Job 1 3

Job 1:3 kjv

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Job 1:3 nkjv

Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.

Job 1:3 niv

and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Job 1:3 esv

He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.

Job 1:3 nlt

He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

Job 1 verses

Job 1 3 Meaning

Job 1:3 enumerates Job's immense material wealth, establishing his status as an exceedingly prosperous and influential figure. His vast holdings in livestock, along with a very large household, highlight him as an exceptionally blessed individual, quantitatively demonstrating his prominence and unique position among the peoples of the East.

Job 1 3 Context

Job 1:3 follows directly from the initial introduction of Job in verse 1 as a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil. Verse 2 briefly mentions his seven sons and three daughters. This verse (1:3) then shifts to detailing his substantial material assets. By first establishing Job's exemplary spiritual character and family, the narrative then emphatically describes his profound material prosperity. This sequence creates a critical backdrop for the theological drama that unfolds: the subsequent devastation Job faces is particularly shocking because it targets a man who is not only righteous but also demonstrably blessed in every conceivable earthly way. In the ancient Near East, vast livestock and a large household were primary indicators of wealth, power, and divine favor, highlighting Job's esteemed position among his contemporaries. The phrase "greatest of all the people of the East" is a hyperbolic summary statement, underscoring his unparalleled regional renown and preeminence before his calamitous suffering.

Job 1 3 Word analysis

• His possessions (וּמִקְנֵהוּ, ūmiqnehu): The Hebrew word miqneh specifically refers to livestock, indicating that Job's wealth was primarily rooted in animal husbandry, typical of patriarchal wealth in ancient societies. This establishes his economic foundation.
• seven thousand sheep (שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים צֹאן, shivʿat ʾalaphim tsoʾn):
  • Seven: In biblical numerology, the number seven often signifies completeness, perfection, or fullness, further emphasizing the absolute totality of Job's blessings in sheep.
  • Sheep: Essential for sustenance (meat, milk), clothing (wool), and a primary form of mobile wealth. The large number denotes immense prosperity.
• three thousand camels (שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים גְּמַלִּים, shlōsheth ʾalaphim gəmallim):
  • Three: Can signify emphasis, stability, or completeness in biblical contexts.
  • Camels: Extremely valuable animals in arid regions for transport, trade, and even milk; possessing such a large number signifies a very high economic and social standing, capable of significant long-distance commerce.
• five hundred yoke of oxen (חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת צֶמֶד בָּקָר, ḥamesh meʾot tsemed baqar):
  • Yoke: Refers to a pair of oxen, typically used for plowing or drawing heavy loads. This indicates substantial agricultural operations and productive land under Job's control.
  • Oxen: Vital for tilling soil and other agricultural tasks, signifying extensive farming wealth.
• and five hundred female donkeys (וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אֲתוֹנוֹת, waḥamesh meʾot ʾatōnot):
  • Female donkeys: Highly valued for breeding, carrying light loads, and providing milk. Their presence further illustrates Job's diversified and substantial wealth.
• and he had a very large household (וַעֲבֻדָּה רַבָּה מְאֹד, waʿavuddah rabbah mʾōd):
  • Household (ʿavuddah): This term encompasses not only Job's immediate family but also a multitude of servants, laborers, and dependents under his authority. It signifies immense social influence, managerial capacity, and the resources to sustain many people, marking him as a significant patriarch or tribal leader.
  • Very large: The Hebrew rabah me'od emphatically conveys an exceptional size and scale beyond ordinary.
• so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East (וַיְהִי הָאִישׁ הַהוּא גָּדוֹל מִכָּל־בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם, wayehi haʾish hahu gadol mikkol-bəney-qedem):
  • Greatest (gadol): Indicates preeminence not just in wealth, but in social standing, influence, and reputation. It establishes him as unparalleled in his region.
  • People of the East (beney-qedem): This collective term refers to various nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes inhabiting areas to the east of Canaan, likely Mesopotamia or the Arabian desert. This phrase asserts Job's renown extended beyond his immediate locale to a broad regional scope, intensifying the impact of his coming trials on his celebrated status.

Job 1 3 Bonus section

The highly rounded and large numbers presented (7,000, 3,000, 500) serve to emphasize the overwhelming magnitude of Job's wealth rather than acting as precise inventory figures. These are exemplary, not exhaustive, details designed to impress upon the reader the absolute maximum of earthly blessing. The types of animals listed suggest that Job lived in an economy dependent on pastoralism and agriculture, indicative of a tribal, nomadic, or semi-nomadic patriarchal leader, aligning with cultural knowledge of the "people of the East" during ancient times. This economic context highlights his deeply integrated connection with the natural world, which further contextualizes God's later speech from the whirlwind regarding creation.

Job 1 3 Commentary

Job 1:3 paints a vivid picture of Job's extraordinary prosperity, underscoring his blessed status prior to the book's unfolding drama. The meticulous enumeration of his livestock—sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys—is not mere detail but a powerful depiction of a man favored by God with superabundant resources, which was considered a visible sign of divine blessing in the ancient world. The inclusion of a "very large household" further emphasizes his social power, influence, and the sheer number of dependents under his care. The culminating declaration that he "was the greatest of all the people of the East" succinctly encapsulates his unparalleled standing and regional renown. This lavish description is critical to the Book of Job's theological challenge, as it elevates Job's status so dramatically that his subsequent, undeserved suffering becomes all the more profound, raising the ultimate question: Why do the righteous suffer? This initial portrayal magnifies the divine dilemma at the heart of the narrative.