
Job 2
Job 2 introduces the second test of Job, where Satan, having already taken away Job’s wealth and children, now seeks permission to afflict Job’s body. Job's physical suffering and his interactions with his wife and friends further explore his endurance and faith in God despite immense suffering. The chapter highlights the intensity of Job’s trial and the struggle to comprehend his suffering.
Job 2:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
3 Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”
4 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
In this second heavenly council, Satan reappears to challenge Job’s integrity. Despite Job's earlier loss, Satan implies that Job’s faith will break if his health is taken. Satan insists that physical suffering will cause Job to curse God, thus continuing the theme of testing Job’s loyalty. God again allows Satan to test Job, while reaffirming Job’s steadfastness and blameless character.
Job 2:6 (NKJV)
6 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life!”
God grants Satan permission to afflict Job’s body but sets a clear limit: Job’s life must be preserved. This restriction shows God’s control over the situation, emphasizing that Satan's power is not unlimited and must operate within the boundaries God establishes.
Job 2:7-8 (NKJV)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
8 And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.
Satan inflicts Job with severe boils, causing unbearable physical pain. Job’s misery is so great that he resorts to scraping his sores with a broken piece of pottery, sitting in ashes—a sign of mourning and humility. His physical condition matches his emotional devastation, yet he does not curse God.
Job 2:9 (NKJV)
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job’s wife, overwhelmed by the situation, encourages him to abandon his faith and curse God. Her statement reflects the hopelessness she feels, seeing her husband suffer without understanding the purpose behind it. Her response contrasts sharply with Job’s perseverance, showing how despair can sometimes lead to losing faith.
Job 2:10 (NKJV)
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job rebukes his wife gently, reminding her that one should accept both good and bad from God. His response highlights his deep faith and trust in God’s sovereignty. Even in his suffering, Job refuses to accuse God of wrongdoing, demonstrating the depth of his commitment to God’s will.
Job 2:11 (NKJV)
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
Job’s three friends, hearing of his suffering, come to comfort him. Their visit reflects the practice of offering support and sympathy in times of great distress. These friends will play a significant role in the unfolding dialogue, though their comfort will eventually turn into arguments about the cause of Job’s suffering.
Job 2:12 (NKJV)
12 And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.
Upon seeing Job’s disfigured state from a distance, his friends are overcome with grief. They do not recognize him because of the severity of his affliction. Their weeping, tearing of robes, and sprinkling of dust on their heads are traditional signs of deep mourning and shared sorrow.
Job 2:13 (NKJV)
13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
Job’s friends sit in silence with him for seven days, recognizing the depth of his suffering. Their silence is a sign of respect, acknowledging that words are insufficient to address the pain Job is enduring. This period of silence precedes the lengthy dialogues that will follow in the coming chapters.