Job 42 9

Job 42:9 kjv

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.

Job 42:9 nkjv

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job.

Job 42:9 niv

So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

Job 42:9 esv

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

Job 42:9 nlt

So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

Job 42 verses

Job 42 9 Meaning

Job 42:9 describes the obedient action of Job’s three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—who followed the specific instructions given to them by the Lord. This act of compliance involved offering sacrifices as atonement for their misguided words and attitudes against God and Job. The verse culminates in the crucial detail that the Lord accepted this offering and prayer, particularly noting it was "Job’s prayer" that received divine approval, signifying Job’s full restoration and his unique role as an intercessor on behalf of those who had wronged him.

Job 42 9 Context

Job 42:9 serves as a pivotal point in the book, following God’s majestic speeches from the whirlwind (Job 38-41) and Job’s humble response of repentance and submission (Job 42:1-6). The Lord has just explicitly condemned Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, for not speaking correctly about Him as Job had done, despite their lengthy arguments and accusations against Job. God commanded them to take seven bullocks and seven rams, go to Job, and offer them as a burnt offering, with Job himself praying for them, so that God would not punish them for their folly. This verse signifies their obedience to God's decree and the beginning of the resolution phase for all characters involved, emphasizing divine instruction, propitiatory sacrifice, and the crucial role of an intercessor.

Job 42 9 Word analysis

• So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite:

  • These names denote their geographical origins (Teman, Shuah, Na’amah), associating them with certain ancient wisdom traditions. Their theological discourse throughout the book, while containing elements of truth, was ultimately misapplied and misdirected against Job and God’s justice. This specific listing underscores their collective involvement in the error and their joint need for atonement and reconciliation.

• went and did:

  • The Hebrew verb is עָשָׂה (‘asah), meaning "to do," "to make," or "to perform." This highlights immediate and active obedience. It is not mere intellectual agreement but physical compliance with God’s specific instructions, indicating a necessary humility after their prolonged, misguided arguments.

• as the Lord had told them:

  • This phrase emphasizes direct adherence to divine command. The Hebrew for "Lord" here is יהוה (Yahweh), the personal, covenantal name of God. This signifies that it was God’s authoritative word that they obeyed, not human custom or their own initiative. Their previous actions were rooted in their own understanding, which God deemed "folly"; now their actions are rooted in God’s direct, unambiguous instruction.

• and the Lord:

  • Again, יהוה (Yahweh), highlighting God's direct involvement in the restoration process. It signifies that He is the one acting in response, demonstrating His sovereign authority to judge, instruct, and reconcile.

• accepted:

  • The Hebrew word is קָבַל (qabal), meaning "to receive," "to accept," "to take," or "to approve." In this context, it implies divine approval and a favorable reception of their sacrifice and Job’s prayer. It indicates that the propitiation was effective and divine wrath was averted, signifying a complete reversal of God’s stated indignation against them in the preceding verses. This is distinct from merely "hearing" prayer; it implies acting upon it favorably.

• Job’s prayer:

  • The Hebrew is תְּפִלָּה (tephillah), a general term for prayer or supplication, often implying formal prayer. The specific emphasis on Job's prayer is paramount. It confirms Job’s full restoration not just in material wealth but, more profoundly, in his standing before God as a righteous man and a powerful intercessor. It was not merely the sacrifice (offered for them) but Job’s intercession for them that rendered the entire act acceptable to God, signifying the critical role of the mediator.

• went and did as the Lord had told them:

  • This group of words emphasizes immediate, full, and unreserved obedience. Their previous error was talking about God rather than speaking rightly to Him or acting rightly for Him. This marks their transition from theological error to practical submission to God's will.

• the Lord accepted Job’s prayer:

  • This crucial phrase highlights God's grace and Job’s unique vindication and role. It reveals the core theological principle that a righteous intercessor can mediate effectively on behalf of others, even those who wronged him. God honored Job's intercession for his misguided friends, underscoring the power and efficacy of prayer offered by one in right standing with God.

Job 42 9 Bonus section

The requirement for Job's intercession highlights the pre-Mosaic understanding of prophetic and priestly roles, where an individual could stand as a representative before God on behalf of others, prefiguring the role of Christ. The three friends, representing human wisdom, discover their theological deficiencies, learning that true reconciliation comes not through intellectual debate or self-justification, but through divine command, atoning sacrifice, and intercession facilitated by a righteous individual whom God has vindicated. This illustrates a foundational biblical principle: God deals graciously with penitent hearts who approach Him according to His revealed will, often through the mediation of another, transforming conflict into a pathway for grace.

Job 42 9 Commentary

Job 42:9 serves as the climax of the book's theological and narrative tension. The verse depicts the immediate and obedient response of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to God's command. Their prior arguments were deemed "folly" by God, but their swift obedience here averts His stated wrath. Crucially, God explicitly designates Job as the necessary mediator, requiring Job's prayer alongside the burnt offerings for their forgiveness. This not only signifies Job’s complete vindication after his long suffering but also elevates him to a profound position of righteousness and intercession, where his prayer is accepted by the Lord. This act underscores divine sovereignty, the necessity of prescribed worship and propitiation, and the extraordinary power of righteous intercession, even for those who were persecutors. It encapsulates God's ultimate desire for reconciliation and the humble submission required to achieve it.