2:1 the sons of God came The story returns to the scene of God’s divine council. See note on 1:6.

Satan The Hebrew term used here, satan, literally means “the accuser” or “the adversary.” See note on 1:6.

2:2 roaming on the earth See note on 1:7.

2:3 you considered my servant Job As He does in 1:8, God singles out Job as an ideal example of humanity.

a blameless man and upright Yahweh repeats His description of Job from 1:8. See note on 1:1.

turning away from evil This attribute of a wise person (Prov 3:7; 14:16) includes both rejecting wickedness and pursuing good (Pss 34:14; 37:27; Prov 4:27).

persists in his blamelessness The satan figure failed in his first challenge: Job did not curse God even though his wealth and children were taken away (compare note on Job 1:6; note on 1:12).

2:4 Skin for skin This expression does not occur elsewhere in the ot. It may be related to the law of an “eye for an eye” (Exod 21:23–25).

2:5 touch his bones and his flesh Since removing his possessions and descendants was not enough to make Job curse God, the satan figure suggests afflicting Job directly (compare note on Job 1:6).

he will curse you to your face The satan figure still believes that if God removes His blessing, Job will curse God directly. See note on 1:11.

2:6 All right, he is in your power Once again, God allows the satan figure to afflict Job—but limits him (compare note on 1:6). See note on 1:12.

Only spare his life From Job’s perspective, this is not merciful. Job later wishes for death (3:20–22).

2:7 loathsome skin sores The Hebrew word used here is used to describe the sixth plague on Egypt (Exod 9:9–10). A single sore also afflicted King Hezekiah (2 Kgs 20:7). The term can refer to a variety of illnesses. Scripture includes examples of sores that would heal (Lev 13:18) and sores that would not heal (Deut 28:27).

his foot up to the crown of his head The sores cover Job’s entire body.

2:8 a potsherd with which to scrape himself Job may do this to relieve itching or to break open the sores (Job 7:5).

he sat in the midst of the ashes A sign of mourning (Jer 6:26; Ezek 27:30; Jonah 3:6). This also may indicate that Job is now an outcast, sitting in a trash heap outside the city.

Suffering

2:9 his wife Job’s wife speaks only here (she is mentioned again in Job 19:17). While her exclamation that Job should curse God reflects the satan figure’s prediction (v. 5), she also acknowledges Job’s integrity, using the same language as God (v. 3; compare note on 1:6).

Are you still persisting in your blamelessness An exact repetition of the phrase God uses to describe Job in v. 6.

Curse God and die May reflect her desire to see her husband’s misery end. Job himself wishes for death (3:20–22). She instructs Job to curse God, perhaps thinking it will lead God to kill Job and end his misery.

2:10 like one of the foolish women Job is not calling his wife a fool. Rather, he is saying her advice is foolish.

evil In this context, this refers to suffering or disaster (5:19; 30:26; Eccl 2:17).

Job did not sin with his lips In Job’s brief speech to his wife, he again recognizes God’s sovereignty. As he did in Job 1:21, Job points out that God—as the Creator—is free to give or take. Although he does not understand it, Job views his suffering as part of God’s plan. This contrasts with Job’s friends who—claiming to understand God’s purposes—view it as part of God’s punishment.

2:11 Temanite Eliphaz is from Teman, a city in Edom associated with wisdom (Jer 49:7).

Shuhite Bildad comes from a distant but unknown location. The term “Shuhite” may suggest a connection with Shuah, one of the sons of Abraham and Keturah (Gen 25:2).

Naamathite Zophar is from Naamah, whose location is unknown. Naamah is listed as a female descendant of Cain (Gen 4:22).

to console him Job’s friends come with the good intention of comforting him. However, their words will be of little comfort to Job (see Job 16:2; 21:34).

2:12 tore his outer garment and threw dust on their heads Typical gestures of mourning (1:20; 2:8).

2:13 for seven days and seven nights A typical period of mourning (Gen 50:10; 1 Sam 31:13).

no one spoke a word to him Job’s friends wait until he speaks. Their silence was probably part of the mourning ritual (Ezek 3:15). When they do speak, Job wishes they would remain silent (Job 13:5).