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Job 42:13-16
He had also seven sons and three daughters…

Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Leviticus 26:9
For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.

great.

Psalm 72:16
There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: andthey of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

your descendants like the grass of the earth
The imagery of grass is used throughout the Bible to denote abundance and proliferation, as grass covers the earth in great numbers. This metaphor suggests not only quantity but also the idea of growth and renewal. In the cultural context, grass was a common and vital part of the agrarian landscape, symbolizing life and sustenance. This phrase can be connected toPsalm 72:16, which speaks of the righteous flourishing like grass. The use of grass also subtly points to the transient nature of human life, as seen inIsaiah 40:6-8, where human life is compared to grass that withers. However, in this context, the focus is on the blessing of numerous descendants, emphasizing God's provision and the continuation of one's lineage.

• The statement begins with assurance, not speculation. Eliphaz tells Job, “You will know,” echoing the settled confidence found in passages such asJob 19:25 (“I know that my Redeemer lives”) and1 John 5:13, where believers are invited to know they have eternal life.

• Throughout Scripture, God’s acts are designed to make His faithfulness unmistakable (Exodus 6:7;Isaiah 49:23). Even though Eliphaz’s overall counsel is later rebuked (Job 42:7), the Spirit accurately records his words to reveal a timeless principle: God delights to make His goodness observable (Psalm 31:19).

• For us, the verse invites expectancy—looking for tangible evidence of God at work in our families, much like the psalmist who remembers past deeds to fuel present trust (Psalm 77:11-14).

• From Eden forward, fruitfulness is portrayed as a blessing (Genesis 1:28). God renews this theme in His covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 17:2-6) and later with Israel (Deuteronomy 7:13; 28:4).

• Wisdom literature celebrates numerous children as a sign of divine favor (Psalm 127:3-5;Proverbs 17:6).

• Multiplication carries the idea of continuity—passing faith to the next generation (Deuteronomy 6:6-7;2 Timothy 1:5).

• Even apparent barrenness can be overturned. God “sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6) and restores what seems lost (Joel 2:25-26).

• The imagery points to numberless, rapid growth, paralleling promises to Abraham of offspring “like the dust of the earth” (Genesis 13:16) and “like the sand on the seashore” (Genesis 22:17).

• Grass suggests vitality and resilience; it springs back season after season (Psalm 72:16). Similarly, a God-blessed lineage endures hardship and keeps flourishing.

•Isaiah 44:3-4 depicts children sprouting “like grass in a meadow,” reinforcing the picture of widespread, vigorous life.

• The New Testament widens the concept: all who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29), multiplying the family of God beyond ethnic borders and fulfilling the promise on a grander scale.

Job 5:25 holds out confident expectation that God can bless the righteous with a flourishing, enduring family line—abundant in number, vibrant in life, and resilient through trial. Eliphaz misapplies the principle to Job’s immediate pain, yet the truth itself stands: the Lord delights to vindicate His people and extend their influence across generations. Whether through physical children or spiritual heirs, God’s purpose is to fill the earth with those who know and honor Him, growing their legacy “like the grass of the earth.”