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 to 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 to Satan, From where come you? 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 to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil?

9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?

10 Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.

12 And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your 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 oldest brother's house:

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

15 And the Sabeans fell on them, and took them away; yes, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and has burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell on the camels, and have carried them away, yes, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest 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 on the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on 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 has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

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

There was a man = A man came to be. This settles the question as to the historical fact. was = came to be. See note on p. 666.

man. Hebrew. ’ish. App-14.

Uz. In Gen 22:20, Gen 22:21, immediately after the offering of Isaac, Abraham hears that his brother Nahor has eight sons, and among them two named Uz and Buz, and Kemuel the father of Aram. Uz gives his name to the land. Buz and Aram are connected with Elihu ( Job 32:2). See App-62. The land of Uz is mentioned in Jer 25:20 and Lam 4:21. South of Edom, west of Arabia, extending to the borders of Chaldea.

Job. In Hebrew. ’Iyyob = afflicted.

that = this.

was = came to be, as in Gen 1:2.

perfect = inoffensive. None are "perfect" in the English sense of the word. Hebrew. tam. See Gen 20:5.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

evil. Hebrew. ra’a. App-44.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.

men = sons.

one = man, as in Job 1:1.

his day. Probably = birthday. Compare Job 1:5; Job 3:3. Gen 40:20.

were gone about = came round.

offered = offered up. App-43. Showing that, from Gen 4 onward, the institution was observed.

sinned. Hebrew. chata’. App-44.

cursed. One of the eighteen emendations of the Sopherim (App-33), by which the primitive Hebrew text, kalal = to curse, was changed to barak = to bless, as in Job 1:11 with Job 2:5, Job 2:9. Translated "cursed" in Authorized Version, and "renounced" in Revised Version, in spite of barak (blessed) standing in the printed text. See notes on 2Sa 12:14 and Psa 10:3.

sons of God = the angels. Compare Job 38:7, and see App-23.

present themselves = take their stations.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Satan = the Adversary.

Doth Job . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

Hast not Thou . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for power exercised by it.

touch = hurt. Figure of speech Tapeinosis (App-6), meaning much more than "touch".

power. Hebrew "hand". Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for power exercised by it.

there was a day = the fit, or usual day. When Job was seventy. See notes on p. 666.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6), to emphasize the details in all these reports of the calamities.

the Sabeans. Hebrew Sheba. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Subject), for the people of Sheba. Compare Job 6:19. Isa 60:6.

servants = young men.

While he was yet speaking. Repeated three times to show the rapidity and vehemence of Satan’s assault.

The fire of God = A fire of Elohim. Figure of speech Enallage (App-6) = a great (or terrible) fire. Elohim used as an adjective. Compare Son 8:6. Psa 80:10.

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

shaved his head. Symbolic of mourning ( Lev 21:5. Jer 7:29; Jer 16:6. Mic 1:16).

this: i.e. these calamities.

sinned. Hebrew. chata’. App-44.

foolishly = with injustice.