Job 2:11-13

11 Thus Job's three friends heard of this calamity that had come upon him. So each set out from his [own] place: Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. And they met together to come to console him and to comfort him.

12 Thus they lifted up their eyes from afar, but they did not recognize him, so they raised their voice, and they wept, and each man tore his outer garment and threw dust on their heads {toward the sky}.

13 Then they sat with him on the ground [for] seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that {his} suffering was very great.

Job 2:11-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 2

This chapter gives an account of a second trial of Job's constancy and integrity, the time and occasion of it, Job 2:1-3; the motion made for it by Satan, which being granted, he smote him from head to foot with sore boils, which he endured very patiently, Job 2:4-8; during which sad affliction he is urged by his wife to give up his integrity, which he bravely resisted, Job 2:9,10; and the chapter is concluded with an account of a visit of three of Job's friends, and of their conduct and behaviour towards him, Job 2:11-13.

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew "And"
• [b] Hebrew "And"
• [c] Or "they agreed"
• [d] Hebrew "And"
• [e] Or "they gazed"
• [f] Hebrew "and"
• [g] Hebrew "and"
• [h] Or "robe"
• [i] Or "in the air"; literally "to the heavens"
• [j] Hebrew "And"
• [k] Hebrew "and"
• [l] Or "there was no speaking"
• [m] Literally "the"