God. I have no idea what it will be, but I know my life will be different going forward.

Eliphaz was filled with terror as he prepared to hear from this form that he essentially claims was from God. I too could be paralyzed by fear at the unknown coming. I am not. I believe what the Bible says. I know that its truth has been fulfilled in my past and that it will be fulfilled in my future. I want to hear God call me and I want to follow. These past five verses and the almost year from the time I first worked on this verse until now all feel as if just a prelude to what comes next. How entertaining this might be.