If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword: the Hebrew has “sons” in this line and “shoots” of a plant used figuratively to mean offspring or “children” in the next line. Are multiplied means “are increased in number.” It is for the sword means “they will be killed by the sword,” that is, “they will die in war.” The line may be rendered “If he has many sons, they will be killed in war.”

And his offspring have not enough to eat: offspring generalizes “sons” from line a but does not suggest a different group of people. They suffer death and starvation. The Hebrew is literally “they will not be satiated by bread,” that is, “they will not have bread to satisfy them,” “they will not have enough to eat,” or “they will starve.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .