Job 42:6

6 Therefore I reprove myself, and do penance in dead spark and ashes. (And so now I rebuke myself, and repent in dust and ashes.)

Job 42:6 Meaning and Commentary

Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor [myself]
Or all my words, as Aben Ezra; all the indecent expressions he had uttered concerning God; he could not bear to think of them; he loathed them, and himself on account of them: sin is abominable in its own nature, and makes men so; it is loathsome to God, and so it is to all good men when they see it in its proper light; am especially when they have a view of the purity and holiness of God, to which that is so very contrary, and also of his grace and goodness in the forgiveness of it; see ( Isaiah 6:3 Isaiah 6:5 ) ( Ezekiel 16:63 ) ( 20:41 ) ;

and repent in dust and ashes;
which was an external ceremony used by mournful and penitent persons; see ( Job 2:8 ) ( Jonah 3:6 ) ; and is expressive of the truth and sincerity of repentance; and never do any more truly mourn for sin and repent of it, are more ashamed of it, or have a more godly sorrow for it, or more ingenuously confess it, and heartily forsake it, than those who with an eye of faith behold God in Christ as a sin forgiving God; or behold their sins through the glass of pardoning grace and mercy; see ( Zechariah 12:10 ) ( Luke 7:37 Luke 7:47 ) ( 1 Timothy 1:13 ) .

Job 42:6 In-Context

4 Hear thou, and I shall speak; I shall ask thee, and answer thou to me. (Listen thou, and I shall speak; and then, I pray, that thou shalt answer me.)

5 By (the) hearing of (mine) ear I have heard thee, but now mine eye seeth thee (too).

6 Therefore I reprove myself, and do penance in dead spark and ashes. (And so now I rebuke myself, and repent in dust and ashes.)

7 And after that the Lord had spoken these words to Job, he said to Eliphaz (the) Temanite, My strong vengeance is wroth against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken before me rightful things, as my servant Job (hath). (And after that the Lord had spoken these words to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My strong vengeance is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken rightly, or correctly, about me, like my servant Job hath.)

8 Therefore take ye (un)to you seven bulls, and seven rams; and go ye to my servant Job, and offer ye (a) burnt sacrifice for you(rselves). Forsooth Job, my servant, shall pray for you; (and) I shall receive his face, (so) that folly be not areckoned to you; certainly ye have not spoken before me rightful thing, as hath my servant Job (for certainly ye have not spoken rightly, or correctly, about me, like my servant Job hath).