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.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Iob, and that man was perfect and vpright, and one that feared God, and eschewed euill.

2And there were borne vnto him seuen sonnes, and three daughters.

3His substance also was seuen thousand sheepe, and three thousand camels, and fiue hundred yoke of oxen, and fiue hundred shee asses, and a very great houshold; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.

4And his sonnes went and feasted in their houses, euery one his day, and sent and called for their three sisters, to eate and to drinke with them.

5And it was so, when the dayes of their feasting were gone about, that Iob sent and sanctified them, and rose vp early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: For Iob said, It may be that my sonnes haue sinned, and cursed God in their hearts: Thus did Iob continually.

6 Now there was a day, when the sons of God came to present themselues before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7And the Lord said vnto Satan, Whence commest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and sayde, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking vp and downe in it.

8And the Lord sayd vnto Satan, Hast thou considered my seruant Iob, that there is none like him in the earth? a perfect and an vpright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth euill?

9Then Satan answered þe Lord, and sayd, Doeth Iob feare God for nought?

10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on euery side? thou hast blessed the worke of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11But put foorth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12And the Lord said vnto Satan, Behold, all that hee hath is in thy power, onely vpon himselfe put not foorth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13 And there was a day, when his sonnes and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house:

14And there came a messenger vnto Iob, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them,

15And the Sabeans fell vpon them, and tooke them away: yea they haue slaine the seruants with the edge of the sword, and I onely am escaped alone, to tell thee.

16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heauen, and hath burnt vp the sheepe, and the seruants, and consumed them, and I onely am escaped alone, to tell thee.

17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Caldeans made out three bands, and fell vpon the camels, and haue caried them away, yea, and slaine the seruants with the edge of the sword, and I onely am escaped alone, to tell thee.

18While he was yet speaking, there came also another, & said, Thy sonnes, and thy daughters, were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brothers house.

19And beholde, there came a great winde from the wildernes, and smote the foure corners of the house, and it fell vpon the yong men, and they are dead, and I onely am escaped alone to tell thee.

20Then Iob arose, and rent his mantle, and shaued his head, and fell downe vpon the ground and worshipped,

21And said, Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I returne thither: the Lord gaue, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord.

22In all this Iob sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

I == Gen 6:9 ; 17:1 ; 22:20-21 ; Job 2:3 ; Prov 8:13 ; 16:6 ; Ezek 14:14 ; James 5:11

V == Gen 8:20 ; 1st Kings 21:10 , 13 ; Job 42:8

VI == 1st Kings 22:19 ; 1st Chr 21:1 ; Job 2:1 ; Rev 12:9-10

VII == Job 2:2 ; Matt 12:43 ; 1st Peter 5:8

VIII == Job 1:1 ; 2:3

X == Ps 34:7 ; 128:1-2 ; Prov 10:22 ; Isa 5:2

XI == Job 2:5 ; 19:21 ; Isa 8:21 ; Mal 3:13-14

XII == Gen 16:6

XIII == Eccl 9:12

XVIII == Job 1:4 , 13

XX == Gen 37:29 ; Ezra 9:3 ; 1st Peter 5:6

XXI == Ps 49:17 ; Eccl 5:15 , 19 ; Matt 20:15 ; Eph 5:20 ; 1st Thess 5:18 ; 1st Tim 6:7 ; James 1:17

XXII == Job 2:10

1 In the land of Uz there was a blameless and upright man named Job, who feared God and avoided evil.

2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him;

3 and he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a great number of work animals, so that he was greater than any of the men of the East.

4 His sons used to take turns giving feasts, sending invitations to their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

5 And when each feast had run its course, Job would send for them and sanctify them, rising early and offering holocausts for every one of them. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts." This Job did habitually.

6 One day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them.

7 And the LORD said to Satan, "Whence do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming the earth and patrolling it."

8 And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?"

9 But Satan answered the LORD and said, "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?

10 Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.

11 But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face."

12 And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person." So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

13 And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the asses grazing beside them,

15 and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

16 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

17 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

18 While he was yet speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

19 when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you."

20 Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground,

21 and said, "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!"

22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

Job is the first of the five books of “poetry” and first of the “Wisdom” books which include Psalms and Ecclesiastes and in the New Testament, James. They deal with a broad range of human experience, and include short sayings, essays and drama. Ezek. 14:14,20 and Jas. 5:11 refer to Job as an actual man. He probably wrote the book. He lived to great age, and geographical references would indicate he lived in the days of Abraham and Isaac. Also there is no mention of the Law, Tabernacle or Temple. Sabeans and Chaldeans were nomadic in Abraham’s day, not later.
v 1. Uz was the first born son of Abraham’s brother Nahor, and was brother to Rebecah’s father, Bethuel, Gen. 21, so land of Uz was probably along the Euphrates. Elihu in 32:2 can’t be related to Ram of Ruth 4:19, but to Ram, same as Aram, Gen. 22:21, all descendants of Nahor. (Esau’s grandson, Uz, Gen. 36:28, was in the area southeast of the Dead Sea, and Job mentions Sheba and Tema, grandsons of Abraham, but such names were common in both areas. Shuhite, 2:11, appropriately means wealth, not Judah’s wife; Naamath, a pleasant place.) Job was acquainted with both desert, desert storms and fertile areas, frequent to either area, but him being one of the great men of the east, would apply to the area of the Euphrates, which is always considered the east. His great age would also place him more likely before Abraham’s grandsons. More important, Job was morally upright, revered God, and shunned evil.

v 2,3. Job’s family size was normal and wealth was measured in livestock, both common in that time period and area. He had both tremendous wealth and wisdom.

v 4,5. These may have been birthday celebrations. As priest of the family, Job regularly made sacrifice for each one in case they had sinned, even in their hearts.

v 6-8. The unfallen angels reported their activities before God, and we don’t understand this, but Satan had and still has access to heaven as accuser, Rev. 12:10. Walking on earth in those days indicated ownership, and Satan works as prince of the power of the air. (On transfer of property the shoe was removed and given to new owner to indicate former could no longer walk on it in ownership, Ruth 4:7,8.) But when Satan walks on the earth, he is seeking whom he may devour, 1 Pet. 5:8. God speaks highly of Job. Few other men deserved suffering less but had to experience it more.

v 9-12. Satan retorted that the only reason Job feared God was because of the protection and blessings he received. If the Lord took away his possessions, he would curse God to His face. God gave Satan permission to take Job’s possessions, but not to harm him. Job and his wife were one flesh, Gen. 2:24, so she was also excluded.

v 13-19. Satan waited for the proper time and unleashed destruction alternately between man and natural forces in rapid succession. First attack was Sabeans, v 15, Sabeans were from the land of Aheba in South Arabia descendants of Shem Gen 10:28 who took the oxen and asses. Next was fire from God, perhaps a form of lightning, which burned up the sheep, v 16. Next, three bands of Chaldeans, who was from the East land of Abraham. (north of Euphrates) surrounded the camels and took them, v 17. Finally tornado like winds destroyed the house killing all Job’s sons and daughters, v 18, 19. Only four messengers saved.

v 20-22. Tearing garments was a customary sign of deep grief, and shaving the head indicated his glory was gone, Pr. 20:29. Job recognized we bring nothing into this world and can take nothing out. His godly character stands out when he bows to the ground in worship, “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.