Log inSign up

Job 1 · a question people ask

Who took away what Job had: Satan, or the LORD?

In the text

The chapter tells it in this order, and these notes keep to it. Satan says to the LORD, "But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face" (1:11). The LORD answers, "Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand" (1:12), and "Satan went out from the presence of the LORD" (1:12). Then the messengers come, and they tell what happened in their own words (1:14-19). Job says, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away" (1:21), and the chapter says, "In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing" (1:22). The chapter doesn't say that Job knew what was said in 1:6-12. In the next chapter the LORD says to Satan, "you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause" (Job 2:3), and at the end of the book the people who come to Job comfort him "concerning all the evil that the LORD had brought on him" (Job 42:11). The book sets these side by side and doesn't explain how they fit, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.” The LORD 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 the LORD.”
Job 1:11-12 · World English Bible
“He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the LORD’s name.” In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.”
Job 1:21-22 · World English Bible
“The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.””
Job 2:3 · World English Bible
“Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, came to him and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that the LORD had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.”
Job 42:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Job 1

Job 1: Does Job fear God for nothing?

Satan said Job would renounce God to his face (1:11); after the four messengers, Job said, "Blessed be the LORD’s name" (1:21). In Hebrew, renounce and Blessed are one verb, barakh. And it was the LORD, not Satan, who first spoke of Job: "Have you considered my servant, Job?" (1:8).

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

Start your free weekJob 1 Bible study

First week free, then $10 a month per person

More questions about Job 1

All questions about Job →

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions like this, in every chapter

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions