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Job 1:1  (King James Version)
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<< Esther 10:3   Job 1:2 >>


Job 1:1

There was a man - This has all the appearance of being a true history. Many have regarded the whole book as a fiction, and have supposed that no such person as Job ever lived. But the book opens with the appearance of reality; and the express declaration that there was such a man, the mention of his name and of the place where he lived, show that the writer meant to affirm that there was in fact such a man. On this question see the Introduction, Section 1.

In the land of Uz - On the question where Job lived, see also the Introduction, Section 2.

Whose name was Job - The name Job (Hebrew 'ı̂yôb , Gr. ̓́ Iōb means properly, according to Gesenius, "one persecuted," from a root ( 'âyab ) meaning to be an enemy to anyone, to persecute, to hate. The primary idea, according to Gesenius, is to be sought in breathing, blowing, or puffing at, or upon anyone, as expressive of anger or hatred, Germ. "Anschnauben." Eichhorn (Einleit. section 638. 1,) supposes that the name denotes a man who turns himself penitently to God, from a sense of the verb still found in Arabic "to repent." On this supposition, the name was given to him, because, at the close of the book, he is represented as exercising repentance for the improper expressions in which he had indulged during his sufferings. The verb occurs only once in the Hebrew Scriptures, Exodus 23:22 : But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then "I will be an enemy" 'ôyêb "unto thine enemies" 'êth 'ôyêb .

The participle 'oyēb is the common word to denote an enemy in the Old Testament, Exodus 15:6, Exodus 15:9; Leviticus 26:25; Numbers 35:23; Deuteronomy 32:27, Deuteronomy 32:42; Psalms 7:5; Psalms 8:2; Psalms 31:8; Lamentations 2:4-5; Job 13:24; Job 27:7; Job 33:10, " et soepe al ." If this be the proper meaning of the word "Job," then the name would seem to have been given him by anticipation, or by common consent, as a much persecuted man. Significant names were very common among the Hebrews - given either by anticipation (see the notes at Isaiah 8:18), or subsequently, to denote some leading or important event in the life; compare Genesis 4:1-2, Genesis 4:25; Genesis 5:29; I Samuel 1:20. Such, too, was the case among the Romans, where the "agnomen" thus bestowed became the appellation by which the individual was best known. Cicero thus received his name from a wart which he had on his face, resembling a "vetch," and which was called by the Latins, "cicer." Thus also Marcus had the name "Ancus," from the Greek word ̀ ankōn , because he had a crooked arm; and thus the names Africanus, Germanicus, etc., were given to generals who had distinguished themselves in particular countries; see Univer. Hist. Anc. Part ix. 619, ed. 8vo, Lond. 1779. In like manner it is possible that the name "Job" was given to the Emir of Uz by common consent, as the man much persecuted or tried, and that this became afterward the appellation by which he was best known. The name occurs once as applied to a son of Issachar, Genesis 46:13, and in only two other places in the Bible except in this book; Ezekiel 14:14; James 5:11.

And that man was perfect - ( tâmam ). The Septuagint have greatly expanded this statement, by giving a paraphrase instead of a translation. "He was a man who was true ( ̓́ alēthinos ), blameless ( ̓́ amemptos ), just ( ́ dikaios ), pious ( ́ theosebēs ), abstaining from every evil deed." Jerome renders it, "simplex - simple," or "sincere." The Chaldee, ׁ shālam , "complete, finished, perfect." The idea seems to be that his piety, or moral character, was "proportionate" and was "complete in all its parts." He was a man of integrity in all the relations of life - as an Emir, a father, a husband, a worshipper of God. Such is properly the meaning of the word tâm as derived from tâmam , "to complete, to make full, perfect" or "entire," or "to finish." It denotes that in which there is no part lacking to complete the whole - as in a watch in which no wheel is missing. Thus, he was not merely upright as an Emir, but he was pious toward God; he was not merely kind to his family, but he was just to his neighbors and benevolent to the poor. The word is used to denote integrity as applied to the heart, Genesis 20:5 : be tām le bābı̂y , "In the honesty, simplicity, or sincerity of my heart (see the margin) have I done this." So I Kings 22:34, "One drew a bow ּ le tumô in the simplicity (or perfection) of his heart;" that is, without any evil intention; compare II Samuel 15:11; Proverbs 10:9. The proper notion, therefore, is that of simplicity. sincerity, absence from guile or evil intention, and completeness of parts in his religion. That he was a man absolutely sinless, or without any propensity to evil, is disproved alike by the spirit of complaining which he often evinces, and by his own confession, Job 9:20 :

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me;

If I say I am perfect, it shall Proverbs me perverse.

So also Job 42:5-6 :

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear,

But now mine eye seeth thee;

Wherefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes.

Compare Ecclesiastes 7:20.

And upright - The word ׁ yâshâr , from ׁ yâshar , to be straight, is applied often to a road which is straight, or to a path which is level or even. As used here it means upright or righteous; compare Psalms 11:7; Psalms 37:14,; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 33:4.

And one that feared God - Religion in the Scriptures is often represented as the fear of God; Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 1:29; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 14:26-27; Isaiah 11:2; Acts 9:31, " et soepe al ."

And eschewed evil - " And departed from ( ּ sûr ) evil." Septuagint, "Abstaining from every evil thing." These then are the four characteristics of Job' s piety - he was sincere; upright; a worshipper of God; and one who abstained from all wrong. These are the essential elements of true religion everywhere; and the whole statement in the book of Job shows Job was, though not absolutely free from the sins which cleave to our nature, eminent in each of these things.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 1:1:

Deuteronomy 18:13
Job 1:8
Job 1:8
Job 2:3
Job 2:3
Job 4:6
Job 8:20
Job 9:20
Psalms 15:2
Psalms 18:23
Psalms 18:25
Psalms 18:25
Psalms 18:30
Psalms 19:7
Psalms 19:13
Psalms 25:14
Psalms 25:21
Psalms 26:1
Psalms 26:11
Psalms 34:7
Psalms 37:37
Psalms 41:12
Psalms 101:6
Psalms 119:1
Psalms 119:80
Daniel 11:17
Matthew 5:48
James 1:4
James 3:2
1 Peter 3:11
1 John 4:12
Revelation 11:18

 

<< Esther 10:3   Job 1:2 >>

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