Job 42:1-7

Job's Confession and Repentance

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 "I know that you can ¹do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 ²'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things ³too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 'Hear, and I will speak; ⁴I will question you, and you make it known to me.'

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent^[a] in ⁵dust and ashes."

The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends

7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz ⁶the Temanite: "My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

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Job 42:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 42

This chapter contains Job's answer to the last speech of the Lord's, in which he acknowledges his omnipotence, and his certain performance of his purposes and pleasure; owns his own folly and ignorance, and confesses his sins; for which he abhorred himself, and of which he repented, Job 42:1-6; it also gives an account of the Lord's decision of the controversy between Job and his friends, blaming them and commending him above them; and ordered them to take sacrifices and go to Job and offer them, who should pray for them and be accepted, which was done, Job 42:7-9; and it closes with a relation of the great prosperity Job was restored unto, in which he lived and died, Job 42:10-17.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

1. Genesis 18:14; Matthew 19:26
2. Job 38:2
3. Psalms 40:5; Psalms 131:1; Psalms 139:6
4. Job 38:3; Job 40:7
5. [Job 30:19; Genesis 18:27]; See Job 2:8
6. Job 2:11; 1 Chronicles 1:45

Footnotes 1

[a]. Or and am comforted

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.