Poetry and wisdom
The book of Job
Why do the righteous suffer? Job, a wealthy man who loses everything, wrestles with God and his friends.
Job is set in the patriarchal age: the wealth counted in livestock, the family priesthood, and no mention of Israel’s law. Its writer is not named. The book’s answer is not an explanation but an encounter with God, who speaks from the whirlwind (Job 38–41).
Kinds of writing
- Wisdom 92%
- Narrative 8%
Key verses
Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
Job 1:21 (World English Bible)
I know that my Redeemer lives. But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth.
Job 19:25 (World English Bible)
The fear of the Lord is wisdom. To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’
Job 28:28 (World English Bible)
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.”
Job 38:4 (World English Bible)
Now my eye sees you. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Job 42:5 (World English Bible)
People
Places
On the timeline
Job's suffering and restoration
The New Testament quotes or alludes to Job 1 time (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
This timeline dates Job’s own life to 1635 BC. Who wrote the book and when is a real question; the span here is a wide estimate. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.