When three of Job's acquaintances
(neighbors – Hebr. rea) heard about all the misfortunes that had befallen him, they agreed to go and show compassion and comfort him. The three were:
Eliphaz – the Temanite
[Teman was a city in Edom southeast of the Dead Sea, known for wisdom, see ] and
Bildad – the Shuhite
[Shuh probably means "wealth"] and
Zophar – the Naamathite
[Naamah means "beautiful"].
[These were three of Job's acquaintances or neighbors. The eldest and most prominent is always mentioned first in lists, which in this case is Eliphaz. The other two names are unusual and the places are unknown, but Shoa and Naama were probably located somewhere in present-day Jordan. Bildad has a good knowledge of the papyrus plant () and may have had contact with Egypt. The name Eliphaz means "my God is gold." The etymology of the name Bildad is not entirely clear, but the name consists of two parts: Bel or Baal (lord) followed by the verb jadad (to love). The meaning could be "the Lord is loved" or "Bel has loved." Some see a connection to the god Baal here. The third acquaintance's name is Tsofar, which means trumpet, alarm, or siren.]
