Job 42:6

6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Read Chapter Compare

PREVIOUS Job 42:5 NEXT Job 42:7

Job 42:6 in Other Translations

KJV

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

ESV

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

NLT

6 I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

MSG

6 I'm sorry - forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."

CSB

6 Therefore I take back [my words] 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 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Job 42:6 In-Context

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’

5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.

8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice 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. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”