Job 42

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 42

1¶ Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

2I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.

3Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

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

7¶ And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].

8Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.

9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

10¶ And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

11Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

12So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

13He had also seven sons and three daughters.

14And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.

15And in all the land were no women found [so] fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

16After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, [even] four generations.

17So Job died, [being] old and full of days.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Job acknowledges God's omnipotence and repents for his presumptuous words. The LORD then rebukes Job's friends for their incorrect speech and commands them to seek Job's intercession through a burnt offering. Subsequently, the LORD restores Job's fortunes, doubling his possessions and blessing him with new children and a long life.

Medium Summary

Job responds to the LORD, confessing God's absolute power and admitting his own ignorance in speaking of things beyond his understanding. He expresses profound repentance, stating that he now perceives God more directly than before. The LORD then addresses Eliphaz and his companions, declaring His wrath against them for not speaking rightly of Him, unlike His servant Job. They are instructed to offer burnt offerings and have Job pray for them, which they do, and the LORD accepts Job's intercession. Consequently, the LORD restores Job's prosperity, doubling his former wealth in livestock. Job's family and friends return to comfort him, and he is blessed with seven new sons and three exceptionally fair daughters. Job lives an additional 140 years, witnessing four generations of his descendants before dying in old age.

Long Summary

Job begins his final address to the LORD by humbly acknowledging God's absolute power and the impossibility of withholding any thought or purpose from Him. He confesses his own error in speaking of matters too wonderful and unknown to him, admitting that he had uttered counsel without true knowledge. Job expresses a profound shift in his understanding, moving from mere hearsay to a direct, personal perception of God, which leads him to abhor himself and repent in dust and ashes. Following Job's repentance, the LORD turns His attention to Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, expressing His righteous anger towards them. The LORD declares that they have not spoken rightly of Him, unlike His servant Job. As a consequence, they are commanded to take seven bullocks and seven rams for a burnt offering and to go to Job, who will pray for them, for the LORD will accept Job's intercession and not deal with them according to their folly. The three friends obey the LORD's command, and the LORD accepts Job's prayer on their behalf. Subsequently, the LORD reverses Job's adversity, restoring his fortunes when Job prays for his friends. The LORD blesses Job with twice the possessions he had before his trials, including fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. His brethren, sisters, and former acquaintances return to him, comforting him and bestowing gifts of money and gold earrings. Furthermore, Job is blessed with a new family, having seven sons and three daughters, whose beauty is unparalleled in the land, and whom he grants inheritance alongside their brothers. Job lives an additional one hundred and forty years, seeing his children and grandchildren to the fourth generation. Finally, Job dies, having lived a full and blessed life, old and full of days.

Core Concepts

  • Job's RepentanceJob acknowledges God's omnipotence and his own ignorance, expressing self-abhorrence and repenting in dust and ashes for speaking presumptuously about divine matters.
  • Divine Rebuke of FriendsThe LORD expresses wrath towards Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, stating they did not speak rightly of Him, unlike Job, and commands them to seek Job's intercession.
  • Intercession and ForgivenessJob is appointed by God to pray for his friends, and their burnt offering, coupled with Job's prayer, is accepted by the LORD, averting divine judgment from them.
  • Restoration of FortuneThe LORD restores Job's prosperity, doubling his former wealth in livestock and blessing him with new children, signifying a complete reversal of his previous suffering.
  • Family and Community ReintegrationJob's family and acquaintances return to comfort him and offer gifts, symbolizing his reacceptance and renewed social standing after his period of isolation and affliction.
  • Long Life and LegacyJob lives an additional 140 years, seeing his descendants to the fourth generation, which highlights the completeness of God's blessing and the establishment of Job's legacy.
  • God's Sovereignty and JusticeThe chapter concludes by demonstrating God's ultimate control over human affairs, His justice in rebuking the friends, and His mercy and blessing upon Job, affirming His righteous governance.