Bible Strands
Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Job’s three named friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—act after hearing of the adversity that struck him, leaving their homes to gather and approach him together. This occurs immediately after Job rebukes his wife and refuses to sin in his speech, marking the transition from his solitary suffering to communal visitation.
The words — The phrase וַֽיִּשְׁמְעוּ (va/i.yish.me.'U) translates literally as "and they heard," while שְׁלֹשֶׁת רֵעֵי אִיּוֹב (she.lo.shet re.'ei 'i.yov) denotes "the three friends of Job." These terms anchor the narrative focus on the friends' initial perception of Job’s calamity before their physical arrival.
The thread — The pattern of hearing of suffering and responding with presence appears in Romans 12:15, which commands believers to weep with those who weep, and contrasts with Job 42:11, where a broader group of relatives and former acquaintances later dine with him.
Why it lands — The text requires a reader to observe that compassion begins with attentive hearing and deliberate movement toward the afflicted. It demands a practical response to reported suffering rather than abstract sympathy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Job 42:11 All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
- Genesis 25:2 and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
- Job 6:14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
- Jeremiah 49:7 Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?
- 1 Corinthians 12:26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- Genesis 36:11 The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.
- Genesis 36:15 These are the chiefs among the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
- Genesis 37:35 All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.