הפוסל במומו פוסל

מאת: אבנר רמו

In the Book of Job we hear him saying about God:
הוכח יוכיח אתכם- אם-בסתר, פנים תשאון.
הלא שאתו תבעת אתכם; ופחדו יפל עליכם.
“He will surely reprove you, if you do secretly show favor.
Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?” Job 13:10-11).

על-כן מפניו אבהל; אתבונן, ואפחד ממנו.
“Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him” (Job 23:15).

Job’s friend Eliphaz the Temanite advices him how to behave and then:
כי-אז על-שדי תתענג; ותשא אל-אלוה פניך.
“Then surely shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God” (Job 22:26).

Job’s other friend Zophar the Naamathite, adds:
כי-אז תשא פניך ממום; והיית מצק, ולא תירא.
“Surely then shall you lift up tyour face without spot; yea, you shall be stedfast, and shall not fear” (Job 11:15).

The understanding of ממום (mimum) by the English translator as “without spot” is not supported by the Greek translation. However the comparison between these verses suggests that ממום (mimum) is נ (n) - מ (m) exchange and metathesis errors of ממנו (mimenu) - “from him” (e.g. Is 64:6; Ps 13:2; 27:9; 88:15; 102:3; 143:7).