The Meaning of Job 42:6 Explained

Job 42:6

KJV: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

YLT: Therefore do I loathe it, And I have repented on dust and ashes.

Darby: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

ASV: Wherefore I abhor myself , And repent in dust and ashes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore I abhor  [myself], and repent  in dust  and ashes. 

What does Job 42:6 Mean?

Study Notes

Wherefore I abhor myself
The problem, of which the book of Job is the profound discussion, finds here its solution. Brought into the presence of God, Job is revealed to himself. In no sense a hypocrite, but godly and possessing a faith which all his afflictions could not shake, Job was yet self-righteous and lacking in humility. Chapter 29 fully discloses this. But in the presence of God he anticipates, as it were, the experience of Paul. Philippians 3:4-9 and the problem is solved. The godly are afflicted that they may be brought to self-knowledge and self-judgment. Such afflictions are not penal for their sins, but remedial and purifying. The book of Job affords a sublime illustration of the truth announced in; 1 Corinthians 11:31 ; 1 Corinthians 11:32 ; Hebrews 12:7-11 . Best of all, such self-knowledge and self-judgment is the prelude to greater fruitfulness.; Job 42:7-17 ; John 15:2 . Cf.; Joshua 5:13 ; Joshua 5:14 ; Ezekiel 1:28 ; Ezekiel 2:1-3 ; Daniel 10:5-11 ; Revelation 1:17-19 .
repent .
repented
Repentance (O.T.), Summary: In the O.T., repentance is the English word used to translate the Heb. nacham, to be "eased" or "comforted." It is used of both God and man. Notwithstanding the literal meaning of nacham, it is evident, from a study of all the passages, that the sacred writers use it in the sense of metanoia in the N.T.--a change of mind. Matthew 3:2 (See Scofield " Acts 17:30 ") . As in the N.T., such change of mind is often accompanied by contrition and self-judgment. When applied to God the word is used phenomenally according to O.T. custom. God seems to change His mind. The phenomena are such as, in the case of man, would indicate a change of mind.

Context Summary

Job 42:1-17 - Restored To Right Relations With God
In complete surrender Job bowed before God, confessing his ignorance and owning that he had spoken glibly of things which he understood not. He had retorted to his friends that he was as good as they, but now he confessed, as did the Apostle after him, that he was of sinners the chief. It is one thing to hear of God, another to see and know Him close at hand. Well may we loathe our proud words and repent in dust and ashes, Job 42:6, r.v., margin.
When Job was right with God, the Almighty took his side against his accusers and silenced them. It was through Job's intercessions that they were forgiven. He himself was not fully forgiven till he could pray for them with loving forgiveness. But immediately he had done so God turned "the shadow of death into the morning" and gave him the double portion of the first-born. Thus men, when forgiven and restored, are heirs of riches greater than they had forfeited. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 42

1  Job submits himself unto God
7  God, preferring Job's cause, makes his friends submit themselves, and accepts him
10  He magnifies and blesses Job
16  Job's age and death

What do the individual words in Job 42:6 mean?

Therefore after that I abhor [myself] and repent in dust and ashes -
עַל־ כֵּ֭ן אֶמְאַ֣ס וְנִחַ֑מְתִּי עַל־ עָפָ֥ר וָאֵֽפֶר פ

כֵּ֭ן  after  that 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אֶמְאַ֣ס  I  abhor  [myself] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
וְנִחַ֑מְתִּי  and  repent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
עָפָ֥ר  dust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.
וָאֵֽפֶר  and  ashes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵפֶר  
Sense: ashes.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation