Job 42:16

16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and 1saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations.

Job 42:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 42:16

After this lived Job an hundred and forty years
Not after he had arrived to the height of his prosperity; not after the birth of his children, and they were grown up, and had their portions given them, which must take in a considerable number of years; but after his afflictions were over, and his prosperity began: and if his years were doubled, as some think, though that is not certain, then he must be seventy years of age when he was so sorely afflicted and must live to the age of two hundred and ten; which is the common notion of the Jewish writers F26: however, he must be fifty or sixty years of age at that time, since his former children were grown up and were for themselves; and it is said F1, his afflictions continued seven years. So that it is not at all improbable that he lived to be about two hundred years of age; and which was a singular blessing of God to him, if you compare his age with that of Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua, between the two former and the two latter he may be supposed to live;

and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, [even] four generations;
Joseph saw but the third, Job the fourth, he was a great-great-grandfather. This was no doubt a pleasant sight to him, to see such a numerous offspring descending from him; and especially if they were walking in the ways of God, as probably they were, since no doubt he would take all the care of their education that in him lay. This is the great blessing promised to the Messiah, the antitype of Job, ( Isaiah 53:10 ) ; see also ( Isaiah 59:21 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F26 T. Bava Bathra, fol. 15. 1. Seder Olam Rabba, c. 3.
F1 Suidas in voce (iwb) .

Job 42:16 In-Context

14 And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.
15 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.
16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations.
17 And Job died, an old man, and full of days.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 50:23; [Psalms 128:6; Isaiah 53:10]
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