יְהִי־רָעֵ֥ב אֹנֹ֑ו וְ֝אֵ֗יד נָכֹ֥ון לְצַלְעֹֽו׃
(Job 18:12)
This short poetic verse is part of Bildad’s speech in the Book of Job, describing the fate of the wicked. The verse may look small, but it’s packed with Biblical Hebrew features: jussive verbs (wishes or commands), rare vocabulary, parallel structure, and construct phrases. Let’s learn how it works!
English Translation (Literal and Clear)
May hunger consume his strength, and disaster be ready at his side.
This is a poetic curse or expression of ruin. The speaker is calling for physical and emotional destruction upon someone by invoking two forces: hunger and disaster.
Word Order and Poetic Structure
The Hebrew follows a classic two-part poetic pattern:
- First clause: יְהִי רָעֵב אֹנֹו — “Let hunger be his strength” (a reversal or destruction)
- Second clause: וְאֵיד נָכוֹן לְצַלְעוֹ — “and disaster is ready at his side”
The first half uses a jussive verb (a wish or curse). The second half is descriptive, using a verbless clause (common in poetry).
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Hebrew Word | Meaning | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| יְהִי | May it be | Jussive form of the verb הָיָה (“to be”). Often used to express a wish or curse in poetry. |
| רָעֵב | hunger / hungry | Here it likely functions as a noun: “hunger.” Some read it adjectivally (“hungry is his strength”), but most take it as the subject of the verb: “let hunger be…” |
| אֹנֹו | his strength | From אוֹן meaning “strength” or “vigor.” The suffix -וֹ = “his.” |
| וְאֵיד | and disaster | אֵיד is a rare word for “calamity” or “ruin.” The וְ = “and.” |
| נָכוֹן | is ready | Passive participle of כּוּן (“to be established / ready”). It describes the state of the disaster—it’s waiting, prepared. |
| לְצַלְעוֹ | at his side | From צֵלַע meaning “side” or “rib.” The לְ = “to/at,” and -וֹ = “his.” The image is of danger lurking right beside him. |
Parallel Structure: Destruction from Within and Without
| Clause | Threat | Location |
|---|---|---|
| יְהִי רָעֵב אֹנֹו | Internal decay (hunger) | Within — “his strength” |
| וְאֵיד נָכוֹן לְצַלְעוֹ | External attack (calamity) | Beside — “his side” |
Notice how the first clause targets the inside (his strength), while the second clause positions destruction just beside him (at his side). It’s a poetic pairing of vulnerability.
What We Learned from This Sentence
- You encountered a jussive verb: יְהִי — “let there be…”
- You saw how Hebrew can use strong parallelism to convey poetic justice or doom.
- You learned two rare but vivid nouns: אֹן (strength) and אֵיד (calamity).
- You saw a verbless clause: “disaster [is] ready at his side.” Hebrew often omits “is” in poetic contexts.
This tiny verse thunders with dramatic tension. In just a few words, it shows us Hebrew’s poetic power—both in structure and sound. You’re now able to hear its rhythm, follow its grammar, and feel its weight.
