Job 1

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 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.

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.

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.

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.

6¶ Now 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.

13¶ And 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.

20¶ Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter introduces Job, a man of great wealth and righteousness in the land of Uz, who feared God and eschewed evil. In a heavenly council, Satan challenges Job's integrity, asserting that Job serves God only because of divine protection and blessings. The LORD grants Satan permission to test Job by afflicting his possessions and children, but forbids him from harming Job personally. Consequently, Job suffers the rapid loss of all his livestock, servants, and his ten children, yet he responds by worshipping God without sinning or charging God foolishly.

Medium Summary

Job 1 begins by describing Job as a perfect and upright man, who feared God and eschewed evil, possessing immense wealth and a large family of seven sons and three daughters. Job regularly sanctified his children, offering burnt offerings after their feasting, fearing they might have sinned against God. A scene then unfolds in heaven where the sons of God present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also appears. The LORD highlights Job's exemplary character to Satan, who then accuses Job of serving God only for material gain and protection. Satan challenges God to remove Job's blessings, claiming Job would then curse God to His face. The LORD permits Satan to touch all that Job has, but explicitly forbids him from harming Job himself. Immediately, a series of devastating calamities strike Job: Sabeans steal his oxen and asses and slay his servants, fire from heaven consumes his sheep and more servants, Chaldeans carry away his camels and kill more servants, and finally, a great wind collapses his eldest son's house, killing all his children. Despite these overwhelming losses, Job arises, mourns, and falls to the ground in worship, declaring, "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." In all this, Job did not sin nor charge God foolishly.

Long Summary

Job 1 introduces the protagonist, Job, residing in the land of Uz, characterized as a man who was perfect and upright, one who feared God and eschewed evil. He was exceedingly prosperous, blessed with seven sons, three daughters, and vast possessions including seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, making him the greatest man among all the men of the east. Job demonstrated his piety not only in his personal conduct but also in his concern for his children; after their feasting, he would send for them, sanctify them, and offer burnt offerings for each, fearing they might have sinned or cursed God in their hearts. This was Job's continual practice. The narrative then shifts to a heavenly scene where the sons of God present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also comes among them. The LORD questions Satan's whereabouts, to which Satan replies he has been going to and fro in the earth. The LORD then draws Satan's attention to Job, commending him as an unparalleled servant, perfect and upright, fearing God and eschewing evil. Satan challenges this assessment, asserting that Job's devotion is merely a product of God's protective "hedge" and abundant blessings, implying Job serves God for material gain. Satan provocatively suggests that if God were to remove Job's possessions, Job would surely curse God to His face. The LORD grants Satan permission to test Job by afflicting all that he possesses, but strictly forbids him from laying a hand on Job himself. Following this divine permission, a rapid succession of disasters befalls Job. First, Sabeans raid his oxen and asses, slaying his servants. Immediately after, a messenger reports that fire from heaven has consumed his sheep and more servants. A third messenger arrives, stating that Chaldeans have carried away his camels and killed yet more servants. Finally, the most devastating news comes: a great wind from the wilderness has smitten the house where all his children were feasting, causing it to collapse and kill them all. Despite these overwhelming and sudden losses, Job's response is one of profound grief and worship. He arises, tears his mantle, shaves his head, and falls to the ground, declaring, "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 chapter concludes by affirming that in all these trials, Job did not sin nor charge God foolishly.

Core Concepts

  • Job's RighteousnessJob is introduced as a man who was "perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil," highlighting his exemplary moral and spiritual character before God.
  • Job's ProsperityThe chapter details Job's immense wealth, including vast numbers of livestock and a large family, establishing him as "the greatest of all the men of the east."
  • The Heavenly CouncilThis scene depicts the "sons of God" presenting themselves before the LORD, with Satan also appearing among them, setting the stage for the divine dialogue concerning Job.
  • Satan's ChallengeSatan accuses Job of serving God only because of divine protection and blessings, challenging God to remove these and asserting that Job would then curse God to His face.
  • Divine PermissionThe LORD grants Satan limited authority to test Job, allowing him to afflict Job's possessions and children but forbidding any harm to Job himself, demonstrating God's sovereign control over the trial.
  • Sudden CalamityJob experiences a rapid succession of devastating losses, including all his livestock, servants, and ultimately his ten children, illustrating the swift and comprehensive nature of his trials.
  • Job's Worship in LossDespite suffering immense and sudden bereavement, Job responds by worshipping God, declaring, "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD," demonstrating his unwavering faith and refusal to sin or charge God foolishly.