Tag Archives: Job 21:9

Untroubled Houses: Negation, Construct Chains, and Divine Irony in Job 21:9

Job 21:9 בָּתֵּיהֶ֣ם שָׁלֹ֣ום מִפָּ֑חַד וְלֹ֤א שֵׁ֖בֶט אֱלֹ֣והַּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ The Illusion of Peace: בָּתֵּיהֶם שָׁלֹום מִפָּחַד בָּתֵּיהֶם — “Their houses,” a construct form from בַּיִת (“house”) + 3rd person plural suffix. The construct state links directly to the following noun or description. שָׁלֹום — Literally “peace,” this functions as the predicate noun, describing the state of the houses: peace, wholeness, well-being. מִפָּחַד — “from fear” or “from dread.” The preposition מִן here indicates separation or exemption: the peace described is specifically freedom from fear.… Learn Hebrew
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