Job 1 13

Job 1:13 kjv

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

Job 1:13 nkjv

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house;

Job 1:13 niv

One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,

Job 1:13 esv

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

Job 1:13 nlt

One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother's house,

Job 1 verses

Job 1 13 Meaning

Job 1:13 sets the stage for the unfolding tragedy, portraying a scene of domestic peace and celebratory normality. It describes the precise moment—a specific "day"—when Job's ten children were engaged in a typical family feast at their oldest brother’s home, "eating and drinking wine." This seemingly ordinary, joyous gathering immediately precedes the arrival of messengers announcing a series of devastating losses that would completely upend Job's life, highlighting the abruptness and unexpected nature of the coming calamity.

Job 1 13 Context

Job 1:13 serves as a pivotal scene-setting verse within the broader narrative of the Book of Job. In the preceding verses (Job 1:1-5), Job is established as a supremely righteous and wealthy man, blessed with a large, thriving family whom he carefully watched over, even ritually purifying them after their periodic feasts. Verses 1:6-12 describe a dramatic dialogue in the heavenly courts between God and Satan, where Satan challenges Job's piety, asserting it's based on his prosperity. God grants Satan permission to test Job by destroying his possessions and family, but not to harm Job himself.

Job 1:13 then brings the narrative back to earth, specifically to the day the divine decree is set in motion. It depicts Job's children in an environment of ordinary celebration—feasting at their oldest brother's house—emphasizing their apparent security and joyous normalcy before calamity strikes. This creates a stark contrast between their peaceful activities and the sudden, devastating events immediately reported by the subsequent messengers, thus highlighting the brutal and unexpected nature of Job's losses. Historically, such feasts were common social occasions in patriarchal societies, signaling domestic stability and prosperity, making the destruction that follows even more jarring.

Job 1 13 Word analysis

• Now there was a day (וַיְהִי הַיּוֹם - vayhī hayyōm):

  • "Now there was" (וַיְהִי - vayhī): A common narrative transition in Hebrew, often marking the start of a significant new event or a change in circumstances. It immediately signals that something important is about to happen.
  • "a day" (הַיּוֹם - hayyōm): Literally "the day" (with the definite article). This suggests a specific, fated, and crucial day. It implies that this was not just any random day, but the day ordained for the test to begin. Its immediate preceding use in Job 1:6 ("Now there was a day when the sons of God came...") creates a subtle but strong narrative link between the divine council in heaven and its earthly manifestation. It points to a divinely permitted timeline.

• when his sons and daughters:

  • "his sons and daughters": This explicitly includes all of Job's children (ten in total, as mentioned in Job 1:2), emphasizing the complete loss Job is about to endure. It highlights the familial connection and the depth of the impending grief—it's not just a partial loss, but a sweeping devastation of his progeny. This group identity implies unity in their joyful activities.

• were eating and drinking wine:

  • "eating" (אֹכְלִים - ’okhəlîm): A simple, universal activity associated with sustenance and communal gathering.
  • "drinking wine" (שֹׁתִים יַיִן - shotîm yayin): Wine was a staple of celebration and feasts in ancient cultures. It signifies enjoyment, prosperity, and joy. It is not necessarily depicted as excessive here, but rather typical for a festive occasion. This detail reinforces the pleasant, secure, and relaxed atmosphere about to be shattered. The phrase suggests a sustained activity, not a momentary action.

• in their oldest brother’s house:

  • "in their oldest brother's house": As stated in Job 1:4, the feasts rotated among the children. This particular gathering location reinforces the sense of familial order, routine, and a close-knit family enjoying fellowship. The oldest brother's house naturally serves as a focal point, indicating a hierarchical yet harmonious structure within the family. It highlights their common purpose in gathering.

Job 1 13 Bonus section

• The phrasing "Now there was a day" is repeated from Job 1:6, underscoring the connection between the divine counsel and the earthly unfolding of events. It points to God's ultimate sovereign control, even over what appears to be random disaster.
• This verse deliberately portrays a peaceful and common family activity to heighten the dramatic impact of the rapid sequence of tragedies that follow in quick succession in Job 1:14-19. It accentuates the shift from prosperity to destitution within moments.
• The cultural setting indicates a strong emphasis on family and lineage, making the loss of all children even more significant and crushing than it might appear to a modern audience.

Job 1 13 Commentary

Job 1:13 functions as a stark and deliberate narrative device, creating an intense contrast between pre-calamity tranquility and immediate devastation. It places Job's family squarely in a scene of ordinary human joy—eating, drinking, and fellowship—just moments before divine permission allows calamity to strike. This normalcy underscores the shocking, sudden, and seemingly arbitrary nature of suffering in the book.

The meticulous detail of "a day" linking back to the heavenly decree is crucial. It’s not a random unfortunate event, but the day in which the spiritual conflict of Job's integrity spills into the earthly realm. The description of all ten children feasting reinforces the depth of the impending loss, emphasizing that Job's test will involve a complete and utter dismantling of his well-ordered world. The simple act of enjoyment transforms into the setting for profound sorrow, challenging any assumption that piety automatically guarantees perpetual safety or that suffering is always a direct result of personal sin. This verse thus sets the foundation for exploring the complex theology of undeserved suffering, highlighting that even in moments of greatest ease and apparent blessing, life's inherent fragility remains.