Job 42:14

And he called the name of the first Jemima,.... That is, the name of the first and eldest daughter was called by Job Jemima; which either signifies "day", so the Targum interprets it, and most do,

And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. Names significant of his restored prosperity (Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:29).

Giving them such excellent names as signify their excellent beauty, of which see my Latin Synopsis.

Job 42:14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.Ver. 14. And he called the name of the first, Jemima] That is, day bright, from her oriental and glistering beauty; q.d. fair as the day (Diurno). Son 6:10, the Church is said to look forth as the morning, fair as the moon. And the name of the second, Kezia] That is, Cassia; a kind of spice, whereof there are three sorts, saith Dioscorides, but all very sweet, and send forth a most pleasant smell, like that of the rose. This second daughter therefore seems to be so named from the sweetness of her breath, or perhaps of her whole body, proceeding from the goodness of her constitution, as it is reported of Alexander the Great. So sweet smelling Smyrna, the best of all the seven Churches of Asia, Revelation 2:8-11 And the name of the third, Keren-happuch] That is, the horn of beauty (better than that which is borrowed) and of abundance; as whose cheeks Nature had painted with a most pleasing vermillion, far beyond any artificial tincture, which she had no need of, Utpote omnes aliarmn fucos et veneres superans. Some interpret it the horn of conversion; and think that Job herein would express and memorize the strange turn and alteration of his condition, as Joseph did, Genesis 41:51-52. But the Chaldee paraphrase, the Jewish doctors, and most of our expositors, are for the former interpretation, favoured also by the words following:

(14) Jemima.—This name perhaps means as fair as the day.Kezia—i.e., cassia, an aromatic bark, much prized by the ancients. (See Psalms 45:9.) Kerenhappuch—i.e., the horn for containing kohl for the eyes. The Eastern women are in the habit of painting the upper part of the eyelids with stibium, so that a black edge is formed about them and they seem larger. (See 2 Kings 9:30; Jeremiah 4:30.) The meaning of this name is the paint-box for this purpose.

Verse 14. The name of the first Jemima] ימימה yemimah, days upon days. Kezia] קציעה ketsiah, cassia, a well-known aromatic plant. And, Keren-happuch.] קרן הפוך keren happuch, the inverted or flowing horn, cornucopiae, the horn of plenty. The Chaldee will not permit these names to pass without a comment, to show the reason of their imposition: "He called the first Jemimah, because she was as fair as the day; the second Ketsiah, because she was as precious as cassia; the third Keren-happuch, because her face was as splendid as the emerald." Cardmarden's Bible, 1566, has the Hebrew names. The Vulgate has, "He called the name of one Day, of the second Cassia, and of the third The Horn of Antimony." The versions in general preserve these names, only the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic translate Jemimah, DAY; and the former for Keren-happuch has Αμαλθαιαςκερας, the horn of Amalthea. This refers to an ancient fable. Amalthea was the nurse of Jupiter, and fed him with goat's milk when he was young. The goat having by accident her horn struck off, Jupiter translated the animal to the heavens, and gave her a place among the constellations, which she still holds; and made the horn the emblem of plenty: hence it is always pictured or described as filled with fruits, flowers, and the necessaries and luxuries of life. It is very strange how this fable got into the Septuagint. Coverdale is singular: The first he called 'Daye', the seconde 'Poverte', the thirde, 'All plenteousnes'.

10–16. Job is restored to a prosperity double that which he formerly enjoyed; his former friends gather around him; he is again blessed with children; and dies, old and full of days.

And he called the name of the first, Jemima - It is remarkable that in the former account of the family of Job, the names of none of his children are mentioned, and in this account the names of the daughters only are designated.

14. And he called the name — The grace and beauty of person of the three daughters are reflected in the descriptive names, given, not by the parent necessarily, but more probably by admiring friends.