Job 42: Now My Eye Sees You
Job repents in dust and ashes before the God he now sees; the friends are rebuked, Job prays for them, and the LORD restores him with double blessing.
Job 42 (WEB)
1 Then Job answered Yahweh,
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know.
4 You said, ‘Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
7 It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
8 Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls 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 I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.
10 Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that Yahweh had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.
12 So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 He called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren Happuch.
15 In all the land were no women found so beautiful as the daughters of Job. Their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
16 After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, to four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Job 42 (KJV)
1 Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore 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.
8 Therefore 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.
9 So 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.
11 Then 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.
12 So 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.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Keren–happuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Job 42 (ASV)
1 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained.
3 Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee:
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.
7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah 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.
8 Now therefore, take unto you 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, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job.
10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then 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 concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold.
12 So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: and he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Summary
Job answers the LORD with a confession of surrender, acknowledging that God can do all things and that no purpose of his can be thwarted. He admits he spoke of things too wonderful for him, which he did not understand, and then voices the heart of the whole book: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” This fresh sight of God leads not to information but to repentance, as Job abhors himself and repents in dust and ashes. The LORD then turns to Eliphaz, declaring his wrath kindled against the three friends because they have not spoken of God what is right, as his servant Job has. He commands them to bring seven bulls and seven rams and to have Job, the one they accused, pray for them, and God accepts Job's intercession. When Job prays for his friends, the LORD turns his captivity and gives him twice as much as he had before. His brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances return, comfort him, and bring gifts, and God blesses the latter end of Job more than his beginning, with vast flocks and herds. He is given seven sons and three beautiful daughters, Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch, to whom he grants an inheritance among their brothers. Job lives a hundred and forty more years, seeing four generations, and dies old and full of days. The book ends not with an explanation of suffering but with a restored relationship, a vindicated sufferer interceding for his accusers, and a foretaste of the Redeemer who prays for those who wrong him.
Main Characters
- Job — The sufferer who repents at the sight of God, prays for his friends, and is restored with double blessing and long life.
- The LORD (Yahweh) — The God who answers Job, vindicates him, rebukes the friends, accepts Job's prayer, and restores his fortunes.
- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar — The three friends rebuked for not speaking rightly of God, who must seek Job's intercession to be forgiven.
- Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch — Job's three daughters, named for their beauty and given an inheritance among their brothers.
Key Verse
Job 42:5 (WEB)
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Lessons Learned
- The goal of the whole journey is not an explanation of suffering but a deeper sight of God himself.
- Seeing God truly leads to humble repentance rather than to triumphant self-vindication.
- God vindicates the faithful sufferer and calls him to intercede even for those who wronged him.
- Restoration is God's gracious gift, never owed, and his blessings can exceed our beginnings.
- Job's intercession for his accusers foreshadows Christ, who prays for those who sin against him.
- Knowing about God becomes seeing God. “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you” (Job 42:5, WEB); the goal of faith is not mere information but encounter with the living God.
- True repentance follows true sight. Job “repents in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6, WEB) not because he committed the sins his friends alleged, but because he now sees God's greatness rightly.
- The vindicated sufferer intercedes. God accepts Job's prayer for the very friends who accused him (Job 42:8-10, WEB), a beautiful picture of grace toward those who wound us, fulfilled in Christ.
- Restoration is grace, not wages. “Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12, WEB); God's renewing generosity is gift, given after Job has stopped demanding it.
- What does Job mean when he says, “now my eye sees you”, and how does it differ from merely hearing of God?
- Why does Job repent, given that the book has shown he was not suffering for secret sin?
- What is striking about God's command that the friends seek Job's prayer for forgiveness?
- How does Job's restoration display the grace of God rather than a reward earned?
- Looking back over the book of Job, what has most deepened your own “sight” of God, and how might that change the way you face suffering?
- Job moves from secondhand knowledge to a personal encounter with God that transforms him (42:5). The whole book has been driving toward this sight, which answers his anguish not with reasons but with God's presence.
- Job repents not of the crimes his friends imagined, but of speaking beyond his understanding and of any pride before God's revealed greatness (42:3, 6). His repentance flows from awe, not from guilt over the cause of his suffering.
- God vindicates Job by having the accusers come to him for prayer, reversing their roles entirely (42:7-9). The one they condemned becomes their mediator, a grace that points forward to Christ interceding for sinners.
- Job receives double only after he has surrendered and prayed for his friends, with no bargain struck (42:10-12). The blessing is God's free gift, underscoring that restoration is grace rather than a transaction.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to reflect on how the book has enlarged their vision of God. As leader, draw the threads together: Job's story ends in restored relationship and intercession, foreshadowing Jesus, the suffering and vindicated Servant in whom our deepest questions find rest.