Bible Characters
Who Was Job in the Bible? The Man Who Suffered and Held On to God
Job was a wealthy and blameless man from the land of Uz who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). With God's permission, Satan took away his livestock, his servants, his ten children and his health (Job 1:12-19; 2:7). Job grieved, argued with his friends, and questioned God, but he did not curse Him. In the end God spoke to Job and restored his fortunes twice over (Job 38:1; 42:10).
The Book of Job is part of the Bible's wisdom literature. Ezekiel names Job alongside Noah and Daniel as a righteous man (Ezekiel 14:14), and James points to Job's perseverance (James 5:11).
Job Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | Uncertain; often linked to "persecuted one" or "where is the father?" |
| Testament | Old Testament |
| Key books | Job; also Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20 and James 5:11 |
| Time period | Traditionally placed in the patriarchal era, around the time of Abraham |
| Home | The land of Uz (Job 1:1) |
| Family | Seven sons and three daughters, later seven sons and three daughters again (Job 1:2; 42:13) |
| Known for | Suffering, perseverance, and his dialogue with God |
When Did Job Live?
The book does not name a king or give a date. Several details point to an early setting: Job offers sacrifices as head of his family with no priesthood or temple (Job 1:5), his wealth is measured in livestock (Job 1:3), and he lives to see four generations after his restoration (Job 42:16). For these reasons Jewish and Christian tradition has placed him in the time of the patriarchs.
The author of the book is not named. Some Jewish tradition attributes it to Moses. Ezekiel and James treat Job as a real person (Ezekiel 14:14; James 5:11).
Job's Life Before His Trials
Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 donkeys, and had many servants (Job 1:3).
His sons held feasts in their homes and invited their sisters. After each round of feasting, Job rose early and sacrificed a burnt offering for each child, in case they had sinned and cursed God in their hearts (Job 1:4-5).
The Scenes in Heaven
The book describes a day when the angels came before the Lord, and Satan came with them (Job 1:6). The Lord pointed to Job as blameless and upright. Satan answered that Job feared God only because God had protected and blessed him, and that he would curse God if everything were taken away (Job 1:8-11).
The Lord allowed Satan to take what Job had but not to harm Job himself (Job 1:12). In a single day, raiders took the oxen, donkeys and camels, fire destroyed the sheep, servants were killed, and a wind collapsed the house where Job's children were feasting. All ten died (Job 1:13-19).
Job's First Response
Job tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground in worship (Job 1:20). He said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21, NIV)
The text adds that in all this Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22).
The Second Test
In a second scene, Satan argued that a man will give everything to save his own life. The Lord allowed Satan to strike Job's body but required him to spare Job's life (Job 2:4-6). Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from head to foot, and Job sat among the ashes scraping himself with a piece of broken pottery (Job 2:7-8).
His wife told him to curse God and die. Job called that foolish talk and asked whether they should accept good from God and not trouble (Job 2:9-10).
Job and His Three Friends
Three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, came to comfort him. When they saw him, they wept and sat with him on the ground for seven days without speaking (Job 2:11-13).
Then Job spoke, cursing the day of his birth (Job 3:1-3). What follows is a long series of speeches, most of it in poetry (Job 4-31).
The Friends' Argument
The friends held that God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous, so Job's suffering must be the result of sin. Eliphaz asked who, being innocent, had ever perished (Job 4:7). Bildad suggested Job's children died for their sin (Job 8:4). Zophar said God was exacting less than Job's guilt deserved (Job 11:6).
Job's Answers
Job maintained his innocence and rejected their explanation. He called them miserable comforters (Job 16:2). He complained bitterly and wished he could bring his case before God (Job 13:3; 23:3-4). In the middle of his distress he also expressed hope:
"I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth." (Job 19:25, NIV)
Job ended his defense by listing the ways he had lived righteously and calling on God to answer him (Job 31:35-40).
Elihu Speaks
A younger man, Elihu son of Barakel, had been listening. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God, and angry with the three friends for condemning Job without an answer (Job 32:2-3). His speeches argue that God uses suffering to warn and correct people and that God does no wrong (Job 33:14-30; 34:10-12).
God Answers Job
The Lord spoke to Job out of the storm (Job 38:1). He did not explain the scenes in heaven. Instead He asked Job a long series of questions about creation: where Job was when God laid the earth's foundation, whether he could command the morning, and whether he could provide for wild animals (Job 38:4, 38:12, 38:39-41).
God described the behemoth and the leviathan, creatures beyond human control (Job 40:15-24; 41:1-34). He asked whether Job would discredit God's justice to justify himself (Job 40:8).
Job's Reply
Job admitted that God can do all things and that he had spoken of things too wonderful for him to know (Job 42:2-3). He said his ears had heard of God, but now his eyes had seen Him, and he repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6).
Job Restored
God told Eliphaz that He was angry with him and his two friends because they had not spoken of Him what was right, as Job had. They were to offer sacrifices, and Job would pray for them (Job 42:7-8).
After Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as before (Job 42:10). He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 donkeys (Job 42:12). He had seven more sons and three daughters, named Jemimah, Keziah and Keren-Happuch, and they received an inheritance along with their brothers (Job 42:13-15). Job lived 140 more years and saw four generations (Job 42:16-17).
Lessons From Job's Life
- Suffering is not always punishment for sin. God said the friends had not spoken rightly about Him (Job 42:7), and the opening chapters show Job was blameless (Job 1:1, 1:8).
- Honest lament has a place. Job brought his complaints to God rather than turning away from Him (Job 23:3-4).
- God's wisdom exceeds human understanding. God answered Job by showing His power over creation, not by explaining every reason (Job 38-41).
- Presence can comfort. The friends did best when they sat silently with Job for seven days (Job 2:13).
- Perseverance is commended. James points to Job's perseverance and to the Lord's compassion and mercy (James 5:11).
Where Job Appears in the Bible
- Job 1-2: Prologue: Job's life, the heavenly scenes, and his losses
- Job 3-31: Dialogues between Job and his three friends
- Job 32-37: Elihu's speeches
- Job 38-41: The Lord speaks from the storm
- Job 42: Job's reply and restoration
- Ezekiel 14:14, 14:20: Named with Noah and Daniel
- James 5:11: Held up as an example of perseverance
Job lived to a great age after his restoration. For comparison with others, see who was the oldest person in the Bible. To learn where the Book of Job sits among the Old Testament books, see books of the Bible in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Job in the Bible?
Job was a blameless and wealthy man from Uz who lost his possessions, children and health in a series of trials (Job 1:1, 1:13-19; 2:7). He questioned God but did not curse Him, and God later restored him with twice what he had before (Job 42:10).
Why did God allow Job to suffer?
The book shows Satan claiming Job served God only because he was blessed, and God permitting Satan to test him (Job 1:9-12). When God speaks, He does not give Job a full explanation but reveals His power and wisdom over creation (Job 38-41).
Who were Job's three friends?
Job's three friends were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite (Job 2:11). A fourth speaker, Elihu, joins later (Job 32:2).
How many children did Job have?
Job had seven sons and three daughters before his trials, and all ten died (Job 1:2, 1:19). After his restoration he had seven more sons and three daughters (Job 42:13).
How long did Job live?
Job lived 140 years after his restoration and saw his descendants to the fourth generation (Job 42:16). The Bible does not state his age when the trials began.