Job 1:2

1:2 Seven ¹  sons and three daughters were born to him. ² 

Psalms 107:41

107:41 Yet he protected ³  the needy from oppression,

and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.

Psalms 127:3

127:3 Yes, ⁴  sons ⁵  are a gift from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Isaiah 49:20

49:20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement

will say within your hearing,

‘This place is too cramped for us, ⁶ 

make room for us so we can live here.’ ⁷ 

[1:2]  ¹ sn The numbers used in the chapter, seven, three, and five, carry the symbolism in the Bible of perfection and completeness (see J. J. Davis, Biblical Numerology). Job’s “seven sons” are listed first because in the East sons were considered more valuable than daughters (recall Ruth, who is “better than seven sons” [Ruth 4:15]).

[1:2]  ² tn The verb begins the sentence: “and there were born.” This use of the preterite with vav (ו) consecutive, especially after the verb הָיָה (hayah, “to be”), is explanatory: there was a man…and there was born to him…” (IBHS 551-52 §33.2.2b).

[107:41]  ³ tn Heb “set on high.”

[127:3]  ⁴ tn or “look.”

[127:3]  ⁵ tn Some prefer to translate this term with the gender neutral “children,” but “sons” are plainly in view here, as the following verses make clear. Daughters are certainly wonderful additions to a family, but in ancient Israelite culture sons were the “arrows” that gave a man security in his old age, for they could defend the family interests at the city gate, where the legal and economic issues of the community were settled.

[49:20]  ⁶ tn Heb “me.” The singular is collective.

[49:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “draw near to me so I can dwell.”