Abstract

COOK, Johann. The profile and some theological aspects of the Old Greek of Job - Resurrection and life after death as points in case. Old testam. essays [online]. 2011, vol.24, n.2, pp.324-345. ISSN 2312-3621.

This article will demonstrate aspects of the unique profile of OGJOB. The theological implications of this profile will be determined based upon a contextual analysis of chs. 1, 14, 19 and 42. The OG of Job is one sixth shorter than the Masoretic text. Scholars differ as to the reasons for this shorter text. Some argue that it is the result of a differing Hebrew Vorlage - unfortunately there is no external evidence available. Others ascribe the differences to the translator. OGJob is one of the more freely translated units in the corpus of Septuagint translations. In Cox's words "OGJob is one of a kind in the Septuagint corpus."(2007:667) Since the translator interpreted his parent text, it opens the possibility to determine theological aspects concerning this unit. In the past, scholars (Gard, and others) have overstated their case in this regard and were criticised by Orlinski (and others). What is clear is that OGJOB has a unique and different profile compared to the MT and other textual witnesses. In Job 1, for example, the translator renders the parent text creatively. On the one hand, he clears God from direct involvement in the maltreatment of Job. In conjunction with this the fundamental goodness and omnipotence of God is stressed. On the other hand, Job is depicted as a saint, he is blameless, genuine, religious, keeping away from every evil thing (v. 8). In chapter 2 Job is questioned in a unique manner by his unbelieving wife.

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