The Book of Job
by Owen Borville
The Book of Job describes the story of a wealthy man from Uz with a large family and agricultural collection that lost everything and his faith was tested. The “land of Uz” was applied to a broader area of land to the south and east of Israel including Edom, Moab and Ammon. The Book of Job is also praised as a work of religious poetry and has influenced cultures around the world about a topic that affects many: human suffering.
Job is introduced and described in Chapter 1 as "blameless and upright." He feared God and shunned evil.
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 unto 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. Job 1:1-3.
God praised his loyal servant Job but Satan convinced God to test Job for his faith by allowing Satan to take away his family, health, and possessions.
Satan argued that Job is only good because he has been blessed and that if his possessions were taken away, he would not follow God.
God allowed Satan to take away Job's possessions in Chapter 1, including his agricultural possessions, including his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, and his sons and daughters.
Job Lost His Possessions and Children as God Tested Him: Job 1
Job Continued to praise God despite his losses:
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken ; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:21-22.
In Chapter 2, Satan Convinced God to curse Job even further, causing him to lose his heath with boils on his body, a skin disease, but Job continued to keep his faith.
God Tested Job Again with Skin Disease, Friends Accompany Him: Job 2
Job Curses His Day of Birth: Job 3
Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, Job's friends question why he has suffered so much and incorrectly claim that he as been sinful. Job and his friends have multiple conversations about his suffering. Job's friends urge him to repent and to seek God.
Eliphaz Replies to Job: Job 4
Eliphaz Replies to Job, Continued: Job 5
Job Replies: Job 6
Job's Reply Continued: Job 7
Bildad Replies to Job: Job 8
Job Replies: Job 9
Job's Reply Continued: Job 10
Zophar Speaks to Job: Job 11
Job Replies: Job 12
Job's Reply Continued: Job 13
Job's Reply Continued: Job 14
Eliphaz Replies to Job: Job 15
Job's Reply: Job 16
Job's Reply Continued: Job 17
Bildad Speaks: Job 18
Job Replies: Job 19
Zophar Speaks: Job 20
Job Replied: Job 21
Eliphaz Reply: Job 22
Job Replies: Job 23
Job Replies Continued: Job 24
Bildad Speaks: Job 25
Job's Reply: Job 26
Job's Final Words: Job 27
Interlude Where Wisdom is Found: Job 28
Job's Final Defense: Job 29
Job's Final Defense Continued: Job 30
Job's Final Defense Continued: Job 31
Elihu the Buzite, a fourth character, is introduced and comments on Job's suffering. While Job's first three friends (Zophar, Eliphaz, and Bildad) inaccurately stress that Job was punished for sin, Elihu emphasizes that Job was not punished for previous sin but his later reaction to his suffering was sinful by questioning the ways of God.
Elihu the Buzite Speaks: Job 32
Elihu Continued: Job 33
Elihu Continued: Job 34
Elihu Continued: Job 35
Elihu Continued: Job 36
Elihu Continued: Job 37
God Spoke From a whirlwind in the form of speeches but spoke about wisdom and divine authority in Job 38-41. In Job 38, God uses descriptions of the heavens and the earth to showcase his sovereignty, including weather features, and a series of animals. More animals are described in Job 39.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4
The morning stars, the sea, waves, clouds, snow, hail, wind, thunder, lightning, rain, dew, ice, frost, star constellations, dust, lions, and ravens are all mentioned in Job 38 as God explains his Wisdom, Sovereignty and Authority.
More animals are mentioned in Job 39 to explain God's Authority, including wild goats, donkeys, unicorns, peacocks, ostriches, horses, grasshoppers, hawks, and eagles.
Two large beasts are described that ignite the fear of man in Job 40-41, Behemoth and Leviathan. If these beasts bring fear in man, how much more powerful is the one who created them and therefore God is the ultimate one to fear? (Job 40:15 and Job 41).
The Lord Speaks to Job: Job 38
The Lord Speaks to Job Continued: Job 39
The Lord Speaks, Behemoth: Job 40
The Lord Speaks, Leviathan: Job 41
God Eventually Restored Job's family and his possessions even more abundantly than before, and therefore, Job is rewarded for his faith.
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.
God Was Angry With Job's friends for falsely accusing and condemning Job for being sinful. Job, however, prays for his friends in Chapter 42. God instructs Eliphaz to offer seven bulls and seven rams for a burnt offering.
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.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. Job 42:7-8.
Job Replied to the Lord, Friends Called Out, Family and Possessions Restored: Job 42
Job Repented of His Questioning of the Lord's Test on Him
Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:1-6
When Was the Book of Job Written and How Old Was Job?
Job 42:16 says that Job lived 140 years after he was restored, making him close to or over 200 years old when he died. Therefore, some believe that The Book of Job was written or took place before or during the time of Abraham about 2000 B.C. when lifespans of the patriarchs were longer.
My Redeemer Lives in the Book of Job 19:23-27:
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job 19:23-27.
While Job may not have known about Jesus Christ, this scripture fulfills the description of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and one day later Jesus Christ was revealed to the world. Despite his many sufferings, Job knew that he would be redeemed one day and that redemption would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
In addition, Job himself would serve as a pre-Christ or pre-Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ took on the form of a man and went through difficult sufferings that all mankind faces, Job had a similar situation. Job was falsely accused by his friends, just as Jesus was falsely accused. Job prayed for his friends, and he was restored, just like Jesus. Many others in the Bible before Jesus faced similar situations, from the patriarchs to the kings and prophets. Jesus Christ represented all mankind and fulfilled the mission that was given to him to redeem mankind. Job continued the trend in the Bible that every major figure in the Old Testament was somehow connected to Jesus Christ or faced similar circumstances through human suffering and that everything in the Old Testament leads up to the most important figure, Jesus Christ.
by Owen Borville
The Book of Job describes the story of a wealthy man from Uz with a large family and agricultural collection that lost everything and his faith was tested. The “land of Uz” was applied to a broader area of land to the south and east of Israel including Edom, Moab and Ammon. The Book of Job is also praised as a work of religious poetry and has influenced cultures around the world about a topic that affects many: human suffering.
Job is introduced and described in Chapter 1 as "blameless and upright." He feared God and shunned evil.
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 unto 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. Job 1:1-3.
God praised his loyal servant Job but Satan convinced God to test Job for his faith by allowing Satan to take away his family, health, and possessions.
Satan argued that Job is only good because he has been blessed and that if his possessions were taken away, he would not follow God.
God allowed Satan to take away Job's possessions in Chapter 1, including his agricultural possessions, including his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, and his sons and daughters.
Job Lost His Possessions and Children as God Tested Him: Job 1
Job Continued to praise God despite his losses:
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken ; blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:21-22.
In Chapter 2, Satan Convinced God to curse Job even further, causing him to lose his heath with boils on his body, a skin disease, but Job continued to keep his faith.
God Tested Job Again with Skin Disease, Friends Accompany Him: Job 2
Job Curses His Day of Birth: Job 3
Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, Job's friends question why he has suffered so much and incorrectly claim that he as been sinful. Job and his friends have multiple conversations about his suffering. Job's friends urge him to repent and to seek God.
Eliphaz Replies to Job: Job 4
Eliphaz Replies to Job, Continued: Job 5
Job Replies: Job 6
Job's Reply Continued: Job 7
Bildad Replies to Job: Job 8
Job Replies: Job 9
Job's Reply Continued: Job 10
Zophar Speaks to Job: Job 11
Job Replies: Job 12
Job's Reply Continued: Job 13
Job's Reply Continued: Job 14
Eliphaz Replies to Job: Job 15
Job's Reply: Job 16
Job's Reply Continued: Job 17
Bildad Speaks: Job 18
Job Replies: Job 19
Zophar Speaks: Job 20
Job Replied: Job 21
Eliphaz Reply: Job 22
Job Replies: Job 23
Job Replies Continued: Job 24
Bildad Speaks: Job 25
Job's Reply: Job 26
Job's Final Words: Job 27
Interlude Where Wisdom is Found: Job 28
Job's Final Defense: Job 29
Job's Final Defense Continued: Job 30
Job's Final Defense Continued: Job 31
Elihu the Buzite, a fourth character, is introduced and comments on Job's suffering. While Job's first three friends (Zophar, Eliphaz, and Bildad) inaccurately stress that Job was punished for sin, Elihu emphasizes that Job was not punished for previous sin but his later reaction to his suffering was sinful by questioning the ways of God.
Elihu the Buzite Speaks: Job 32
Elihu Continued: Job 33
Elihu Continued: Job 34
Elihu Continued: Job 35
Elihu Continued: Job 36
Elihu Continued: Job 37
God Spoke From a whirlwind in the form of speeches but spoke about wisdom and divine authority in Job 38-41. In Job 38, God uses descriptions of the heavens and the earth to showcase his sovereignty, including weather features, and a series of animals. More animals are described in Job 39.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Job 38:4
The morning stars, the sea, waves, clouds, snow, hail, wind, thunder, lightning, rain, dew, ice, frost, star constellations, dust, lions, and ravens are all mentioned in Job 38 as God explains his Wisdom, Sovereignty and Authority.
More animals are mentioned in Job 39 to explain God's Authority, including wild goats, donkeys, unicorns, peacocks, ostriches, horses, grasshoppers, hawks, and eagles.
Two large beasts are described that ignite the fear of man in Job 40-41, Behemoth and Leviathan. If these beasts bring fear in man, how much more powerful is the one who created them and therefore God is the ultimate one to fear? (Job 40:15 and Job 41).
The Lord Speaks to Job: Job 38
The Lord Speaks to Job Continued: Job 39
The Lord Speaks, Behemoth: Job 40
The Lord Speaks, Leviathan: Job 41
God Eventually Restored Job's family and his possessions even more abundantly than before, and therefore, Job is rewarded for his faith.
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.
God Was Angry With Job's friends for falsely accusing and condemning Job for being sinful. Job, however, prays for his friends in Chapter 42. God instructs Eliphaz to offer seven bulls and seven rams for a burnt offering.
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.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. Job 42:7-8.
Job Replied to the Lord, Friends Called Out, Family and Possessions Restored: Job 42
Job Repented of His Questioning of the Lord's Test on Him
Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:1-6
When Was the Book of Job Written and How Old Was Job?
Job 42:16 says that Job lived 140 years after he was restored, making him close to or over 200 years old when he died. Therefore, some believe that The Book of Job was written or took place before or during the time of Abraham about 2000 B.C. when lifespans of the patriarchs were longer.
My Redeemer Lives in the Book of Job 19:23-27:
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job 19:23-27.
While Job may not have known about Jesus Christ, this scripture fulfills the description of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer and one day later Jesus Christ was revealed to the world. Despite his many sufferings, Job knew that he would be redeemed one day and that redemption would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
In addition, Job himself would serve as a pre-Christ or pre-Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ took on the form of a man and went through difficult sufferings that all mankind faces, Job had a similar situation. Job was falsely accused by his friends, just as Jesus was falsely accused. Job prayed for his friends, and he was restored, just like Jesus. Many others in the Bible before Jesus faced similar situations, from the patriarchs to the kings and prophets. Jesus Christ represented all mankind and fulfilled the mission that was given to him to redeem mankind. Job continued the trend in the Bible that every major figure in the Old Testament was somehow connected to Jesus Christ or faced similar circumstances through human suffering and that everything in the Old Testament leads up to the most important figure, Jesus Christ.
