JobChapter 42

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Then Job answered the LORD:

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

'Who is this that obscures counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, wonders beyond me that I did not know.

'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall inform me.'

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.

Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes."[^1] [^1]: The Hebrew verb has no stated object; it may also be rendered "I take back my words" or "I yield."

After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "My anger burns against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."

So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

And when Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes; indeed, the LORD gave him twice as much as he had before.

Then all his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They consoled and comforted him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.[^1] [^1]: Hebrew *qesitah*, an ancient unit of money of unknown weight.

The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.

He also had seven sons and three daughters.

He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.

Nowhere in all the land were there women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance among their brothers.

After this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

And so Job died, old and full of days.

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Summary2

Chapter 42

Main Theme: Job repents and is exalted, and God restores all that he had lost—double for his loss.

Content: Job acknowledges God’s almighty power and admits that he has spoken about things he did not understand; he repents in dust and ashes. God rebukes Job’s three friends because they did not speak rightly about Him, and commands them to offer burnt offerings while Job prays for them. When Job prays for his friends, God turns his fate around and gives him back double all that he had lost. Job receives seven sons and three daughters, lives 140 years after this, and dies old and full of days.

Key Words/Images:

Dust and ashes (עָפָר וָאֵפֶר): A symbol of deep humility and repentance before God.
Burnt offering: The friends must offer seven bulls and seven rams to be forgiven for their false words about God.
Double (לְמִשְׁנֶה): God restores Job’s wealth in double measure—a sign of complete restoration.
Four generations: Job sees his descendants through four generations, a sign of blessing and a full life.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Job 42

People

In the epilogue, Job’s three daughters are named by name: Jemima (יְמִימָה, "dove" or "day"), Keziah (קְצִיעָה, "cassia bark") and Keren-Happuch (קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ, "horn of antimony" or "horn with eye paint"). That the daughters are named while the sons remain anonymous is unusual in biblical texts and highlights their significance. The names are linked to beauty and precious items—the dove symbolized grace, cassia was a valuable spice used in perfume and anointing oil, and "horn of antimony" refers to containers for the black eye makeup (kohl) that was widespread in the ancient Near East.

Events and Customs

The burnt offering (עוֹלָה) that the three friends are commanded to bring—seven bulls and seven rams—represents a significant and costly sacrifice of atonement. The number seven symbolizes perfection and completeness in Semitic culture. That Job acts as an intercessor (יִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיכֶם) for his friends places him in a role reminiscent of the patriarchs and later prophets who prayed on behalf of others (cf. Gen 20:7 regarding Abraham).

Inheritance rights for daughters (verse 15) were unusual in the ancient Near East, where property normally passed to sons. This reflects either a very old custom from before the Mosaic laws were established, or a special honor that underscores Job’s righteousness and generosity.

Key Terms

The expression אֶמְאַס וְנִחַמְתִּי ("I reject and repent/am comforted") in verse 6 is debated among Hebrew scholars, since the verb מאס lacks an explicit object. The verb נחם can mean both "repent" and "be comforted/find comfort." The phrase "in dust and ashes" (עַל־עָפָר וָאֵפֶר) may indicate that Job sits in mourning and repentance, or it can be understood as his setting aside his earlier complaint about his earthly, perishable condition.

Keziah (קְשִׂיטָה) in verse 11 is an ancient unit of currency that otherwise appears only in Gen 33:19 and Josh 24:32, both in connection with the patriarchal period. This supports the book’s placement in an early, pre-monarchic context and suggests that value was measured by weight of precious metal rather than by coins.

"Old and full of days" (זָקֵן וּשְׂבַע יָמִים) in verse 17 is a title of honor describing a complete and blessed life, used concerning the patriarchs Abraham (Gen 25:8) and Isaac (Gen 35:29), as well as King David (1 Chron 29:28). The expression places Job in the same category as these great figures of faith.

People9

Job9 Bildad1 Teman1 Keren-Happuch1 God1 Zophar1 Keziah1 Jemima1 Eliphaz2

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Key words6

Job — The main character in the Book of Job, a righteous man who endures many trials and losses.
Satan — An evil spiritual being who challenges Job and his faith in God by inflicting suffering upon him.
Trials — Events or situations that test a person's character, patience, or faith.
Righteous — Describes a person who is morally upright and honest in their behavior and attitudes.
Restoration — The process of regaining something that has been lost or destroyed, such as health, property, or relationships.
Blessing — A favor or gift from God that brings happiness, success, or prosperity.