Job 1: The Man Who Feared God
A blameless man loses his children and all his wealth in a single day, yet falls to the ground and worships the God who gave.
Job 1 (WEB)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
4 His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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 renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
6 Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, Satan also came among them.
7 Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
8 Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”
9 Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”
12 Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh.
13 It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, “The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
16 While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
17 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
19 and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
21 He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.
Job 1 (KJV)
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.
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.
5 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast 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.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And 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:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And 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.
16 While 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.
17 While 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.
18 While 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:
19 And, 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,
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 away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 1 (ASV)
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 turned away from 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 children of the east.
4 And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And 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 renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.
7 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.
9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made a 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.
11 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.
12 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
13 And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house,
14 that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;
15 and 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.
16 While 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.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While 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;
19 and, 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 robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;
21 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Summary
We meet Job, a man in the land of Uz who is blameless and upright, who fears God and turns away from evil, and who is the greatest of all the people of the east. He is rich in children and livestock, and so careful for his family's holiness that he rises early to offer sacrifices in case his sons have sinned in their hearts. The scene then shifts to the heavenly court, where God's sons present themselves before Yahweh and Satan comes among them. God commends Job, but Satan charges that Job only fears God because of the hedge of blessing around him. God permits Satan to strike all that Job has, only sparing his person. In a single devastating day, messenger after messenger arrives with news: raiders take the oxen and donkeys, fire from the sky burns the sheep, the Chaldeans seize the camels, and a great wind collapses the house on all his children. Job tears his robe, shaves his head, falls to the ground, and worships, confessing that the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. In all this, Job does not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.
Main Characters
- Job — A blameless and upright man of Uz, rich and devoted, who in one day loses his children and possessions yet falls down and worships God.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who delights in Job's faithfulness, who sets the limits of the testing, and who remains sovereign over all that befalls his servant.
- Satan — The accuser who roams the earth and claims Job's faith is merely self-interest, and who is permitted to strip away Job's blessings.
- The messengers — The four survivors who arrive one after another, each the sole escapee, announcing the loss of Job's livestock, servants, and children.
Key Verse
Job 1:21 (WEB)
He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
Lessons Learned
- True godliness is not a transaction; God is worthy of worship apart from his gifts.
- There is more happening behind our suffering than we can see, and God remains in control of it.
- Everything we have is a gift on loan from God, who has the right to give and to take away.
- Genuine grief and genuine worship can dwell together in the same heart.
- God values a heart that fears him. Job is described as “blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1, WEB), and God himself points to him with delight.
- Faith is tested at its motive. Satan's question, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (Job 1:9, WEB), probes whether we love God for himself or only for his blessings.
- God sets the boundaries of every trial. “All that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand” (Job 1:12, WEB). Even the accuser acts only within limits God appoints.
- Worship can rise from the ashes of loss. Stripped of everything, Job “fell down on the ground, and worshiped” (Job 1:20, WEB), blessing the name of the Lord who gives and takes away.
- How does the opening description of Job (1:1-5) shape the way we read everything that follows?
- What does the scene in the heavenly court reveal that Job himself never gets to see?
- Satan claims Job's devotion is self-interested. How does Job's response begin to answer that charge?
- What strikes you about the way Job responds to news that would crush most people?
- When have you been tempted to serve God for his gifts rather than for himself, and how does Job's worship challenge you?
- Job is introduced as blameless, upright, God-fearing, and turning from evil (1:1), so wealthy he is the greatest of the east, and so devout he sacrifices for his children's hidden sins (1:5). This rules out the friends' later assumption that his suffering must be punishment for sin, and frames the whole book as a question about innocent suffering.
- The reader is let in on the heavenly conversation that Job never hears (1:6-12). His trials are not random, nor are they God's verdict against him; they unfold under God's sovereign permission within set limits. Help the group sit with the truth that there is always more to our suffering than meets the eye.
- Satan alleges Job fears God only because of the hedge of blessing (1:9-11). When everything is stripped away and Job still worships (1:20-21), the accusation begins to collapse: his faith is real, not merely a response to reward.
- Job does not deny his grief—he tears his robe and shaves his head—yet he falls down and worships, confessing that the Lord gave and has taken away (1:20-21). His sorrow and his trust coexist, modeling honest worship that neither pretends nor rebels.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider, gently and even silently, whether they cling to God or merely to his benefits. As leader, point to the worthiness of God himself, and avoid implying that present blessings measure anyone's faith.