^1:7The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”³⁶ And Satan answered the Lord,³⁷ “From roving about³⁸ on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.”³⁹^1:8So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered⁴⁰ my servant Job? There⁴¹ is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away⁴² from evil.”

^1:9Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God?⁴³ ^1:10Have you⁴⁴ not made a hedge⁴⁵ around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed⁴⁶ the work of his hands, and his livestock⁴⁷ have increased⁴⁸ in the land. ^1:11But⁴⁹ extend your hand and strike⁵⁰ everything he has, and he will no doubt⁵¹ curse you⁵² to your face!”

^1:12So the Lord said to Satan, “All right then,⁵³ everything he has is⁵⁴ in your power.⁵⁵ Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!”⁵⁶ So Satan went out⁵⁷ from the presence of the Lord.⁵⁸

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Footnotes

36 The imperfect may be classified as progressive imperfect; it indicates action that although just completed is regarded as still lasting into the present ( §107.h).
37 Heb “answered the Lord and said” (also in v. 9). The words “and said” here and in v. 9 have not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.
38 The verb שׁוּט (shut) means “to go or rove about” ( 1001–2 ). Here the infinitive construct serves as the object of the preposition.
39 The Hitpael (here also an infinitive construct after the preposition) of the verb הָלַךְ (halakh) means “to walk to and fro, back and forth, with the sense of investigating or reconnoitering (see e.g. Gen 13:17). As the words are spoken by Satan, there is no self-condemnation in them. What they signify is the swiftness and thoroughness of his investigation of humans. The good angels are said to go to and fro in the earth on behalf of the suffering righteous (Zech 1:10, 11; 6:7), but Satan goes seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet 5:8).
40 The Hebrew has “have you placed your heart on Job?” This means “direct your mind to” (cf. 963 I שׂוּם 2.b). The question is undoubtedly rhetorical, for it is designed to make Satan aware of Job as God extols his fine qualities.
41 The Hebrew conjunction כִּי (ki) need not be translated in this case or it might be taken as emphatic (cf. §39.3.4e): “Certainly there is no one like him.”
42 The same expressions that appeared at the beginning of the chapter appear here in the words of God. In contrast to that narrative report about Job, the emphasis here is on Job’s present character, and so the participle form is translated here asa gnomic or characteristic present (“turns”). It modifies “man” as one who is turning from evil.
43 The Hebrew form has the interrogative ה (he) on the adverb חִנָּם (khinnam, “gratis”), a derivative either of the verb חָנַן (khanan, “to be gracious, show favor”), or its related noun חֵן (khen, “grace, favor”). The adverb has the sense of “free; gratis; gratuitously; for nothing; for no reason” (see 336 חִנָּם). The idea is that Satan does not disagree that Job is pious, but that Job is loyal to God because of what he receives from God. He will test the sincerity of Job.
44 The use of the independent personal pronoun here emphasizes the subject of the verb: “Have you not put up a hedge.”
45 The verb שׂוּךְ (sukh) means “to hedge or fence up, about” something ( 962 I שׂוּךְ). The original idea seems to have been to surround with a wall of thorns for the purpose of protection (E. Dhorme, Job, 7). The verb is an implied comparison between making a hedge and protecting someone.
46 Here the verb “bless” is used in one of its very common meanings. The verb means “to enrich,” often with the sense of enabling or empowering things for growth or fruitfulness. See further C. Westermann, Blessing in the Bible and the Life of the Church ().
47 Or “substance.” The herds of livestock may be taken by metonymy of part for whole to represent possessions or prosperity in general.
48 The verb פָּרַץ (parats) means “to break through.” It has the sense of abundant increase, as in breaking out, overflowing (see also Gen 30:30 and Exod 1:12).
49 The particle אוּלָם (’ulam, “but”) serves to restrict the clause in relation to the preceding clause ( §39.3.5e, n. 107).
50 The force of the imperatives in this sentence are almost conditional—if God were to do this, then surely Job would respond differently. The two imperatives (“stretch out” and “strike”) and the word “hand” all form a bold anthropomorphic sentence. It is as if God would deliver a blow to Job with his fist. But the intended meaning is that God would intervene to destroy Job’s material and physical prosperity.
51 The formula used in the expression is the oath formula: “if not to your face he will curse you” meaning “he will surely curse you to your face.” Satan is so sure that the piety is insincere that he can use an oath formula.
52 See the comments on . Here too the idea of “renounce” may fit well enough; but the idea of actually cursing God may not be out of the picture if everything Job has is removed. Satan thinks he will denounce God.
53 The particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “behold”) introduces a foundational clause upon which the following volitional clause is based.
54 The versions add a verb here: “delivered to” or “abandoned to” the hand of Satan.
55 Heb “in your hand.” The idiom means that it is now Satan’s to do with as he pleases.
56 The Hebrew word order emphatically holds out Job’s person as the exception: “only upon him do not stretch forth your hand.”
57 The to Job adds “with permission” to show that he was granted leave from God’s presence.
58 So Satan, having received his permission to test Job’s sincerity, goes out from the Lord’s presence. But Satan is bound by the will of the Most High not to touch Job himself. The sentence gives the impression that Satan’s departure is with a certain eagerness and confidence.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The Lord asked Satan, “Where have you come from?”

“From roaming through the earth,” Satan answered him, “and walking around on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

“Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So Yahweh said to Satan, “From where have you come?”

Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From roaming on the earth and from walking about in it.”

So Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? Indeed, there is no one like him on the earth—a blameless man and upright and God-fearing and turning away from evil.”

Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his household and around all that belongs to him on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock has increased in the land. But, on the other hand, stretch out your hand and touch all that belongs to him and see whether he will curse you to your face.”

So Yahweh said to Satan, “Look, all that belongs to him is in your power. Only do not stretch out your hand against him.” So Satan went out from Yahweh’s presence.

KJV 1900King James Version

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. 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? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 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. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 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.

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