Job 1 16

Job 1:16 kjv

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:16 nkjv

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:16 niv

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:16 esv

While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:16 nlt

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

Job 1 verses

Job 1 16 Meaning

Job 1:16 describes the second wave of disaster that strikes Job, immediately following the first. A messenger reports that "the fire of God" fell from heaven, incinerating Job's vast flock of sheep and their attending servants. This event signifies a sudden, massive loss of wealth and human life, explicitly attributed to divine agency by the messenger, emphasizing the profound and seemingly supernatural nature of the catastrophe. It continues the pattern of devastating blows intended to test Job's faithfulness.

Job 1 16 Context

Job chapter 1 introduces Job as a blameless and upright man, exceptionally wealthy and blessed by God. Satan, however, challenges God's assessment, claiming Job's righteousness is contingent on his prosperity. God grants Satan permission to test Job, stipulating only that Job's life must be spared. Job 1:13-19 describes four successive, sudden, and complete disasters, each reported by a lone messenger, striking Job's children, servants, and all his immense livestock. This verse, Job 1:16, details the second disaster: the catastrophic loss of sheep and shepherds due to "fire of God." This rapid succession of devastating news highlights the intense and overwhelming nature of Job's trial, moving from theft by raiders (Sabeans) to natural catastrophe (fire from heaven) attributed to divine action, escalating the sense of divinely ordained affliction against an unsuspecting, righteous individual. The historical context reflects a world where natural phenomena like lightning were often interpreted as direct manifestations of divine power or judgment, distinct from human actions, intensifying the perceived blow.

Job 1 16 Word analysis

• While he was still speaking: This phrase emphasizes the unrelenting, immediate, and compounding nature of the disasters. There is no respite; the blows fall one upon another, designed to maximize the shock and grief.
• another messenger: Indicates a new, distinct calamity from the first, further suggesting a widespread, systematic attack. This repetition of messengers delivering successive bad news highlights the literary structure of the unfolding tragedy.
• came: The arrival is sudden and urgent, underscoring the severity of the tidings he bears.
• and said: Introduces the direct report of the new calamity.
• ‘The fire of God’: In Hebrew, ’ēsh ’ĕlōhîm (אֵשׁ אֱלֹהִים). This is typically translated as "lightning" (as in Exod 9:23, where fire accompanies hail), but its literal meaning "fire of God" imbues it with profound theological significance. It points to a direct, supernatural cause originating from God, even though the text of Job reveals Satan as the orchestrator. For Job and the messengers, this was understood as divine action, often associated with judgment or powerful manifestation (Exod 9:24; Lev 10:2; 2 Kin 1:10-12). It directly counters any belief that such powerful natural phenomena are random or under the control of lesser deities; it asserts Yahweh's supreme sovereignty.
• fell from heaven: This reinforces the supernatural and inescapable origin of the "fire." It highlights the belief that celestial phenomena were often controlled by divine forces. It implies no earthly means of stopping it.
• and burned up: The intensity and thoroughness of the destruction are emphasized. This wasn't merely damage; it was complete consumption.
• the sheep: Representing a significant portion of Job's agricultural wealth. The loss of such a large number of a vital resource would be economically ruinous in that culture.
• and the servants: This adds the profound tragedy of human life lost, showing the extent of the disaster. These servants were Job's dependants, furthering the personal impact.
• and consumed them: Reiteration of "burned up," highlighting the complete obliteration. There was nothing left; the destruction was absolute.
• I alone have escaped to tell you!: This repeated phrase (also in vv. 15, 17, 19) is a powerful literary device in Job. It serves several purposes: it ensures the news reaches Job directly, emphasizes the complete destruction of all others involved, and intensifies the solitary nature of Job's suffering. The very fact that there is only one survivor makes the loss more poignant and real for Job, leaving no doubt about the totality of the disaster.

Job 1 16 Bonus section

The immediate attribution of the calamity to "fire of God" implies that the messenger, and by extension Job, would likely interpret this not as an accident but as a deliberate act of divine judgment. This pre-Biblical era often saw natural disasters as direct acts of gods. The specific mention of sheep (animals associated with sacrifice and purity) being consumed by fire from heaven could implicitly, though erroneously, suggest a ritualistic or punitive divine action, raising profound questions about Job’s own righteousness. The succession of distinct messengers, each bearing catastrophic news of different origins (human attack, natural disaster), prevents Job from attributing all his losses to a single, localized event. Each incident stands on its own as a direct, crushing blow. This carefully constructed narrative pushes Job to the very edge, demonstrating the immense spiritual pressure placed upon him by Satan, with God's ultimate oversight.

Job 1 16 Commentary

Job 1:16 intensifies the unfolding tragedy, portraying God's permission to Satan as manifesting through what appears to be divine wrath. The description "fire of God fell from heaven" would have been perceived by Job and the surrounding culture as an unequivocal act of God, akin to the judgments seen in Genesis and Exodus, or Elijah calling fire from heaven. This attribution, despite Satan's unseen hand, compounds the mystery and severity of Job's trial; it's not mere natural disaster, but seemingly direct divine assault. The swiftness, scale, and supernatural quality of this destruction of a precious resource and human lives underscore the relentless nature of Job’s test. It seeks to provoke a question in Job's mind: if prosperity came from God, why this destructive power? This verse sets the stage for Job’s deep struggle, grappling with divine justice and the meaning of innocent suffering. It tests whether Job's faith is for what God provides, or for God Himself, even when the hand of provision seems to be the hand of destruction.