Job 1 15

Job 1:15 kjv

And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:15 nkjv

when the Sabeans raided them and took them away?indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:15 niv

and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:15 esv

and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:15 nlt

when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

Job 1 verses

Job 1 15 Meaning

Job 1:15 records the first devastating blow in Job's testing: an attack by the Sabeans on Job's oxen and donkeys, resulting in their theft and the violent slaughter of his servants by the sword. Only one servant escaped to report the catastrophe to Job. This verse introduces immediate, shocking calamity after a depiction of Job's profound righteousness and prosperity, marking the beginning of his unparalleled suffering.

Job 1 15 Context

Job 1:15 occurs at the outset of Job's profound suffering, immediately after the unseen celestial dialogue between God and Satan. Job has just been introduced as a man of unparalleled righteousness and immense wealth (Job 1:1-5). The preceding verses (Job 1:6-12) describe Satan's challenge to God regarding Job's integrity, implying Job only serves God because of the blessings he receives. God grants Satan permission to test Job by affecting his possessions, but not his person. Verse 15 marks the first direct, tangible consequence of this divine permission and Satan's malicious intent. It is the initial devastating blow among a series of four calamitous reports delivered in rapid succession by sole survivors, aimed at stripping Job of his worldly blessings and shattering his composure. Historically and culturally, Job is set in the patriarchal age, evidenced by Job's direct priestly role in offering sacrifices and his wealth being measured in livestock. The "land of Uz" was likely located in the region of Edom or Northern Arabia. The Sabeans were an actual people group from Southern Arabia, known for trade but also, as depicted here, for raiding activities. This verse reflects the prevalent dangers of sudden, violent banditry on ancient trade routes or against vulnerable communities.

Job 1 15 Word analysis

• And the Sabeans (וּשְׁבָא - ū-šḇā’): "Sabeans" refers to the people from Sheba. In this context, they are not the traders of luxury goods typically associated with the Queen of Sheba, but marauding, nomadic tribes from the Arabian desert. They serve as human instruments in the orchestrated attack on Job, highlighting that even hostile, foreign powers can be permitted agents within God's broader, though often mysterious, plan.
• fell upon them (נָפְלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם - nāph·lū ‘ă·lê·hem): The verb naphal (נָפַל) literally means "to fall" but idiomatically, when paired with "upon," signifies a sudden, violent, overwhelming attack or ambush. It emphasizes the unprovoked, swift, and brutal nature of the raid, giving no time for defense or escape.
• and took them away (וַיִּקָּחוּם - way·yiq·qā·ḥūm): The verb laqach (לָקַח) means "to take, seize, acquire." Here, it specifically means to plunder and carry off. It refers to Job's oxen and donkeys (mentioned in the preceding verse) being stolen, representing a significant loss of wealth and a foundation of his agricultural economy.
• yea, they have slain (וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִים הִכּוּ - wə’et-han·nə‘ā·rîm hik·kū): "Yea" (וְאֶת, we’et) introduces a compounding of the calamity, elevating it from mere property loss to the much graver loss of life. Hikku (הִכּוּ), from nakah (נָכָה), means "to strike, smite, kill." "Servants" (הַנְּעָרִים, hanə‘ārîm) refers to young men or attendants who were tending the livestock. This highlights the brutal efficiency and ruthlessness of the Sabeans' attack.
• with the edge of the sword (לְפִי־חָרֶב - lə·p̄î-ḥā·reḇ): Literally translated as "to the mouth of the sword." This is a common Hebrew idiom denoting death inflicted by a sharp, cutting weapon, signifying slaughter rather than mere killing. It emphasizes the violence, intentionality, and complete devastation of human life.
• and I only am escaped (וָאֶמָּלְטָה אֲנִי לְבַדִּי - wā·’em·māl·ṭāh ’ă·nî lə·ḇad·dî): Emmalṭāh (אֶמָּלְטָה), from malat (מָלַט), means "to escape narrowly, slip away, deliver oneself." "Only I" (אֲנִי לְבַדִּי, anî ləvađđî) emphasizes the sole survival of the messenger, conveying the utter completeness of the destruction inflicted on Job's servants, enhancing the horror and the impact of the news.
• alone (לְבַדִּי - lə·ḇad·dî): Reinforces the messenger's solitary escape, underlining the magnitude of the disaster where virtually all others perished.
• to tell thee (לְהַגִּיד לָךְ - lə·hag·gîḏ lāḵ): Haggîd (לְהַגִּיד), from nagad (נָגַד), means "to report, declare, make known." This states the messenger's direct and urgent purpose: to be the bearer of the tragic news. It underscores the immediate delivery of this devastating first report.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away": This phrase concisely details the external aggressor, the swift, forceful attack, and the initial, significant act of plunder – the theft of Job's most basic forms of wealth. It sets a rapid, chaotic pace for the unfolding disasters.
• "yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword": This escalation from material loss to loss of human life underscores the true severity and brutality of the raid. The "edge of the sword" idiom graphically conveys the violent and merciless nature of the killings, emphasizing the profound tragedy of so many lives extinguished.
• "and I only am escaped alone to tell thee": This final clause heightens the drama and tragedy. The singularity of the survivor, escaping against overwhelming odds, authenticates the news and amplifies the scale of destruction. It ensures Job receives the news directly, setting the stage for his immediate reaction and the narrative's central questions about suffering.

Job 1 15 Bonus section

• Purpose of the Lone Survivor: The consistent detail of only one servant escaping in each of the four reports (Job 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:19) is a narrative device. It ensures no overlapping testimony, maximizes the dramatic impact of each unique calamity, and serves to isolate Job's experience of grief by removing potential companions in sorrow or verification of details. Each report is a distinct, concentrated blow.
• Human Instruments of Satan's Will: While Job's immediate tormentors are the Sabeans, God allowed Satan to wield this human evil as a tool in Job's testing (Job 1:12). This shows that God's sovereignty extends even to permitting wicked human acts to fulfill His ultimate, often incomprehensible, purposes.
• Immediate Consequence of Spiritual Conflict: The rapid unfolding of these disasters highlights the immediate and physical ramifications of the spiritual conflict taking place between God and Satan, underscoring that unseen battles can have very real-world effects.

Job 1 15 Commentary

Job 1:15 functions as the sudden, shocking disruption of Job's perfect world. It is the tangible manifestation of Satan's allowed test, delivered through the unexpected, violent actions of the Sabeans. The verse immediately transitions from Job's unparalleled prosperity and piety to a devastating assault on his assets and, more significantly, the lives of his household. The brutal description of servants "slain with the edge of the sword" emphasizes the indiscriminate and extreme nature of the violence. The arrival of the lone survivor serves a crucial narrative purpose: to ensure the news is delivered with immediate, stark impact, stripping Job of his comfortable illusion of security. This calamity, coming without warning, fundamentally challenges the simplistic theological view that righteousness guarantees only blessing, thus setting the stage for the profound exploration of unmerited suffering in the Book of Job.