The big picture
Job, a wealthy man in the land of Uz, honours God and avoids evil. He has a large household and ten children. The account first shows his care for them, then lets the reader hear a heavenly conversation he does not hear. Satan, the accuser who challenges Job's motives, claims that comfort explains his faithfulness. Permission is given to strike his possessions. A series of reports then brings Job devastating news.
In this chapter
- Job Cares for His Household Job 1:1-5
Job is described as upright, devoted to God, and careful to avoid evil.
- The Accuser Challenges Job's Motives Job 1:6-12
Heavenly beings gather before God, and Satan comes among them.
- One Terrible Report Follows Another Job 1:13-19
While Job's children feast together, messengers arrive in rapid succession.
- Job Grieves and Still Worships Job 1:20-22
Job rises, tears his robe, and shaves his head, acts that make his mourning visible.
Central truth
Job loses his wealth and children after his motives are challenged, yet grieves without cursing God.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 22Job 1:1-5
Job Cares for His Household
Job is described as upright, devoted to God, and careful to avoid evil. He has seven sons, three daughters, large herds, and many servants. His wealth makes him a leading man of the east. His children hold feasts in one another's homes and include their sisters. After each round of feasting, Job offers burnt sacrifices for them. He worries that they have sinned against God inwardly. This is his regular practice, showing concern for more than their food, wealth, or outward behaviour.
In everyday life
A farm owner checks on his grown children's gathering after the tables have been cleared. He cares about the way they treat one another as well as whether everyone has enough. Prosperity has not ended his concern for their character. Job expresses his concern through burnt offerings for possible sin before God.
Notice
Job 1:5 Job acts over wrongs he fears his children have committed inwardly. His concern reaches beyond visible misconduct to their hidden attitude towards God.
Job 1:1-5
King James Version1There 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.
Job 1:6-12
The Accuser Challenges Job's Motives
Heavenly beings gather before God, and Satan comes among them. God points to Job's upright life. Satan replies that Job serves God because his household and work have been protected. Remove those gifts, he claims, and Job will curse God openly. God allows Satan power over Job's possessions but forbids harm to his body. The reader now knows a reason for the coming test that Job himself has not been told. His goodness is acknowledged before the losses begin, rather than disproved by them.
In everyday life
A volunteer's critic says her long service lasts only because the project gives her praise and useful contacts. He insists that losing those benefits would expose her real motives. The charge questions whether loyalty can exist without reward. Job's case involves heavenly permission for terrible loss, not a fair human experiment.
Notice
Job 1:8 God calls attention to Job's uprightness before Satan challenges him. The account does not introduce his suffering as punishment for some secret wickedness.
Job 1:6-12
King James Version6Now 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.
Job 1:13-19
One Terrible Report Follows Another
While Job's children feast together, messengers arrive in rapid succession. Raiders steal the working animals and kill servants. Fire destroys sheep and more workers. Another group takes the camels and kills their keepers. Before each report is finished, the next messenger speaks. Finally, news comes that a fierce wind has collapsed the house where the sons and daughters were eating. All have died. Survivors bring each report, but Job receives no explanation of the heavenly exchange. His losses arrive as an overwhelming human crisis.
In everyday life
A disaster call handler places one urgent message beside another while a family waits for news. Each report removes another hope before the last has been absorbed. She slows her voice, aware that the callers cannot take it all in at once. Job receives news of his children's deaths as well as mass loss.
Notice
Job 1:18 The final messenger interrupts the report still being given. The repeated overlap leaves Job no space to absorb one loss before the next reaches him.
Job 1:13-19
King James Version13And 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.
Job 1:20-22
Job Grieves and Still Worships
Job rises, tears his robe, and shaves his head, acts that make his mourning visible. He falls to the ground and worships. He says he entered life with nothing and will leave it with nothing. He blesses God's name despite the giving and taking he has experienced. The account says that he does not sin or charge God with wrongdoing in this response. His worship does not erase the grief. Torn clothing and praise belong to the same moment of devastating loss.
In everyday life
A widower kneels beside an unopened box of family photographs and speaks a short prayer through tears. He does not pretend that the loss feels bearable or that the questions have gone away. Grief and trust remain together in the room. Job's response also answers the unseen accusation that he serves only for gain.
Notice
Job 1:20 Job's torn robe and shaved head show deep mourning before he worships. His faithfulness is not described as an absence of pain or outward grief.
Job 1:20-22
King James Version20Then 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 1:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
Job 1:11 forms a natural hinge: “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”
The final note
Job 1:22 leaves the reader with “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Satan, sons, escaped, fell, house help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- eschewed
- Avoided or turned away from something, here evil conduct.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
