Job 42:5-15

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 1dust and ashes."

The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends

7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz 2the 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.
8 Now therefore take 3seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and 4offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall 5pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."
9 6So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

The Lord Restores Job's Fortunes

10 And the LORD 7restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job 8twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came to him all his 9brothers and sisters and all who had 10known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they 11showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil[b] that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him 12a piece of money[c] and 13a ring of gold.
12 And the LORD blessed 14the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 15 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He had also 16seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.
15 And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance 17among their brothers.

Job 42:5-15 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.

Cross References 17

  • 1. [Job 30:19; Genesis 18:27]; See Job 2:8
  • 2. Job 2:11; 1 Chronicles 1:45
  • 3. Numbers 23:1; 1 Chronicles 15:26
  • 4. Job 1:5
  • 5. Genesis 20:7; 1 Samuel 12:23; James 5:16; 1 John 5:16
  • 6. Job 2:11
  • 7. See Psalms 14:7
  • 8. Isaiah 40:2; Isaiah 61:7
  • 9. Job 19:13
  • 10. Job 19:13
  • 11. Job 2:11
  • 12. Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32
  • 13. Genesis 24:22
  • 14. Job 8:7
  • 15. [ver. 10; Job 1:3]
  • 16. Job 1:2
  • 17. See Numbers 27:1-8

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or and am comforted
  • [b]. Or disaster
  • [c]. Hebrew a qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.