Why does Job repent?

Abstract

In the book of Job, the main character is declared a righteous man by both God and Job’s peers. Throughout the book, Job’s innocence is maintained and ultimately he is vindicated by God. It is a puzzle, then, to find an impassioned cry of repentance in the final chapter (42:1-6). This article investigates the nature of Job’s repentance by considering the context, content and consequences of that action. In examining the context, Job’s encounter with God is of primary focus. The content is, then, examined exegetically to unpack the central meaning. Finally, the results of Job’s actions as revealed in the final narrative are considered so as to highlight the value of Job’s response to God.