Job 42 15

Job 42:15 kjv

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.

Job 42:15 nkjv

In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

Job 42:15 niv

Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

Job 42:15 esv

And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

Job 42:15 nlt

In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

Job 42 verses

Job 42 15 Meaning

Job 42:15 details a unique aspect of Job's restoration: the unparalleled beauty of his newly born daughters and their unprecedented inheritance rights. It signifies a profound and comprehensive reversal of Job's previous misfortunes, highlighting God's gracious blessing that not only replaces what was lost but exceeds it, transcending typical cultural and legal norms regarding women's inheritance in that era. This verse illustrates the complete and glorious extent of divine restoration bestowed upon Job for his faithfulness.

Job 42 15 Context

Job 42:15 concludes the extensive narrative of Job's suffering and subsequent restoration. Following a period of profound physical and material loss, personal anguish, and challenging theological debates with his friends, Job finally encounters God directly (Job 38-41). This encounter brings about Job's humble repentance (Job 42:1-6) and a re-affirmation of God's sovereignty and wisdom. Consequently, God restores Job's fortunes, doubling his material wealth (Job 42:10-12) and blessing him with a new family, mirroring the number of children he originally lost (Job 42:13). Within this context of comprehensive renewal, verse 15 specifically highlights a detail that surpasses typical restoration: the extraordinary beauty of his daughters and, more significantly, their unique inheritance alongside their brothers. Historically, in patriarchal Israelite society, land inheritance typically passed exclusively through sons. Daughters received dowries upon marriage and inherited property only in exceptional cases where there were no male heirs (as seen with Zelophehad's daughters in Num 27). Job's act here demonstrates a divine blessing that transcends cultural norms, showing not just restitution but an exceptional increase in honor and standing, reflecting God's ultimate vindication of Job and His boundless grace.

Job 42 15 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• And: waw (וְ): A simple conjunction, connecting this specific detail to the preceding accounts of Job's overall restoration. It emphasizes continuity in the divine blessing.
• in all the land: b'khol ha'aretz (בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ): Emphasizes the wide geographical scope of their unparalleled beauty, asserting its universal recognition within their world. This highlights their exceptional nature.
• were found: nimtsa'u (נִמְצְאוּ): From the root matsa (מָצָא), "to find," "to be found." Indicates discovery or ascertainment, suggesting their beauty was a recognized, evident fact.
• no women: lo nashiym (לֹא נָשִׁים): Lo (לֹא) is a negative particle. Nashiym (נָשִׁים) is the plural of ishshah (אִשָּׁה), "woman." This emphasizes a unique distinction, making their beauty absolute and unmatched in their time.
• so beautiful: yafoth (יָפוֹת): From the root yapheh (יָפֶה), "beautiful," "fair," "handsome." It denotes physical attractiveness. In a culture that valued beauty, especially in women, this was a significant blessing and source of honor for a family.
• as the daughters: ki b'not (כְּבְנוֹת): Ki (כִּי) functions here as a comparative "as" or "like." B'not (בְּנוֹת) is the plural of bat (בַּת), "daughter." Directly attributes the unmatched beauty to Job's specific children.
• of Job: Iyyov (אִיּוֹב): Clearly identifies the patriarch, associating this specific blessing with him. His renewed lineage bears this exceptional mark.
• and their father: w'avihen (וְאָבִיהֶן): Emphasizes Job's personal agency in this significant act. It wasn't an automatic right but his direct benevolent decision.
• gave them: vayiten lahen (וַיִּתֵּן לָהֶן): Vayiten (וַיִּתֵּן) from natan (נָתַן), "to give." Lahen (לָהֶן) "to them." This active giving underscores a deliberate, intentional act of Job.
• an inheritance: nachalah (נַחֲלָה): This is a crucial term. It refers to a landed property, a portion, or possession that is passed down, typically from father to son. Its specific application to daughters in this context is highly significant, deviating from standard practice. It implies economic independence and full status.
• among their brothers: b'tokh aheihen (בְּתוֹךְ אֲחֵיהֶם): B'tokh (בְּתוֹךְ) means "among," "in the midst of." Aheihem (אֲחֵיהֶם) is the plural of akh (אָח), "brother," "kinsman." This phrase confirms that the daughters received an actual share of the land inheritance directly, not merely a dowry, placing them on an equal footing with their brothers in terms of property rights. This was exceptional.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And in all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job": This phrase immediately highlights the extraordinary nature of God's blessing. Their physical beauty, named "Jemimah" (dove), "Kezeiah" (cinnamon), and "Keren-happuch" (horn of eye-paint) in the preceding verse, signifies the re-establishment of Job's honor and standing, reflecting divine favor and grace upon his household after intense humiliation. It implies an outer manifestation of an inner, complete restoration. The superlatives underscore the depth of the blessing – not just restoration, but exaltation.
• "and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers": This second clause describes an equally remarkable social and economic aspect of Job's restoration. This act, likely divinely inspired, stands in stark contrast to the customary inheritance practices of the time, where daughters generally did not receive a land inheritance with their brothers. This provision granted them significant legal status and financial security, going beyond what was typically expected even for prosperous families. It indicates Job's deep care for his daughters, possibly mirroring God's own abundant generosity, and further demonstrates that God's blessings often exceed conventional boundaries, showing favor and re-ordering for the good of His faithful. This unique arrangement underscores the totality and liberality of God's blessing on Job.

Job 42 15 Bonus section

The naming of Job's new daughters—Jemimah (יוֹמָמָה), Keziah (קְצִיעָה), and Keren-happuch (קֶרֶן הַפּוּךְ)—in Job 42:14 is uniquely emphasized compared to his previous children (whose names are not mentioned) and even his new sons. These names often convey positive meanings related to beauty and prosperity: Jemimah, "dove" (symbol of purity, peace), Keziah, "cassia" or "cinnamon" (a fragrant spice, valuable perfume), and Keren-happuch, "horn of antimony" or "horn of eye-paint" (symbolizing cosmetic beauty and abundance). This act of naming them, combined with their renowned beauty, further elevates their status and symbolizes the new glorious beginning for Job's family, implying that his final state was not just materially greater but qualitatively superior in terms of peace, pleasantness, and attractiveness. This special mention reinforces that Job's restoration was comprehensive, impacting even the symbolic details of his family life. The radical act of giving daughters equal inheritance also speaks to Job's elevated righteousness and a divine blessing that dismantles societal norms for a higher demonstration of favor and justice, a glimpse of God's Kingdom values impacting societal structures.

Job 42 15 Commentary

Job 42:15 serves as a capstone to Job's dramatic story of suffering and restoration, underscoring the comprehensive nature of God's blessings. The description of Job's daughters as "the most beautiful in all the land" isn't merely a casual observation but a profound statement of divine favor. Beauty, in the ancient Near East, was often seen as a mark of blessing, vitality, and honor. After the extreme public humiliation Job endured, the emergence of his daughters with unparalleled beauty signifies a complete reversal of his public image and family's honor. Their distinctive names (Jemimah, Keziah, Keren-happuch), mentioned in the previous verse, might also symbolize this newfound loveliness—representing peace, fragrance, and an enhanced countenance, respectively.

However, the more profound element is their inheritance "among their brothers." This detail is revolutionary for the period. While Numbers 27 records the legal provision for daughters to inherit when there are no male heirs, Job 42:15 specifies inheritance "among their brothers," implying a deviation from or expansion of the normal patriarchal customs. Job, having been divinely vindicated and enriched, acts in a way that is profoundly just and gracious, reflecting the expansive heart of God's blessing. This extraordinary inheritance provides them not just with a dowry, but with independent wealth and status, safeguarding their future and acknowledging their inherent worth beyond conventional gender roles. It portrays God's restorative work as going beyond mere replacement to provide superabundant grace, exceeding human expectation and even customary law. The passage illustrates that God's restoration often includes unique and progressive forms of blessing that establish righteousness and flourishing beyond the expected, demonstrating His full vindication of the righteous Job and showcasing His radical generosity.