And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights: Good News Translation translates the connecting word with “Then,” which makes a more logical transition from the expressions of mourning to their sitting silently with Job. Seven days and seven nights is the period of mourning for the dead in Genesis 50.10; 1 Samuel 31.13. Ezekiel sat “overwhelmed” for seven days with the exiles of Tel Abib (Ezek 3.15).

In translation in some languages it may be necessary to shift the reason clause ahead of the result clause; for example, “Because they saw how much Job was suffering, they sat with him on the ground for seven days and nights without saying a word” or “They sat with Job on the ground for seven days and nights; because they knew how much he was suffering, they did not say a word.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .