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Job

malePatriarchal

Meaning: “Persecuted; or "where is my father?"

A blameless and wealthy man of Uz whose faith endured the loss of his children, wealth, and health, and who met God in his suffering and was restored.

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Biography

Job, "a perfect and an upright man, one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:1), is the central figure of the Bible's great meditation on innocent suffering. A wealthy man of the land of Uz, likely living in the patriarchal age, his story probes why the righteous suffer — and answers it not with an argument but with God Himself.

The testing of a righteous man

With God's permission, Satan stripped Job of his livestock, servants, and ten children in a single day. Job's response is one of Scripture's great confessions of faith: "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). A second test took his health, covering him with painful boils, yet "in all this did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 2:10).

The long debate

Three friends — Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar — insisted Job's suffering must be punishment for sin. Job maintained his integrity and longed to plead his case before God, voicing the hope, "I know that my redeemer liveth" (Job 19:25).

God answers out of the whirlwind

At last God spoke from a whirlwind, not explaining the suffering but unfolding the majesty of creation, until Job, humbled, repented "in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6). God rebuked the friends and "turned the captivity of Job," restoring his fortunes twofold and giving him ten more children (Job 42:10). James holds him up as the pattern of patient endurance (James 5:11).

Life Timeline

Loses his children, wealth, and health in testing

Job 1:21

Maintains his integrity through his friends’ accusations

Job 19:25

Meets God in the whirlwind and repents

Job 42:5

Restored by God with twice his former blessing

Job 42:10

Themes & lessons from Job

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Job appears.

Resignation5×Zophar4×Afflicted Saints3×Eliphaz3×Intercession3×Satan3×Sickness3×Despondency2×Diseases2×Murmuring2×Old Age2×Parents2×Prayer, Intercessory2×Self-Righteousness2×Temptation2×Whirlwind2×Works2×Afflictions1×

People they appear with

Noah2×
Daniel2×
Shuah1×

Scripture Appearances

54 verses in 3 books
Job51 verses

Job 1:1

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.

Job 1:5

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. continually: Heb. all the days

Job 1:8

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? considered: Heb. set thy heart on

Job 1:9

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:14

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

Job 1:20

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, mantle: or, robe

Job 1:22

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. charged: or, attributed folly to God

Job 2:3

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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. to destroy: Heb. to swallow him up

Job 2:7

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Job 2:10

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 2:11

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Job 3:1

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

Job 3:2

And Job spake, and said, spake: Heb. answered

Job 6:1

But Job answered and said,

Job 9:1

Then Job answered and said,

Job 12:1

And Job answered and said,

Job 16:1

Then Job answered and said,

Job 19:1

Then Job answered and said,

Job 21:1

But Job answered and said,

Job 23:1

Then Job answered and said,

Job 26:1

But Job answered and said,

Job 27:1

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, continued: Heb. added to take up

Job 29:1

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, continued: Heb. added to take up

Job 31:40

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. cockle: or, noisome weeds

Job 32:1

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. to: Heb. from answering

Job 32:2

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. himself: Heb. his soul

Job 32:3

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Job 32:4

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. waited: Heb. expected Job in words elder: Heb. elder for days

Job 32:12

Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:

Job 33:1

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

Job 33:31

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

Job 34:5

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.

Job 34:7

What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?

Job 34:35

Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.

Job 34:36

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. My: or, My father, let Job be tried

Job 35:15

But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: he hath: that is, God hath he knoweth: that is, Job knoweth

Job 35:16

Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Job 37:14

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Job 38:1

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Job 40:1

Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

Job 40:3

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Job 40:6

Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Job 42:1

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Job 42:7

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Job 42:8

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. him: Heb. his face, or, person

Job 42:9

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. Job: Heb. the face of Job

Job 42:10

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. gave: Heb. added all that had been to Job unto the double

Job 42:12

So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Job 42:15

And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

Job 42:16

After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

Job 42:17

So Job died, being old and full of days.

Ezekiel2 verses

Ezekiel 14:14

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 14:20

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

James1 verse

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Frequently asked about Job

Who was Job in the Bible?

A blameless and wealthy man of Uz whose faith endured the loss of his children, wealth, and health, and who met God in his suffering and was restored.

What does the name Job mean?

The name Job means “Persecuted; or "where is my father?"”.

Where does Job appear in the Bible?

Job is mentioned 54 times across 3 books: Job, Ezekiel, James.

What can we learn from Job?

The story of Job touches on themes of resignation, zophar, afflicted saints, eliphaz — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Job's life.

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