^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!”

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Footnotes

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.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“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.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.”

NLTNew Living Translation

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!”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.”

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

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