complete verse (Job 42:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Job 42:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “He also got seven sons and three daughters.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He [also] got 7 sons and 3 daughters.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He also gave him seven male children and three female children.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Job 42:12 - 42:13

The latter days is better expressed by Good News Translation as “the last part” in contrast to “the first part.” It is not that the LORD blesses the days, but that he blesses Job during that time. The number of animals is exactly double the number given in chapter 1. In chapter 1 the sons and daughters are mentioned before the animals. In verse 13 the sons and daughters are mentioned after the animals, and unlike the animals they are not doubled, unless the peculiar form of the word seven is to be understood as a dual, as Dhorme suggests, and so would mean fourteen. This does not explain why the number of daughters is not doubled. There is no mention of the servants. Translators should refer to comments on yoke and each of the types of animals in 1.2-3.

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 .