◄ Job 42:9 ►
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job's request.
Study Bible
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite
These three names refer to Job's friends who came to comfort him in his suffering. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar represent different regions and tribes, indicating the widespread nature of Job's account and its impact. Eliphaz is associated with Teman, a region known for wisdom, suggesting his role as the leading voice among the friends. Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite also bring their cultural and philosophical perspectives, reflecting the diverse approaches to understanding suffering and divine justice in the ancient Near East.

went and did as the LORD had told them
This phrase highlights the obedience of Job's friends to God's command. After being rebuked by God for their incorrect assumptions about Job's suffering, they demonstrate humility and submission by following God's instructions. This act of obedience is crucial in the narrative, as it sets the stage for reconciliation and restoration. It underscores the importance of aligning one's actions with divine will, a central theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible.

and the LORD accepted Job’s request
The acceptance of Job's request by the LORD signifies a turning point in the narrative. Job, who had been in a state of suffering and questioning, is now seen as an intercessor for his friends. This reflects the biblical principle of intercessory prayer and the power of righteous individuals to mediate on behalf of others. The Hebrew root for "accepted" conveys a sense of favor and approval, indicating that Job's integrity and faithfulness have been recognized by God. This acceptance also marks the beginning of Job's restoration and the healing of relationships, emphasizing the themes of forgiveness and divine grace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Eliphaz the Temanite
One of Job's three friends who initially came to comfort him but ended up accusing him of wrongdoing. He is from Teman, a region known for wisdom.

2. Bildad the Shuhite
Another friend of Job, known for his traditionalist views and harsh criticism of Job. He is from Shuah, a place possibly linked to the descendants of Abraham.

3. Zophar the Naamathite
The third friend of Job, who is the most dogmatic and impatient with Job's defense. He is from Naamah, a location not clearly identified in the Bible.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, who ultimately restores Job and rebukes his friends for their incorrect assumptions about His justice.

5. Job
The central figure of the book, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and is eventually vindicated by God.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God’s Command
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar obeyed God's directive to seek Job's intercession. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's instructions, even when it requires humility and repentance.

Power of Intercessory Prayer
Job's prayer for his friends demonstrates the power and importance of intercessory prayer. It serves as a reminder that praying for others can lead to healing and restoration.

God’s Acceptance and Restoration
The LORD accepting Job’s request signifies divine approval and restoration. It teaches that God honors the prayers of the righteous and can restore relationships and situations.

Humility and Repentance
The friends' willingness to follow God's command and seek Job's prayer reflects humility and the necessity of repentance when we have wronged others.

God’s Sovereignty and Justice
The resolution of Job's account underscores God's ultimate sovereignty and justice, reminding believers that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the obedience of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to God's command reflect the importance of humility in our spiritual lives?

2. In what ways can Job's intercession for his friends inspire us to pray for those who have wronged us, and how does this relate to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament?

3. How does the restoration of Job's fortunes after he prayed for his friends illustrate the principle of sowing and reaping in our spiritual lives?

4. What can we learn from Job's account about the nature of God's justice and how it differs from human understanding?

5. How does the resolution of Job's account encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty during times of personal trials and suffering?
Connections to Other Scriptures
James 5:11
This verse highlights the perseverance of Job and the Lord's compassion and mercy, connecting Job's account to the New Testament teaching on patience and endurance.

Genesis 20:17
Similar to Job's intercession for his friends, Abraham prays for Abimelech, and God heals him, illustrating the power of intercessory prayer.

Matthew 5:44
Jesus teaches to love and pray for one's enemies, which aligns with Job's act of praying for his friends despite their accusations.
Sermons
Job's Confession and RestorationS. G. Woodrow.Job 42:1-10
Job's Confession and RestorationD. J. Burrell, D. D.Job 42:1-10
Job's Confession and RestorationC. A. Dickinson.Job 42:1-10
In the WrongDean Bradley.Job 42:7-9
Job's Friends Condemned and He AcquittedHomilistJob 42:7-9
My Servant JobJ. Jackson Wray.Job 42:7-9
The Accusers AccusedW.F. Adeney Job 42:7-9
Conclusion of the StoryE. Johnson Job 42:7-17
The Divine Vindication of JobR. Green Job 42:7-17
People
Bildad, Eliphaz, Jemima, Job, Kerenhappuch, Kezia, Zophar
Places
Uz
Topics
Accept, Accepted, Bildad, Commanded, Ear, Eliphaz, Eli'phaz, Face, Job, Job's, Naamathite, Na'amathite, Prayer, Shuhite, Spoken, Temanite, Te'manite, Zophar
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 42:8-9

     6603   acceptance, divine

Library
October 6 Morning
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.--REV. 19:6. I know that thou canst do every thing.--The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.--He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?--There is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?--Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee. Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 26. "Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee" (Job Xlii. 5).
"Now mine eye seeth Thee" (Job xlii. 5). We must recognize the true character of our self-life and its real virulence and vileness. We must consent to its destruction, and we must take it ourselves, as Abraham did Isaac, and lay it at the feet of God in willing sacrifice. This is a hard work for the natural heart, but the moment the will is yielded and the choice is made, that death is past, the agony is over, and we are astonished to find that the death is accomplished. Usually the crisis of life …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'The End of the Lord'
'Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2. I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can he 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 …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Intercessory Prayer
The circumstance which attended Job's restoration is that to which I invite your particular attention. "The Lord turned again the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends." Intercessory prayer was the omen of his returning greatness. It was the bow in the cloud, the dove bearing the olive branch, the voice of the turtle announcing the coming summer. When his soul began to expand itself in holy and loving prayer for his erring brethren, then the heart of God showed itself to him by returning …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

The Sinner Sentenced.
1, 2.The sinner called upon to hear his sentence.--3. God's law does now in general pronounce a curse.--4. It pronounces death.--5. And being turned into hell.--6. The judgement day shall come.--7, 8. The solemnity of that grand process described according to scriptural representations of it.--9. With a particular illustration of the sentence, "Depart, accursed," &c.--10. The execution wilt certainly and immediately follow.--11. The sinner warned to prepare for enduring it. The reflection of a sinner …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Whether after the Resurrection the Saints Will See God with the Eyes of the Body? [*Cf. Fp, Q , a ]
Objection 1: It would seem that after the resurrection the saints will see God with the eyes of the body. Because the glorified eye has greater power than one that is not glorified. Now the blessed Job saw God with his eyes (Job 42:5): "With the hearing of the ear, I have heard Thee, but now my eye seeth Thee." Much more therefore will the glorified eye be able to see God in His essence. Objection 2: Further, it is written (Job 19:26): "In my flesh I shall see God my Saviour [Vulg.: 'my God']." Therefore …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Its Problem
In this and the following chapter our aim will be fourfold. First, to demonstrate the impossibility of any sinner obtaining acceptance and favour with God on the ground of his own performances. Second, to show that the saving of a sinner presented a problem which nought but omniscience could solve, but that the consummate wisdom of God has devised a way whereby He can pronounce righteous a guilty transgressor of His Law without impeaching His veracity, sullying His holiness, or ignoring the claims …
Arthur W. Pink—The Doctrine of Justification

Washed to Greater Foulness
Turning to my text, let me say, that as one is startled by a shriek, or saddened by a groan, so these sharp utterances of Job astonish us at first, and then awake our pity. How much are we troubled with brotherly compassion as we read the words,--"If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me!" The sense of misery couched in this passage baffles description. Yet this is but one of a series, in which sentence …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Whether the Essence of God Can be Seen with the Bodily Eye?
Objection 1: It seems that the essence of God can be seen by the corporeal eye. For it is written (Job 19:26): "In my flesh I shall see . . . God," and (Job 42:5), "With the hearing of the ear I have heard Thee, but now my eye seeth Thee." Objection 2: Further, Augustine says (De Civ. Dei xxix, 29): "Those eyes" (namely the glorified) "will therefore have a greater power of sight, not so much to see more keenly, as some report of the sight of serpents or of eagles (for whatever acuteness of vision …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Our Attitude Toward his Sovereignty
"Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight" (Matt. 11:26). In the present chapter we shall consider, somewhat briefly, the practical application to ourselves of the great truth which we have pondered in its various ramifications in earlier pages. In chapter twelve we shall deal more in detail with the value of this doctrine but here we would confine ourselves to a definition of what ought to be our attitude toward the Sovereignty of God. Every truth that is revealed to us in God's Word …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that contention is not a mortal sin. For there is no mortal sin in spiritual men: and yet contention is to be found in them, according to Lk. 22:24: "And there was also a strife amongst" the disciples of Jesus, "which of them should . . . be the greatest." Therefore contention is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, no well disposed man should be pleased that his neighbor commit a mortal sin. But the Apostle says (Phil. 1:17): "Some out of contention preach Christ," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Character of Its Teachings Evidences the Divine Authorship of the Bible
Take its teachings about God Himself. What does the Bible teach us about God? It declares that He is Eternal: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou are God" (Ps. 90:2). It reveals the fact that He is Infinite: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee" (I Kings 8:27). Vast as we know the universe to be, it has its bounds; but we must go beyond …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

An Address to a Soul So Overwhelmed with a Sense of the Greatness of Its Sins, that it Dares not Apply Itself to Christ with Any
1-4. The case described at large.--5. As it frequently occurs.--6. Granting all that the dejected soul charges on itself.--7. The invitations and promises of Christ give hope.--8. The reader urged, under all his burdens and fears, to an humble application to him. Which is accordingly exemplified in the concluding Reflection and Prayer. 1. I have now done with those unhappy creatures who despise the Gospel, and with those who neglect it. With pleasure do I now turn myself to those who will hear me …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Letter xx. Self-Examination.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves."--2 COR. 13:6. MY DEAR SISTER, In view of the positive injunction of Scripture, above quoted, no argument is necessary to show that self-examination is a duty. But if the word of God had been silent upon the subject, the importance of self-knowledge would have been a sufficient motive for searching into the secret springs of action which influence our conduct. A person ignorant of his own heart, is like a merchant, who knows …
Harvey Newcomb—A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females

Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
(from Bethany to Jerusalem and Back, Sunday, April 2, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXI. 1-12, 14-17; ^B Mark XI. 1-11; ^C Luke XIX. 29-44; ^D John XII. 12-19. ^c 29 And ^d 12 On the morrow [after the feast in the house of Simon the leper] ^c it came to pass, when he he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, ^a 1 And when they came nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage unto { ^b at} ^a the mount of Olives [The name, Bethphage, is said to mean house of figs, but the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING THE NATURE, SIGNS, AND PROPER EFFECTS OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT. BEING THE LAST WORKS OF THAT EMINENT PREACHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST, MR. JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. WITH A PREFACE PREFIXED THEREUNTO BY AN EMINENT MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN LONDON. London: Sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgates, 1692. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The very excellent preface to this treatise, written by George Cokayn, will inform the reader of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Having spoken of the general notion of blessedness, I come next to consider the subjects of this blessedness, and these our Saviour has deciphered to be the poor in spirit, the mourners, etc. But before I touch upon these, I shall attempt a little preface or paraphrase upon this sermon of the beatitudes. 1 Observe the divinity in this sermon, which goes beyond all philosophy. The philosophers use to say that one contrary expels another; but here one contrary begets another. Poverty is wont to expel …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Job 42:9 NIV
Job 42:9 NLT
Job 42:9 ESV
Job 42:9 NASB
Job 42:9 KJV

Job 42:9 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Job 42:8
Top of Page
Top of Page