Job 1
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The prophet shows that all human courses are vain, Ecc 1:1-4. The creatures are continually changing, Ecc 1:5-8. There is nothing new under the sun, Ecc 1:9-11. Who the prophet was, his estate and his studies, Ecc 1:12-18.
Open source ↗THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (Job 1:1-5) Uz--north of Arabia-Deserta, lying towards the Euphrates. It was in this neighborhood, and not in that of Idumea, that the Chaldeans and Sabeans who plundered him dwell. The Arabs divide their country into the north, called Sham, or "the left"; and the south, called Yemen, or "the right"; for they faced east; and so the west was on their left, and the south on their right. Arabia-Deserta was on the east, Arabia-PetrÃ&brvbra on the west, and Arabia-Felix on the south. Job--The name comes from an Arabic word meaning "to return," namely, to God, "to repent," referring to his end [EICHORN]; or rather from a Hebrew word signifying one to whom enmity was shown, "greatly tried" [GESENIUS]. Significant names were often given among the Hebrews, from some event of later life (compare Gen 4:2, Abel--a "feeder" of sheep). So the emir of Uz was by general consent called Job, on account of his "trials." The only other person so called was a son of Issachar (Gen 46:13). perfect--not absolute or faultless perfection (compare Job 9:20; Ecc 7:20), but integrity, sincerity, and consistency on the whole, in all relations of life (Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1; Pro 10:9; Mat 5:48). It was the fear of God that kept Job from evil (Pro 8:13).
Open source ↗There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job,.... Of the signification of his name, see the introduction to the book. The place where he dwelt had its name not from Uz, a descendant of Shem, Gen 10:23 but from Uz, a son of Nahor, brother to Abraham, Gen 22:21 unless it can be thought to be so called from Uz, of the children of Seir, in the land of Edom; since we read of the land of Uz along with Edom, or rather of Edom as in the land of Uz, or on the borders of it, Lam 4:21, the Targum calls it the land of Armenia, but rather it is Arabia; and very probably it was one of the Arabias Job lived in, either Petraea or Deserta, probably the latter; of which Uz or Ausitis, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin version read it, was a part; the same with the Aesitae of Ptolemy (u); and it is said to be near the land of Canaan (w), for in Arabia Felix the Sabeans lived; and certain it is that this country was near to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, and to the land of Edom, from whence Eliphaz the Temanite came: and as this very probably was a wicked and an idolatrous place, it was an instance of the distinguishing grace of God, to call Job by his grace in the land of Uz, as it was to call Abraham in Ur of the Chaldeans; and though it might be distressing and afflicting to the good man to live in such a country, as it was to Lot to live in Sodom, yet it was an honour to him, or rather it was to the glory of the grace of God that he was religious here, and continued to be so, see Rev 2:13 and gives an early proof of what the Apostle Peter observed, "that God is no respecter of persons, but, in every nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him"; that is, through Christ, Act 10:34. Job, as he is described by his name and country, so by his sex, "a…
Open source ↗1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. The lxx translates, ἐν χώρᾳ τῇ Αὐσίτιδι; and adds at the close of the book, ἐπὶ τοῖς ὁρίοις τῆν Ἰδουμαίας καὶ Ἀραβίας, therefore north-east from Idumea, towards the Arabian desert. There, in the Arabian desert west from Babylon, under the Caucabenes, according to Ptolemy (v. 19, 2), the Αἰσῖται (Αἰσεῖται), i.e., the Uzzites, dwelt. This determination of the position of Uz is the most to be relied on. It tends indirectly to confirm this, that Οὖσος, in Jos. Ant. i. 6, 4, is described as founder of Trachonitis and Damascus; that the Jakut Hamawi and Moslem tradition generally (as recently Fries, Stud. u. Krit. 1854, ii.) mention the East Haran fertile tract of country north-west of Tm and Bzn, el-Bethenije, the district of Damascus in which Job dwelt; (Note: Vid., Abulfeda, Historia anteislam. p. 26 (cf. 207f.), where it says, "The whole of Bethenije, a part of the province of Damascus, belonged to Job as his possession.") that the Syrian tradition also transfers the dwelling-place of Job to Hauran, where, in the district of Damascus, a monastery to his honour is called Dair Ejjub (vid., Volck, Calendarium Syriacum, p. 29). All these accounts agree that Uz is not to be sought in Idumaea proper (Gebl). And the early historical genealogies (Gen 10:23; Gen 22:21; Gen 36:28) are not unfavourable to this, since they place Uz in relation to Seir-Edom on the one hand, and on the other to Aram: the perplexing double occurrence of such names as Tm and Dma, both in Idumaea and East Hauran, perhaps just results from the mixing of the different tribes through migration. But at all events, though Uz did not lie in Gebl, yet…
Open source ↗Concerning Job we are here told, I. That he was a man; therefore subject to like passions as we are. He was Ish, a worthy man, a man of note and eminency, a magistrate, a man in authority. The country he lived in was the land of Uz, in the eastern part of Arabia, which lay towards Chaldea, near Euphrates, probably not far from Ur of the Chaldees, whence Abraham was called. When God called one good man out of that country, yet he left not himself without witness, but raised up another in it to be a preacher of righteousness. God has his remnant in all places, sealed ones out of every nation, as well as out of every tribe of Israel, Rev 7:9. It was the privilege of the land of Uz to have so good a man as Job in it; now it was Arabia the Happy indeed: and it was the praise of Job that he was eminently good in so bad a place; the worse others were round about him the better he was. His name Job, or Jjob, some say, signifies one hated and counted as an enemy. Others make it to signify one that grieves or groans; thus the sorrow he carried in his name might be a check to his joy in his prosperity. Dr. Cave derives it from Jaab - to love, or desire, intimating how welcome his birth was to his parents, and how much he was the desire of their eyes; and yet there was a time when he cursed the day of his birth. Who can tell what the day may prove which yet begins with a bright morning? II. That he was a very good man, eminently pious, and better than his neighbours: He was perfect and upright. This is intended to show us, not only what reputation he had among men (that he was generally taken for an honest man), but what was really his character; for it is the judgment of God concerning him, and we are sure that is according to truth. 1. Job was a religious man, one that feared God…
Open source ↗1:1 The opening phrase, There once was a man, can introduce either a parable (2 Sam 12:1) or history (1 Sam 25:2). • Job is also mentioned in Ezek 14:14, 20 and Jas 5:11. • Uz is east of the Jordan, either in Edom to the south (Gen 36:28; 1 Chr 1:42; Jer 25:19-20; Lam 4:21) or in Aram to the north (Gen 10:23; 22:21; 1 Chr 1:17, 42). Job was not an Israelite—he lived before the nation was born and outside its later territory. • Job was morally blameless—a man of complete integrity (Job 1:8; 2:3; see Pss 25:21; 37:37; Prov 2:7; 20:11; 29:10). He did not claim to be perfect or sinless (Job 6:24; 7:21; see also Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:23; 1 Jn 1:8), but he was righteous; his suffering did not result from guilt. He feared God (see Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; 9:10; 2 Cor 7:1) and did not appeal to any of the ancient Near Eastern gods (Job 9:8; 23:13; 31:26-28).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) עוּץ (ʻÛwts, H5780) — Uts, a son of Aram, also a Seirite, and the regions settled by them. שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience תָּם (tâm, H8535) — complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3373) — fearing; morally, reverent אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Open source ↗יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and…
Open source ↗מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction צֶמֶד (tsemed, H6776) — hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… אָתוֹן (ʼâthôwn, H860) — a female donkey (from its docility) מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) עֲבֻדָּה (ʻăbuddâh, H5657) — something wrought, i.e. (concretely) service
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh, H4960) — drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally)… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice אָחוֹת (ʼâchôwth, H269) — a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מִשְׁתֶּה (mishteh, H4960) — drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally)… נָקַף (nâqaph, H5362) — to strike with more or less violence (beat, fell, corrode); by implication (of attack) to… אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָדַשׁ (qâdash, H6942) — to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) שָׁכַם (shâkam, H7925) — literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… עֹלָה (ʻôlâh, H5930) — a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke) מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אוּלַי (ʼûwlay, H194) — if not; hence perhaps בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good אַיִן (ʼayin, H370) — where? (only in connection with prepositional prefix, whence) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… שׁוּט (shûwṭ, H7751) — properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars)… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) תָּם (tâm, H8535) — complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dear יָשָׁר (yâshâr, H3477) — straight (literally or figuratively) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3373) — fearing; morally, reverent אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative)
Open source ↗שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… חִנָּם (chinnâm, H2600) — gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage
Open source ↗שׂוּךְ (sûwk, H7753) — to entwine, i.e. shut in (for formation, protection or restraint) בְּעַד (bᵉʻad, H1157) — in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc. בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition פָּרַץ (pârats, H6555) — to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗אוּלָם (ʼûwlâm, H199) — however or on the contrary שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… לֹא (lôʼ, H3808) — not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׂטָן (sâṭân, H7854) — an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… חָרַשׁ (chârash, H2790) — to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to… אָתוֹן (ʼâthôwn, H860) — a female donkey (from its docility) רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.”
This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”