Job 1:10: Meaning Explained
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast...
Satan said God had protected Job and given him everything. Satan said Job's faith was only because God was blessing him so much.
What’s Happening Here
Satan was saying Job had nothing to complain about - God had protected and blessed him completely.
Key Words
Why It Matters
Satan was pointing out that Job had every reason to be happy - so faith shouldn't be hard.
Did You Know?
Satan was suggesting that real faith isn't tested when everything is good - only when things are hard.
Tradition Spectrum
Word Study
Cross References
Frequently asked questions
What does Job 1:10 mean?
Satan said God had protected Job and given him everything. Satan said Job's faith was only because God was blessing him so much.
What is the context of Job 1:10?
Satan was saying Job had nothing to complain about - God had protected and blessed him completely.
Why does Job 1:10 matter?
Satan was pointing out that Job had every reason to be happy - so faith shouldn't be hard.
What's a surprising detail about Job 1:10?
Satan was suggesting that real faith isn't tested when everything is good - only when things are hard.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]
Commentary on Job 1:10
Do you see that Job’s wealth was a gift from God? Do you see that it was not the fruit of injustice? How Job had to suffer in order to demonstrate to people that his wealth was not the fruit of injustice! And behold, the devil himself bore witness to him from above and did not realize that he praised Job as well by saying that he had not acquired that wealth through illicit trading and through the oppression of others. Instead, Job owed his wealth to God’s blessing, and his security came from heaven. You would have not rejoiced if Job had not been virtuous. But the devil praised and covered him with laurels without realizing what he was doing.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION But the old adversary, when he fails to discover any evil of which he might accuse us, seeks to turn our very good points into evil, and being beaten upon works, looks through our words for a subject of accusation; and when he finds not in our words either ground of accusation, he strives to blacken the purpose of the heart, as though our good deeds did not come of a good mind, and ought not on that account to be reckoned good in the eyes of the Judge. For because he sees the fruit of the tree to be green even in the heat, he seeks as it were to set a worm at its root. For he says, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast Thou, not made an hedge about him, and about his h…
Verses 6–12 Job's afflictions began from the malice of Satan, by the Lord's permission, for wise and holy purposes. There is an evil spirit, the enemy of God, and of all righteousness, who is continually seeking to distress, to lead astray, and, if possible, to destroy those who love God. How far his influence may extend, we cannot say; but probably much unsteadiness and unhappiness in Christians may be ascribed to him. While we are on this earth we are within his reach. Hence it concerns us to be sober and vigilant, 1Pe 5:8. See how Satan censures Job. This is the common way of slanderers, to suggest that which they have no reason to think is true. But as there is nothing we should dread mo…