New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Job 1
1
There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil.
Reference
📍 Uz
People
Evil
Job 28:28
Job 2:3
Job 1:8
Proverbs 8:13
Parallel theme
James 5:11
References God
Ezekiel 14:14
Ezekiel 14:20
Genesis 6:9
Genesis 17:1
Genesis 22:12
3
He owned 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels. He owned 500 pairs of oxen and 500 donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the most important man among all of the people in the east.
Reference
4
His sons used to take turns giving big dinners in their homes. They would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:1
5
When the time for enjoying good food was over, Job would have his children made pure and clean. He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He would do it early in the morning. He would think, "Perhaps my children have sinned. Maybe they have spoken evil things against God in their hearts." That's what Job always did for his children when he felt they had sinned.
Reference
Holy
1 Samuel 16:5
Ephesians 6:18
References God
Acts 8:22
1 Corinthians 4:5
1 Kings 21:10
1 Kings 21:13
Sacrifice
Job 42:8
Genesis 8:20
Genesis 22:3
Sin
Job 8:4
6
One day angels came to the Lord. Satan also came with them.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Chronicles 21:1
Matthew 18:10
John 6:70
References God
Job 2:1
Job 38:7
Genesis 6:4
Luke 3:38
References Lord
Zechariah 3:1
1 Kings 22:19
Psalm 103:20
7
The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered, "From traveling all around the earth. I've been going from one end of it to the other."
Reference
8
Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn't anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for me and avoids evil."
Reference
Evil
Job 2:3
Job 1:1
Isaiah 1:16
Proverbs 8:13
Job 8:20
Psalm 37:27
Parallel theme
Numbers 12:3
Isaiah 42:1
References God
Psalm 84:11
References Lord
2 Kings 23:25
9
"You always give Job everything he needs," Satan replied. "That's why he has respect for you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 16:26
References God
Job 2:10
1 Timothy 6:6
1 Timothy 4:8
References Lord
Job 1:21
10
Haven't you guarded him and his family? Haven't you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.
Reference
Blessing
Proverbs 10:22
Psalm 107:38
Genesis 26:12
Creation
Isaiah 5:2
Parallel theme
Psalm 34:7
Zechariah 2:5
1 Peter 1:5
Zechariah 2:8
Genesis 15:1
Job 31:25
11
"But reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I'm sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he'll do it right in front of you."
Reference
12
The Lord said to Satan, "All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself." Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way.
Reference
13
One day Job's sons and daughters were at their oldest brother's house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.
Reference
14
During that time a messenger came to Job. He said, "The oxen were plowing. The donkeys were eating grass near them.
15
Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried the animals off. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Reference
16
While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said, "God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 19:24
Revelation 13:13
1 Kings 18:38
Leviticus 10:2
References God
2 Kings 1:12
Amos 7:4
2 Kings 1:10
17
While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said, "The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
Reference
18
While he was still speaking, a fourth messenger came. He said, "Your sons and daughters were at their oldest brother's house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.
Reference
19
Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It struck the four corners of the house. The house fell down on your children. Now all of them are dead. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
20
After Job heard all of those reports, he got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord.
Reference
21
He said, "I was born naked. And I'll leave here naked. You have given, and you have taken away. May your name be praised."
Reference
Parallel theme
Ecclesiastes 5:15
1 Timothy 6:7
1 Thessalonians 5:18
James 1:17
Job 2:10
Psalm 49:17
Ecclesiastes 12:7
References Lord
Ephesians 5:20
Isaiah 45:7
1 Samuel 2:7
Summary of Job 1
Job Chapter 1 introduces Job as a man who appears to have everything that ancient society would consider a blessed and successful life. He lives in the land of Uz and is described as blameless, upright, respectful toward God, and committed to avoiding evil. He has a large family consisting of seven sons and three daughters, enormous herds of livestock, many servants, and great wealth. The chapter specifically describes him as the greatest man among the people of the East.
Job's children regularly gather together for family feasts. Job is deeply concerned about their spiritual lives and regularly offers sacrifices on their behalf, fearing that they may have sinned in their hearts. This establishes Job not only as wealthy but also as a man who takes his relationship with God seriously.
The story then shifts dramatically from earth to a heavenly scene. The sons of God appear before the LORD, and Satan is also present. God points Satan toward Job and describes him as an exceptionally faithful man. Satan responds with a challenge: perhaps Job only serves God because God has blessed and protected him. According to Satan's accusation, Job's devotion is not genuine but is based on the benefits he receives.
Satan argues that if Job loses his possessions, he will turn against God. God permits Satan to test Job's possessions but places a clear limit on what he may do. Satan cannot touch Job himself.
What follows is one of the most devastating sequences in the Bible. Job is suddenly struck by a series of disasters. First, the Sabeans attack and take his oxen and donkeys while killing his servants. Then another messenger reports that fire has destroyed his sheep and servants. A third messenger announces that the Chaldeans have taken Job's camels and killed more servants.
Before Job can even process these three disasters, a fourth messenger arrives with the worst news of all. Job's sons and daughters have been gathered together at their oldest brother's house when a powerful wind strikes the building. The house collapses, killing all ten of Job's children.
In a very short period, Job loses nearly everything that defined his earthly security: his wealth, his livestock, his servants, and finally his children.
Job's reaction is extremely important. He does not pretend that the losses do not hurt. He tears his robe and shaves his head, showing profound grief. He mourns honestly. Yet after expressing his grief, he falls to the ground and worships.
His statement that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing expresses his recognition that his possessions were never permanently his. He acknowledges that God gives and takes away, but he still chooses to honor God.
The final verse makes the central point of the chapter: Job does not accuse God of wrongdoing.
This does not mean that Job understands what has happened. The reader knows about the heavenly conversation, but Job does not. He has no knowledge of Satan's accusation or the reason behind his suffering. From Job's perspective, his world has collapsed without explanation.
This creates the central question of the book: Can a person remain faithful to God when there is no obvious reward for doing so and when suffering appears completely undeserved?
The chapter also establishes an important distinction between prosperity and genuine faith. Satan believes Job serves God because God has given him wealth, family, security, and protection. By removing those things, Satan expects Job's faith to disappear. Instead, Job's response demonstrates that his relationship with God is deeper than his circumstances.
Historically, the exact date of Job is uncertain. The story has features that resemble the patriarchal period, possibly the second millennium BC, although scholars debate the date of the book's composition. The setting outside Israel and the absence of references to Israel's later religious institutions give the story an ancient, patriarchal atmosphere.
The chapter's final message is powerful: faith is tested most severely when circumstances provide no easy explanation. Job has done nothing in the story to deserve the disasters that have happened to him. Yet he continues to worship God.
The chapter ends with Job still faithful, but the story is far from over. Satan's first challenge has failed. However, the next chapter will reveal that Satan believes Job's faith will collapse if the suffering reaches his own body.
Job Chapter 1 therefore establishes the central conflict of the entire book: Is faith in God genuine only when life is good, or can a person continue to trust God even when everything has been taken away?
Job's children regularly gather together for family feasts. Job is deeply concerned about their spiritual lives and regularly offers sacrifices on their behalf, fearing that they may have sinned in their hearts. This establishes Job not only as wealthy but also as a man who takes his relationship with God seriously.
The story then shifts dramatically from earth to a heavenly scene. The sons of God appear before the LORD, and Satan is also present. God points Satan toward Job and describes him as an exceptionally faithful man. Satan responds with a challenge: perhaps Job only serves God because God has blessed and protected him. According to Satan's accusation, Job's devotion is not genuine but is based on the benefits he receives.
Satan argues that if Job loses his possessions, he will turn against God. God permits Satan to test Job's possessions but places a clear limit on what he may do. Satan cannot touch Job himself.
What follows is one of the most devastating sequences in the Bible. Job is suddenly struck by a series of disasters. First, the Sabeans attack and take his oxen and donkeys while killing his servants. Then another messenger reports that fire has destroyed his sheep and servants. A third messenger announces that the Chaldeans have taken Job's camels and killed more servants.
Before Job can even process these three disasters, a fourth messenger arrives with the worst news of all. Job's sons and daughters have been gathered together at their oldest brother's house when a powerful wind strikes the building. The house collapses, killing all ten of Job's children.
In a very short period, Job loses nearly everything that defined his earthly security: his wealth, his livestock, his servants, and finally his children.
Job's reaction is extremely important. He does not pretend that the losses do not hurt. He tears his robe and shaves his head, showing profound grief. He mourns honestly. Yet after expressing his grief, he falls to the ground and worships.
His statement that he came into the world with nothing and will leave with nothing expresses his recognition that his possessions were never permanently his. He acknowledges that God gives and takes away, but he still chooses to honor God.
The final verse makes the central point of the chapter: Job does not accuse God of wrongdoing.
This does not mean that Job understands what has happened. The reader knows about the heavenly conversation, but Job does not. He has no knowledge of Satan's accusation or the reason behind his suffering. From Job's perspective, his world has collapsed without explanation.
This creates the central question of the book: Can a person remain faithful to God when there is no obvious reward for doing so and when suffering appears completely undeserved?
The chapter also establishes an important distinction between prosperity and genuine faith. Satan believes Job serves God because God has given him wealth, family, security, and protection. By removing those things, Satan expects Job's faith to disappear. Instead, Job's response demonstrates that his relationship with God is deeper than his circumstances.
Historically, the exact date of Job is uncertain. The story has features that resemble the patriarchal period, possibly the second millennium BC, although scholars debate the date of the book's composition. The setting outside Israel and the absence of references to Israel's later religious institutions give the story an ancient, patriarchal atmosphere.
The chapter's final message is powerful: faith is tested most severely when circumstances provide no easy explanation. Job has done nothing in the story to deserve the disasters that have happened to him. Yet he continues to worship God.
The chapter ends with Job still faithful, but the story is far from over. Satan's first challenge has failed. However, the next chapter will reveal that Satan believes Job's faith will collapse if the suffering reaches his own body.
Job Chapter 1 therefore establishes the central conflict of the entire book: Is faith in God genuine only when life is good, or can a person continue to trust God even when everything has been taken away?