Job 1:14 kjv
And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
Job 1:14 nkjv
and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
Job 1:14 niv
a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
Job 1:14 esv
and there came a messenger to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
Job 1:14 nlt
a messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: "Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them,
Job 1 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 1:15 | the Sabeans attacked and carried them away. They put the servants to the sword... | Immediate aftermath, details the attack on oxen and donkeys. |
| Job 1:16 | While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens... | Continuation of bad news, demonstrating sequential reporting of disasters. |
| Job 1:3 | He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys... | Establishes Job's immense wealth in livestock, giving context to the loss. |
| 1 Sam 4:12 | That same day a Benjaminite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh... | Messenger brings news of a great defeat, a common motif for bad tidings. |
| 2 Sam 18:31-33 | Just then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news!... | Messengers delivering news of victory or defeat, paralleling Job's messengers. |
| Prov 13:16 | The prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly. | Loss of livelihood challenges wisdom narratives. |
| Eccl 9:11 | The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise... | Unpredictable nature of misfortune, similar to Job's experience. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy... | Ephemeral nature of earthly possessions, as Job experiences through loss. |
| Luke 12:33 | Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out... | Shift from earthly to heavenly treasures, echoing Job's test. |
| Heb 10:34 | You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property... | Early believers enduring loss of possessions for their faith, similar to Job. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. | God's ultimate sovereignty over both blessing and calamity, even if mediated by others. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? | Divine permission behind misfortune, linking to God's dialogue with Satan in Job 1. |
| Amos 3:6 | When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? | Attributing disasters to God's ultimate plan or allowance. |
| Job 2:6 | The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” | Confirmation of God's control and limitations on Satan's actions against Job. |
| 1 Thes 5:3 | While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly... | Emphasizes sudden and unexpected nature of destruction. |
| Jer 4:20 | Disaster follows disaster; the whole land is laid waste. In an instant my tents are destroyed... | Rapid succession of calamities, similar to Job's experience. |
| Joel 2:1-2 | Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble... | Forewarning of impending judgment and widespread destruction. |
| 2 Chr 26:10 | Uzziah also built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock... | Highlights the importance of livestock and infrastructure in ancient wealth. |
| Prov 27:23-27 | Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds... | Wise counsel for managing and valuing agricultural wealth. | Gen 3:17-19 | Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. | The struggle of labor and the earth's fruitfulness, underpinning Job's agricultural life. |
Job 1 verses
Job 1 14 Meaning
This verse initiates the series of catastrophic events befalling Job. It introduces the first of several messengers arriving consecutively to deliver devastating news. The immediate focus is on the unexpected destruction of a significant portion of Job's wealth—his oxen, essential for plowing, and his donkeys, which were peacefully grazing beside them. The normalcy of their activity highlights the sudden and unforeseen nature of the disaster.
Job 1 14 Context
Job chapter 1 introduces Job as a man of unparalleled righteousness and immense wealth, residing in the land of Uz. He meticulously offers sacrifices for his children, demonstrating his devotion and piety. The scene then shifts to the heavenly court where Satan challenges God's assessment of Job, claiming Job's integrity stems only from God's blessings. God grants Satan permission to test Job by stripping away his possessions and children, with the strict caveat not to harm Job physically. Verse 14 marks the onset of this divinely permitted trial. The oxen plowing and donkeys feeding paint a picture of ordinary, peaceful daily life, creating a stark contrast to the swift, compounding disasters about to unfold. Historically and culturally, Job's immense wealth, primarily in livestock and servants, represented a prominent sign of blessing and status in the ancient Near East. The events that follow Job 1:14 directly challenge the simplistic ancient belief that prosperity always indicated divine favor and misfortune always indicated divine wrath, serving as a polemic against such a reductionist worldview.
Job 1 14 Word analysis
- וַיָּבֹא (vayyāḇō') - "and a messenger came": The Hebrew waw-consecutive, marking a swift sequential action, indicating the immediate arrival of the news bearer. This signals the start of the sudden, devastating events.
- מַלְאָךְ (malʾāḵ) - "messenger": The term typically means "messenger" and can refer to a human or an angelic being. In this context, it clearly denotes a human survivor sent to deliver a report. This initial "messenger" is one of four who consecutively deliver progressively worse news, creating a pattern of compounding tragedy.
- אֶל־אִיּוֹב (ʾel-ʾiyyōḇ) - "to Job": "ʾel" means "to" or "towards." The news is directed specifically to Job, highlighting that the trial is personal and directly affects him.
- וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyōʾmer) - "and said": Again, the waw-consecutive signals immediate speech, reflecting the urgent nature of the message and the fast-paced delivery of bad news in the narrative.
- הַבָּקָר (habbaqār) - "The oxen": Refers to a herd of cattle, a primary measure of agricultural wealth and essential for farming. The definite article "ha-" points to Job's specific oxen mentioned earlier as part of his great possessions (Job 1:3).
- הָיוּ חֹרְשׁוֹת (hāyū ḥorəšôṯ) - "were plowing": "Were plowing" indicates a continuous action. This detail underscores that the animals were not idle but engaged in productive, normal labor when the attack occurred. This contrasts the mundane peace with the abrupt chaos that ensued.
- וְהָאֲתֹנוֹת (wəhāʾăṯōnōṯ) - "and the donkeys": Specifically female donkeys, valued for transport and breeding. Their inclusion emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Job's wealth in livestock (Job 1:3).
- רֹעוֹת (rōʿôṯ) - "feeding/grazing": Like "plowing," this describes a normal, peaceful, and unsuspecting activity. This further emphasizes the suddenness and unexpected violence of the calamity.
- עַל־יְדֵיהֶם (ʿal-yəḏêhem) - "beside them": Literally "upon their hands" or "by their side." This idiomatic expression denotes close proximity. The donkeys were grazing near the oxen, implying they were all together in the same location, making them all equally vulnerable to the attack.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "and a messenger came to Job and said": This phrase sets the narrative tone, marking the commencement of Job's test. The sequential arrival of a "messenger" is a narrative device, building suspense and signifying the systematic unfolding of calamity. It introduces the bearer of the first bad news in a rapid succession.
- "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them": This vivid scene establishes a picture of normalcy and productive labor. The agricultural activities signify Job's prosperous life. The peaceful imagery starkly contrasts with the imminent violent destruction, highlighting the unsuspecting nature of calamity and serving as a poignant backdrop for the tragedy that follows.
Job 1 14 Bonus section
- The immediate details of oxen and donkeys represent Job's primary sources of agricultural wealth and stability. Their loss immediately jeopardizes his entire livelihood.
- This verse, preceding the news of human casualties (servants and children), indicates a systematic and escalating assault orchestrated by Satan, starting with external possessions and moving inward.
- The depiction of the animals "plowing" and "feeding" emphasizes their inherent value through their productive engagement, making their loss all the more impactful as it isn't just a loss of property but a disruption of active industry.
- The swift succession of bad news, introduced by this messenger, sets up the narrative technique of Job's continuous psychological assault through isolation and the compounding of tragedy.
Job 1 14 Commentary
Job 1:14 serves as the critical turning point in the book of Job, shifting the narrative from Job's established blessedness to the beginning of his unparalleled suffering. It signals the implementation of the heavenly wager between God and Satan, though Job remains unaware of this cosmic backdrop. The specific details – oxen plowing and donkeys grazing – underscore the normalcy and routine of the daily activities being violently interrupted. This juxtaposition of peace and sudden destruction highlights that affliction can strike anyone, even the righteous, without warning or apparent immediate cause, directly challenging the conventional wisdom of retributive justice prevalent in ancient cultures. This initial loss, focusing on Job's valuable livestock and means of livelihood, systematically strips away his material security, preparing the way for even more grievous personal losses and theological struggles to come. The "messenger" figure establishes a pattern for the delivery of each devastating report, creating a narrative rhythm of escalating tension and despair.