This verse continues the description of the miserable existence of these crude and inferior persons. Here attention is given to what they eat.

They pick mallow and the leaves of bushes: Good News Translation has rendered mallow and leaves of bushes as “plants of the desert.” It is difficult to be more specific about the identity of the one called mallow, since this is the only mention of it. It may also occur in 24.24, where Revised Standard Version has also translated mallow. Most translations which mention a specific plant here identify it, as in New American Bible and New English Bible, with “saltwort,” a plant with thick, sour leaves. Pope says of this plant that its foliage “is edible but has a sour taste and would be eaten only in dire extremity.” Revised Standard Version translates and the leaves of by adding one letter to the Hebrew of this line. A generic term translated bushes is found also in verse 7, and in Genesis 2.5, where Good News Translation translates “plants,” and in Genesis 21.15, where Good News Translation has “bush.” It is best not to attempt to be more specific than Good News Translation in identifying these plants.

And to warm themselves the roots of the broom: Revised Standard Version understands that they kept warm by burning the roots of the broom tree. Good News Translation, New English Bible, Dhorme, Habel, and many others understand that they ate these roots. The Hebrew has “the root of the broom tree is their food.” Revised Standard Version and Pope interpret the words “their food” to mean “to warm oneself.” The word is used in this way in Isaiah 47.14. Pope says the broom roots make good charcoal, and this is attested in Psalm 120.4, “A warrior’s sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree.” This small tree has long slender branches, small leaves, and produces a yellow flower. Translators will often be required to substitute a local bush or small tree whose roots can be eaten if someone is starving. If the roots of the broom are not edible, as Pope says, this may be even more reason for Job to say that these miserable people are reduced to eating them. It is not likely that Job is congratulating them for keeping warm through the cold desert night. It seems preferable, therefore, to translate as Good News Translation and others.

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 .