Job — Chapter 1

Loading ESV text...

1There 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.

2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3His 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.

4And 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.

5And 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.

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

7And 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.

8And 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?

9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10Hast 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.

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

12And 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.

13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:

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

15And 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.

16While 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.

17While 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.

18While 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:

19And, 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.

20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21And 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.

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

1There 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 turned away from evil.

2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3His 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 children of the east.

4And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5And 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 renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

6Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.

7And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.

9Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10Hast not thou made a 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.

11But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.

12And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.

13And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,

14that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;

15and 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.

16While 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.

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

18While 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;

19and, 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.

20Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;

21and he said, Naked came I out of my mother`s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.

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

1There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.

4Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.

6Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them.

7The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”

8So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”

9Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

10Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.

11But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”

12So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13Now the day came when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

14and a messenger came to Job, saying, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them,

15and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

16While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants—it has consumed them! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

17While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

18While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

19and suddenly a great wind swept across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I—only I alone—escaped to tell you!”

20Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground.

21He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!”

22In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.

1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

2There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

3His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.

4His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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 renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.

6Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan also came among them.

7Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

8Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”

9Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

10Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”

12Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.

13It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

14that there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,

15and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

16While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

17While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

18While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,

19and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.

21He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”

22In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

The narrator introduces Job as a blameless man of great wealth; a heavenly council scene reveals Satan's challenge that Job only fears God because of blessing. God permits Satan to destroy Job's possessions and children, and Job responds with worship rather than accusation.

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown. Candidates include Job himself, Moses, Solomon, or an anonymous sage. Likely the oldest book in the Bible by setting (patriarchal era, approximately 2000-1800 BC), though the date of composition is debated. The book addresses the problem of innocent suffering and God's sovereignty. Key themes: Why do the righteous suffer? Is God just? Can faith survive without answers? The inadequacy of simplistic theology ('you suffer because you sinned'). God's sovereignty transcends human understanding. True worship says 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him' (13:15).
Historical Context: Chapter 1 introduces Job and establishes the premise of the entire book. Job lives in Uz (likely in Edom or northern Arabia), placing him outside Israel — this is a universal story about human suffering, not a narrowly Israelite one. The patriarchal setting is evident: Job acts as priest for his family (v.5), wealth is measured in livestock, and there is no reference to the Law, the tabernacle, or Israel's history. The heavenly council scene (vv.6-12) pulls back the curtain on the unseen realm, revealing that human suffering may have causes entirely hidden from the sufferer. Satan ("the adversary") appears not as an independent evil power but as one who operates within God's permission. The theological question at the heart of the book is posed by Satan himself: "Doth Job fear God for nought?" — Is disinterested righteousness possible? Can a man love God for who He is, not merely for what He gives?
Job's Character and Wealth (vv.1-5): Job is described with four characteristics: perfect (blameless/complete), upright (straight/ just), fears God, and eschews (turns away from) evil. He is the greatest man "of all the men of the east" — wealthy beyond measure with 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys, and a very great household. Seven sons and three daughters complete the picture of a blessed life. Yet Job is not complacent — he rises early to offer burnt offerings for his children, concerned they may have "cursed God in their hearts" (v.5). This continual priestly intercession reveals a man deeply aware of God's holiness and human frailty.
The Heavenly Council (vv.6-12): The scene shifts to heaven. "The sons of God" (angelic beings) present themselves before the LORD, and Satan comes among them. God initiates the conversation about Job — not Satan. God boasts of Job: "there is none like him in the earth." Satan's challenge is devastating in its logic: Job serves God because it pays well. Remove the hedge of blessing, and Job will curse God to His face. God permits the test with one restriction: Satan cannot touch Job's person. This reveals that Satan is not omnipotent, not sovereign, and operates only within divinely set boundaries.
The Four Catastrophes (vv.13-19): The disasters come in rapid succession — "while he was yet speaking" is repeated three times, emphasizing the overwhelming speed of loss. Sabeans take oxen and donkeys. Fire from heaven burns sheep. Chaldeans raid camels. A great wind kills all ten children. The disasters alternate between human evil (Sabeans, Chaldeans) and natural catastrophe (fire, wind), showing that Satan uses both human and natural agents. Each messenger ends with the same haunting phrase: "I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Job's Response (vv.20-22): Job's response is worship. He tears his robe, shaves his head (signs of mourning), falls to the ground — and worships. His declaration is among the most profound in Scripture: "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." The narrator's verdict: "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that God initiated the conversation about Job — He brought Job to Satan's attention, not the reverse. This reveals that God was confident in Job's faith and willing to put it on display. The "hedge" Satan mentions (v.10) acknowledges that God actively protects His people. Satan cannot penetrate God's protection without permission. Guzik emphasizes that Job's worship in v.20 is the answer to Satan's question: yes, Job does fear God "for nought" — his worship survives the removal of every blessing.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "Job's religion was not a religion of gain, but of grace. Satan thought that Job's godliness was a mere investment — serve God, get wealthy; stop the payments, and Job stops the worship. But true faith is not built on circumstances. It is rooted in the character of God Himself. When everything was taken, Job still had God — and God was enough. 'Blessed be the name of the LORD' is the highest achievement of human faith: to worship the Giver when the gifts are gone."

Reflection

  • 1. True faith is tested by loss, not by gain (vv.9-12). Satan's question haunts every believer: Do you love God, or do you love what God gives you? Prosperity cannot prove the genuineness of faith — only adversity can. When blessings are removed, what remains reveals what was always underneath. Ask yourself: if God took everything tomorrow, would you still worship?
  • 2. God is sovereign over suffering (v.12). Satan cannot touch Job without permission. Every trial passes through God's hands first. This does not make suffering easy, but it makes it meaningful. Your pain is not random — it operates within divine boundaries set by a God who knows your name and calls you "my servant."
  • 3. Worship is a choice, not a feeling (v.20). Job worshiped in the worst moment of his life. He did not feel like worshiping — he chose to worship. His emotions were grief and devastation, but his will said "blessed be the name of the LORD." Faith is not the absence of pain; it is the presence of worship in the midst of pain.
  • 4. Grief and faith coexist (v.20). Job tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground — and worshiped. He did not suppress his grief to prove his faith. He expressed his grief AND his faith simultaneously. You do not have to choose between honest sorrow and genuine worship. Both honor God.
  • 5. What you do not know matters (vv.6-12). Job never learns about the heavenly council scene. He never knows why he suffered. Yet the reader knows — and this is the book's profound message: there are reasons for your suffering that you may never discover in this life. Trust is required precisely when understanding is absent.