Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Job is a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his unwavering faith amidst severe trials. The Book of Job, part of the Wisdom Literature, explores profound themes of suffering, divine justice, and human righteousness. Job is depicted as a wealthy and upright man whose faith is tested by a series of calamities.
Background and Character:Job is introduced as a man of great integrity and piety, living in the land of Uz. He is described as "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil" (
Job 1:1). Job's wealth is considerable, with vast flocks and a large household, making him "the greatest man of all the people of the East" (
Job 1:3).
The Heavenly Council and Satan's Challenge:The narrative begins with a heavenly council where Satan challenges Job's integrity, suggesting that his piety is due to his prosperity. God permits Satan to test Job, first by taking away his possessions and children, and then by afflicting him with painful sores. Despite these trials, Job does not sin or blame God, famously declaring, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (
Job 1:21).
Job's Friends and Dialogues:Three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—visit Job to offer comfort but end up engaging in lengthy dialogues. They argue that Job's suffering must be a result of sin, reflecting a retributive view of justice. Job, however, maintains his innocence and expresses a desire to understand the reason for his suffering. His lamentations and questions highlight the human struggle with divine justice and the mystery of suffering.
Elihu's Intervention:A younger man, Elihu, enters the discourse, offering a different perspective. He emphasizes God's greatness and justice, suggesting that suffering can be a means of divine instruction and refinement. Elihu's speeches prepare the way for God's response, underscoring the limitations of human wisdom.
God's Response and Job's Restoration:God answers Job out of a whirlwind, challenging him with questions that reveal the vastness of divine wisdom and the limitations of human understanding. Job responds with humility and repentance, acknowledging, "I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted" (
Job 42:2).
Following Job's repentance, God rebukes Job's friends for their erroneous counsel and restores Job's fortunes, granting him twice as much as he had before. Job's latter days are blessed with prosperity, family, and long life, demonstrating God's faithfulness and the ultimate vindication of Job's righteousness.
Theological Themes:The Book of Job addresses complex themes such as the nature of suffering, the righteousness of God, and the integrity of human faith. It challenges simplistic notions of retributive justice and invites believers to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when His ways are inscrutable.
Legacy and Influence:Job's account has had a profound impact on theology, literature, and philosophy. It serves as a testament to the endurance of faith and the mystery of divine providence. Job's unwavering trust in God amidst adversity continues to inspire believers to seek a deeper understanding of God's purposes in their own lives.
Strong's Hebrew
1292. Barakel -- "El does bless," the father of one ofJob's...... Barakel. 1293 . "El does bless," the father of one of
Job's friends. Transliteration:
Barakel Phonetic Spelling: (baw-rak-ale') Short Definition: Barachel.
...1085. Bildad -- perhaps "Bel has loved," one ofJob's friends
... 1084, 1085. Bildad. 1086 . perhaps "Bel has loved," one ofJob's friends.
Transliteration: Bildad Phonetic Spelling: (bil-dad') Short Definition: Bildad....
6691. Tsophar -- one ofJob's friends
... 6690, 6691. Tsophar or Tsophar. 6692 . one ofJob's friends. Transliteration:
Tsophar or Tsophar Phonetic Spelling: (tso-far') Short Definition: Zophar....
7163. qeren hap-puwk -- "horn of antimony," a daughter ofJob
... "horn of antimony," a daughter ofJob. Transliteration: qeren hap-puwk Phonetic
Spelling: (keh'-ren hap-pook') Short Definition: Keren-happuch. Keren-happuch...
453. Elihu -- "He is (my) God," five Israelites
... Elihu. Or (fully) deliyhuwh {el-ee-hoo'}; from 'el and huw'; God of him; Elihu,
the name of one ofJob's friends, and of three Israelites -- Elihu....
347. Iyyob -- a patriarch
... 346, 347. Iyyob. 348 . a patriarch. Transliteration: Iyyob Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-yobe') Short Definition:Job. Word Origin...Job's (2).Job....
464. Eliphaz -- "God is fine gold," a son of Esau, also a friend...
... Eliphaz. 465 . "God is fine gold," a son of Esau, also a friend ofJob.
Transliteration: Eliphaz Phonetic Spelling: (el-ee-faz') Short Definition: Eliphaz....
3224. Yemimah -- a daughter ofJob
... 3223, 3224. Yemimah. 3225 . a daughter ofJob. Transliteration: Yemimah
Phonetic Spelling: (yem-ee-maw') Short Definition: Jemimah....
Library
Job's Question, Jesus' Answer
... THE BOOK OFJOB JOB'S QUESTION, JESUS' ANSWER. 'If a man die, shall he live
again?'"Job 14:14. '......Job's question waited long for an answer....
Job's Regret and Our Own
...Job's Regret and Our Own.... IFJob here refers to the temporal prosperity which he
had lost, we cannot condemn him for his complaint, neither can we commend him....
Job's Faith and Expectation
... Sermon XXXIXJob's Faith and Expectation.Job's Faith and ExpectationJob
19:25, 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall...
Job's Sure Knowledge
...Job's Sure Knowledge. A Sermon (No.2909).... On Lord's-day Evening, September
10th, 1876. "For I know that my Redeemer liveth,""Job 19:25....
Job.
... THE BIBLE BOOK BY BOOK. A MANUAL. For the Outline Study of the Bible by
Books. * * * * Chapter XII.Job. Chapter XII.Job. Name....
'The End of the Lord'
... THE BOOK OFJOB 'THE END OF THE LORD'. 'ThenJob answered the Lord, and
said, 2. I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that...
What Life May be Made
... THE BOOK OFJOB WHAT LIFE MAY BE MADE.... When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, ...
lifting up; and He shall save the humble person.'"Job 22:26-29....
Order and Argument in Prayer
... I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.""Job
23:3,4. InJob's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord....
But that You May not Suppose this to be a Novel Doctrine Peculiar...
... "Behold," saith he, "I will open your graves and bring you forth out of your graves."
Let me recall, further, howJob, who abounds in mystical language...
The Kingdom Foreshadowed
... I THE KINGDOM FORESHADOWED. Genesis PageJob Page. NOTES.... Or each of these three
chapters could be assigned to a third of the class.JOB. SECTION I. INTRODUCTION...
Thesaurus
Job's (11 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Job's (11 Occurrences). James 5:11 Remember that
we call those blessed who endured what they did. You have
...Bildad (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Son of contention, one ofJob's friends. He is
called "the Shuhite," probably as belonging to Shuah, a...
Eliphaz (14 Occurrences)
... God his strength. (1.) One ofJob's "three friends" who visited him in his affliction
(4:1). He was a "Temanite", ie, a native of Teman, in Idumea....
Zophar (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Chirping, one ofJob's friends who came to condole
with him in his distress (Job 2:11. The LXX. render...
Elihu (11 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Whose God is he. (1.) "The son of Barachel, a
Buzite" (Job 32:2), one ofJob's friends. When the debate...
Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... CompareJob passim; Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 49:14 Ezekiel 8:12; Ezekiel 9:9. 2. Evil
Agents: Yet there are traces of a dualism which assigns a certain vague limit...
Naamathite (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The designation of Zophar, one ofJob's three friends
(Job 2:11; 11:1), so called from some place in Arabia, called Naamah probably....
Uz (8 Occurrences)
... Uz, The land of. WhereJob lived (1:1; Jeremiah 25:20; Lamentations 4:21), probably
somewhere to the east or south-east of Palestine and north of Edom....
Temanite (8 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A man of Teman, the designation of Eliphaz, one of
Job's three friends (Job 2:11; 22:1). Multi-Version Concordance...
Boil (29 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:27, 35). It designates the disease ofJob (2:7), which was probably
the black leprosy. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (v.) To...
Resources
How long was Job's suffering? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Job's Daughters program? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did Job's wife tell him to curse God and die? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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