God now takes the initiative to reconcile the friends to himself and to Job. In 1.5 Job offered burnt offerings to God on behalf of his children. Job is now asked to make a similar sacrifice, which confirms the fact that God accepts Job.

Seven bulls and seven rams is a large sacrifice. Job is to play the role of the mediator, like Abraham in Genesis 20.7, Moses in Numbers 21.7, and Samuel in 1 Samuel 7.5; 12.19, 23. However, it is the friends who supply the animals for the sacrifice. There is no evidence in the text that this sacrifice is made by priests on behalf of the friends. Therefore we must assume that the three friends take the animals to the place where Job is and perform the ritual of burned sacrifice themselves. Job’s only function is to speak with God on behalf of the friends. The presence of Job is necessary, just as Samuel’s presence was required at the sacrifice wrongly offered by Saul alone in 1 Samuel 13.8-13.

My servant is used three times in verse 8. This usage is rhetorical, that is, it functions as a device to associate Job with the LORD and to set Job apart from the three friends in the eyes of the LORD. Note that Good News Translation has made no provision for this important detail in its translation of this verse. If translators find the expression my servant is redundant, they should explore ways of varying the expression so as to retain and emphasize the association of Job with the LORD, whom he serves.

Job shall pray for you means “Job will speak to me on your behalf.” Intercessory prayer is mentioned in the Old Testament in Genesis 18.23-32; 20.7; Exodus 8.30; 32.11-13; Numbers 14.13-19; 21.7; Deuteronomy 9.20; 1 Samuel 7.5, 8; 12.19, 23; Isaiah 53.12; Jeremiah 37.3; Amos 7.2, 5. Bulls are male cattle. Rams are adult male sheep. For a discussion of burnt offering, see 1.5.

I will accept his prayer is literally “I will accept his face.” It means “I will answer his prayer.” The expression deal with you according to your folly is uncertain as to its meaning, since this is the only place where it occurs with God as the subject of the verb. Elsewhere folly always refers to someone committing some disgraceful act, as in Judges 19.23, 24. New Jerusalem Bible has “I … shall not inflict my displeasure on you.” Good News Translation “not disgrace you as you deserve” is most likely a correct rendering. In some languages this expression may be translated idiomatically as “I will not show your face even though I should,” “I will keep your head covered even though you have done wrong,” or “I will hide your bad liver even though it should be seen.” What is right translates the same noun used in verse 7 meaning “the truth.” For a second time God upholds Job as having spoken the truth.

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 .