Upon him rattle …: rattle translates a verb found only here, but it appears to be associated with the verb “to sing,” and so “to resound.” The reference is to the noise of arrows rattling inside the quiver, which is the leather container holding the arrows, and is strapped to the rider’s back. Quiver may have to be translated, for example, as “the container holding the arrows” or “the arrow box.” No mention is made of the rider who carries the quiver and the other weapons. The focus is entirely on the action of the horse. Good News Translation, however, places a rider on the horse, and this give a more adequate picture, since these weapons are useless to the horse alone.

The word translated as flashing (reflecting the sun) applies to the other two weapons commonly rendered as spear and javelin. The spear is a pointed blade fixed on a long wooden shaft. Javelin is a light spear suited for throwing at the enemy while riding on a swiftly moving horse. Javelin may be translated as “the throwing spear” or “the light spear.”

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 .