Read the Passage: Job 42

Reply of Job (42:1–6)

While God’s many questions in Job 38–41 were largely rhetorical in nature, two times God had said to Job, “I will question you, and you shall answer me” (Job 38:3; 40:7). Recall that Job had already given a first response to God in Job 40:3–5; although in his initial reply, which was quite brief, Job simply agreed that he was vile and then declared that he would stop speaking. Now, in his second response to God, Job gives a more fully developed answer. In this final reply, which is also quite brief, Job correctly recognizes God’s sovereignty (cf. Job 42:2), he admits his own misunderstanding (cf. Job 42:3), he petitions God to listen to him (cf. Job 42:4), he declares that he has now received better knowledge (cf. Job 42:5), and he repents of his sins (cf. Job 42:6). Observe the brevity of Job’s interactions with God here, as compared to his earlier speeches before his friends.

While God’s four-chapter interrogation of Job contains many questions, Job is only charged with committing three related sins: speaking without knowledge, contending with God, and attempting to rebuke God (cf. Job 38:2; 40:1–2; 42:3). As was noted previously, the narrative of Job’s lengthy dialog with his friends also reveals the presence of other sins, including pride and self-righteousness (cf. Job 3:1; 27:6; 40:8; 41:34; 42:1–6), a love of ease and self-confidence (cf. Job 3:26; 16:12; 29:18), sarcasm and self-pity (cf. Job 10:20–22), self-loathing and a disregard for his own life (cf. Job 3:1; 7:15–16), as well as an incomplete view of God Himself (cf. Job 9:21–24; 7:20; 23:8–9; 29:2–6; 30:20–33). Yet, recall that God considered Job to be blameless (cf. Job 1:8; 2:3) and Job is held up as an example of righteousness elsewhere in Scripture (cf. Ezek. 14:14, 20).

Rebuke of Friends (42:7–9)

The main focal point in this book is the suffering experienced by Job, as well as Job’s relationship with God. Yet, as this book progresses, a secondary focal point becomes the fate of Job’s friends, for they clearly failed to show compassion to Job and they said many things about God that are simply untrue. After interrogating Job, God turned His attention to Job’s friends, and declared, “My wrath is aroused against you . . . for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (Job 42:7). Of course, this rebuke is not intended to be taken absolutely, for not every word that was expressed by Job’s three friends was incorrect, nor—as was discussed above—was everything that Job said totally correct. Yet, generally speaking, Job’s friends were insensitive and arrogant in their speeches, and their retributive theology of suffering and evil was certainly incorrect.

Blessing of God (42:10–17)

After Job prayed for his three friends, and they offered the prescribed sacrifices, they were accepted by God (cf. Job 42:9). Observed that the offering of seven bulls and seven rams that was prescribed was the same offering cited by Balaam in Num. 23:1, indicating perhaps that this was a traditional offering for the forgiveness of sins during this era. Next, in Job 42:10–11 the narrative records that God restored Job’s losses; however, the birth of ten children certainly could never make up for the loss of Job’s ten children who passed away in the building collapse reported at Job 1:18–19. In regard to the recovery of Job’s vast material possessions, Job 42:10 reveals, “The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Yet perhaps more important to Job was the return of his reputation (cf. Prov. 22:1), for his family and friends gathered around him to console and to comfort him (cf. Job 42:11).

Job 42:12–17 conclude the narrative of Job and serve as a type of appendix, as here we read details about Job’s blessings in his latter days. Indeed, at Job 42:12 the author specifically notes, “The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” Job 42:12–13 records that God’s material blessings upon Job were double the amount of livestock he had originally possessed. Presumably, God did not double Job’s children on the earth, for his first ten children were waiting for him in heaven. The author records the names of Job’s three daughters, as well as observing their rare beauty, in order to communicate Job’s restored joy. Jemimah means “day light,” Keziah means “sweet smelling,” and Keren-Happuch is a beautiful color used in ancient oriental cosmetics. Furthermore, Job was so materially blessed that he even gave his daughters an inheritance along with his sons (cf. Job 42:15).

Application Questions:

1. Given the important message of the book of Job, why is Job hardly ever mentioned in the Bible apart from this book?
2. Why does the Bible repeatedly exhort believers to be simple and brief with their words (cf. Prov. 10:19; Eccl. 5:3)?
3. How could God accuse Job of committing several sins, while simultaneously considering him to be blameless?
4. How should we process the teaching at Job 42:11 which says that God brought Job’s adversity upon him?
5. Why does the author of the book of Job record the names of Job’s daughters, as well as noting their rare beauty?