OET interlinear JOB 38:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

אֱזָר & חֲלָצֶ֑י⁠ךָ

gird_up & loins,yourself

Yahweh is speaking as if he literally wanted Job to gird up his loins, that is, to tuck the bottom of his robe into a belt so that he could move freely, as a soldier would do before going into battle. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “get ready for a difficult contest”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

כְ⁠גֶ֣בֶר

like,man

Yahweh is using a particular word for man that can, in contexts such as this one, emphasize the strength and valor of a warrior. The point of this comparison is that Job should be brave, as a solider must be when going into battle. Yahweh is not using the term man to suggest that men are strong and that women are weak. Alternate translation: “like a brave person” or “as a soldier would do when going into battle”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

וְ֝⁠אֶשְׁאָלְ⁠ךָ֗ וְ⁠הוֹדִיעֵֽ⁠נִי

and,question,you and,declare,me

Yahweh is answering Job with his own words. In 13:22, Job said to God (who was not visibly present at the time), “And call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and answer me.” Yahweh is telling Job that he will take the first option: He, Yahweh, will “call” (ask questions) and Job can respond. However, Yahweh says something slightly different than Job did. He says that Job can inform him. For emphasis, Yahweh is actually saying the opposite of what he means. He already knows everything, so he does not need Job to provide him with information that he lacks. If a speaker of your language would not say the opposite of what he means for emphasis, in your translation you could indicate what Yahweh actually means. Alternate translation: “and I will question you and you can tell me what you think I do not already know”