And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a specific, generational blessing: Job didn't just live a long life, he lived long enough to see his great-grandchildren, a tangible sign of God's favor and the fruitfulness of his restored life. This multi-generational sight was a profound testament to God's restoration, surpassing what even earlier figures like Joseph experienced.
And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After God rebukes Job's friends and accepts Job's prayer for them, Job's fortunes are restored, and he is blessed with twice the possessions he lost. This final passage describes Job's long, peaceful life after his trials, seeing his family flourish for four generations, symbolizing a complete restoration and divine favor.
Job faced unimaginable loss. After his trials, God didn't just restore what was lost—He multiplied it. This final detail shows the incredible abundance of God's grace.
A Double Portion of Blessing
Job's story is a powerful testament to God's ability to restore and even surpass what has been lost. The text states that God gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). This wasn't just about material possessions, but also about a rich and extended family life.
More Than Enough
While the exact math of Job's age before and during his trials is debated among scholars, the key takeaway is God's overwhelming generosity. He restored Job's wealth, gave him new children, and then blessed him with an exceptionally long life to enjoy them.
This abundance is a hallmark of God's favor, illustrating that when He blesses, He blesses abundantly, far beyond our initial expectations or past losses.
Imagine seeing your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren! Job's final years were marked by a precious gift: the legacy of his family blooming.
A Flourishing Family Legacy
The specific mention of seeing 'sons, and sons' sons, even four generations' is a beautiful picture of God's blessing on family and legacy.
A Sign of Divine Favor
In ancient cultures, seeing multiple generations thrive was a significant sign of God's favor and blessing. It indicated continuity, prosperity, and a successful lineage. Job experienced this profound joy, witnessing the continuation and growth of his family line.
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This wasn't just about living a long life; it was about experiencing the deep satisfaction of seeing God's promises fulfilled in his descendants, knowing that his family's story would continue.
The immense lifespan granted to Job after his trials highlights the patriarchal era's context and underscores God's abundant restoration, extending far beyond Job's previous prosperity.
c. 2100-1900 BC
Patriarchal Age
Job's life and story are placed in the early patriarchal period, likely before the time of Abraham, characterized by long lifespans and direct communication with God.
c. 2000-1900 BC
Job's Sufferings Begin
Job experiences devastating losses of family, property, and health, initiating a profound theological crisis and testing his faithfulness.
c. 2000-1900 BC
Job's Friends Arrive
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar come to comfort Job, but their attempts devolve into lengthy debates about suffering, justice, and divine retribution.
c. 2000-1900 BC— this verse
Job's Integrity Vindicated
After prolonged dialogue and Job's eventual direct encounter with God, God rebukes Job's friends for misrepresenting Him and commends Job's faithfulness.
c. 2000-1900 BC
Job's Restoration Begins
God restores Job's fortunes, doubling his previous wealth and granting him a new family. Job prays for his friends as part of this restoration.
c. 2000-1860 BC
Job Lives Long After Trials
Job lives an additional 140 years, enjoying the fruits of his restored life and witnessing four generations of his descendants.
This passage parallels Job's experience by mentioning Joseph seeing his descendants for three generations, highlighting the blessing of a long life and seeing descendants flourish.
Psalm 128:6This verse speaks directly to the blessing of seeing one's children's children, echoing the profound satisfaction and divine favor Job experienced in his later years.
Proverbs 17:6This proverb explicitly states that the glory of children are their fathers, and the glory of children's children are their grandparents, directly reflecting the multi-generational joy Job witnessed.
Isaiah 53:10This prophetic verse about the Suffering Servant includes the promise that 'the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand,' and that he 'shall see his offspring.' This connects Job's restoration and long, fruitful life to a Messianic promise of enduring legacy.
wesleyJob 42:16: "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations."
42:16 After this, and c. - Some conjecture, that he was seventy when his trouble came. If so his age was doubled, as his other possessions.
clarkeJob 42:16: "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations."
After this lived Job a hundred and forty years - How long he had lived before his afflictions, we cannot tell. If we could rely on the Septuagint, all would be plain, who add here, Τα δε παντα ετη εζησεν, διακοσια τεσσαρακοντα; "And all the years that Job 54 ed were two hundred and forty." This makes him one hundred years of age when his trial commenced. Coverdale has, Afte…
The verse highlights a specific, generational blessing: Job didn't just live a long life, he lived long enough to see his great-grandchildren, a tangible sign of God's favor and the fruitfulness of his restored life. This multi-generational sight was a profound testament to God's restoration, surpassing what even earlier figures like Joseph experienced.
After God rebukes Job's friends and accepts Job's prayer for them, Job's fortunes are restored, and he is blessed with twice the possessions he lost. This final passage describes Job's long, peaceful life after his trials, seeing his family flourish for four generations, symbolizing a complete restoration and divine favor.
After God rebukes Job's friends and accepts Job's prayer for them, Job's fortunes are restored, and he is blessed with twice the possessions he lost. This final passage describes Job's long, peaceful life after his trials, seeing his family flourish for four generations, symbolizing a complete restoration and divine favor.
"And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, four generations." — The verse highlights a specific, generational blessing: Job didn't just live a long life, he lived long enough to see his great-grandchildren, a tangible sign of God's favor and the fruitfulness of…
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Last reviewed October 2026