Job 1 19

Job 1:19 kjv

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:19 nkjv

and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:19 niv

when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

Job 1:19 esv

and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Job 1:19 nlt

Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

Job 1 verses

Job 1 19 Meaning

Job 1:19 describes the most devastating of Job's initial trials: a great wind from the wilderness that struck the house where his ten children were feasting, causing it to collapse and kill them all. This single verse communicates the utter destruction of Job's family and the complete loss of his children, delivered by the sole survivor of the event, signifying the pinnacle of his sudden, overwhelming suffering.

Job 1 19 Context

Job 1:19 is the final and most grievous report received by Job concerning the destruction of his family and property. Earlier in Job chapter 1, Job is introduced as a man of unparalleled righteousness and prosperity. He diligently offered sacrifices for his ten children, who often feasted together. In a heavenly council, Satan challenges God, accusing Job of serving Him only because of His blessings. God permits Satan to test Job by stripping him of everything he has, short of harming Job himself. Verses 13-17 detail three distinct disasters: Sabeans stealing oxen and donkeys and killing servants, God's fire (likely lightning) burning sheep and more servants, and Chaldeans raiding camels and killing yet more servants. Each report is delivered by a sole survivor. Job 1:19 is the culmination of these attacks, specifically targeting his children, thereby removing the core of Job's comfort and legacy. This verse establishes the profound level of suffering Job experiences, setting the stage for the rest of the book's theological dialogue. Historically, children were considered the greatest blessing, and their complete loss, especially in such a sudden and violent manner, represented an unimaginable tragedy in ancient Near Eastern culture.

Job 1 19 Word analysis

• and behold (וְהִנֵּה, wəhinnêh): This interjection immediately grabs attention, indicating something sudden, shocking, and profoundly significant is about to be revealed. It prepares the hearer for an impactful declaration.
• a great wind (רוּחַ גְּדוֹלָה, ruach gədôlâ): Ruach can denote wind, spirit, or breath. Here, it explicitly refers to a physically powerful storm. The descriptor "great" emphasizes its immense force and destructive capability, echoing natural phenomena that were often perceived as expressions of divine power (e.g., God controlling winds in Ps 104:4). Though Satan is the instigator here, God permits its manifestation.
• came from across the wilderness (מֵעֵבֶר הַמִּדְבָּר, mē‘ēver hammidbār): The wilderness (midbār) often carries connotations of desolation, wildness, or even the abode of evil spirits in biblical thought (e.g., Lk 11:24). Its origin from the wilderness suggests an uncontrolled, formidable, and perhaps malevolent force beyond the civilized sphere.
• and struck (וַיִּפְגַּע, wayyiphga‘): A forceful verb indicating a violent impact or collision. It conveys the directness and suddenness of the wind's assault on the house.
• the four corners (אַרְבַּע פִּנּוֹת, ’arba‘ pinnôt): Symbolizes a complete, total, and encompassing assault. It was not a localized hit but an overwhelming force from all directions, ensuring the utter destruction of the structure. This phrasing often denotes comprehensiveness or entirety (e.g., Jer 49:36, Rev 7:1).
• of the house (הַבָּיִת, habbāyiṯ): This specific house was the dwelling where Job's children were holding their feast (Job 1:4). It represents security, joy, and the very foundation of family life. Its destruction signifies the shattering of Job's domestic well-being and his children's lives.
• and it fell (וַיִּפֹּל, wayyippōl): Indicates a swift, irreversible collapse. The sudden falling emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the disaster, leaving no time or means of escape.
• on the young people (עַל־הַנְּעָרִים, ‘al-hannə‘ārîm): Refers to Job's children, both sons and daughters, as detailed in Job 1:4. This phrase directly points to the horrific consequence of the collapse: the death of his children. It highlights their vulnerability and the indiscriminate nature of the tragedy.
• and they died (וַיָּמוּתוּ, wayyāmmûṯû): A stark, blunt statement confirming the complete and final loss of all Job's children. There is no ambiguity or hope for survival conveyed.
• and I alone have escaped (וָאִמָּלְטָה אֲנִי לְבַדִּי, wā’immālṭâ ’ănî ləvađî): This recurring phrase across all four disaster reports emphasizes the miraculous, singular survival of a messenger to bear witness. It highlights the absolute totality of the destruction for everyone else involved.
• to tell you (לְהַגִּיד לָךְ, ləhaggîđ lâḵ): States the messenger's purpose and the terrible necessity of delivering this painful news directly to Job. It makes the suffering personal and undeniable.

Words-group analysis:

• "a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house": This phrase details the method and extent of destruction. The source ("wilderness") and direction ("four corners") describe an unstoppable, comprehensive, and potentially supernatural force (allowed by God but used by Satan), rather than a localized weather event. It contrasts the chaotic wilderness with the security of the home.
• "it fell on the young people, and they died": This is the devastating result of the calamity. The passive voice ("it fell") underscores the power of the wind over the house, and the house over the vulnerable children. The blunt declaration of death ("they died") emphasizes the finality of their fate. This directly targets the heart of Job's identity as a father.
• "I alone have escaped to tell you": This recurring narrative device intensifies the cumulative shock. It ensures the terrible news reaches Job directly and undeniably, highlighting that all others involved perished, making the messenger's survival almost eerie and indicative of a purpose for Job's immediate knowledge of his overwhelming loss.

Job 1 19 Bonus section

The specific location of the children "feasting" (Job 1:4) makes their demise in 1:19 particularly poignant. It implies they were in a state of happiness and celebration when death suddenly struck. This contrasts the previous calamities, which targeted assets and less immediate members of Job's household, with this ultimate blow directly impacting his progeny and future. The pattern of messenger reports in Job 1 is meticulously crafted, building in severity from possessions, to servants, and finally to children. The "great wind" (a natural force) following the "fire of God" (a seemingly divine phenomenon, possibly lightning) and raids (human actions) broadens the scope of calamity, indicating that all facets of existence, whether natural, seemingly divine, or human, are subject to this overwhelming assault, all ultimately permitted by divine counsel. This challenges the common assumption that all natural disasters are direct expressions of divine wrath against specific individuals, pointing instead to a cosmic battle and deeper purposes known only to God.

Job 1 19 Commentary

Job 1:19 is the culminating tragedy in the initial onslaught of suffering unleashed upon Job. It's designed to be the most severe blow, targeting Job's children—the very symbol of his blessed lineage and future. The "great wind" and its origin from the "wilderness," coupled with striking "the four corners," evoke an elemental, total, and possibly malevolent force. While the immediate cause is the wind, the narrative in the preceding verses (Job 1:6-12) establishes that this "natural disaster" is an instrument in Satan's hand, permitted by God for the purpose of testing Job's integrity. The choice of his children's feasting house for this calamity underscores their vulnerability in a moment of presumed joy and safety. The concise declaration, "they died," conveys absolute finality and loss, plunging Job into the depths of unimaginable grief. This verse powerfully shatters any simplistic notion of a direct, causal link between righteousness and material prosperity, setting the stage for the profound theological questions and debates about innocent suffering that form the core of the book of Job. It starkly presents the complete destruction of Job's worldly comforts and family, isolating him and preparing him for his journey of questioning and faith.