Job 1 4

Job 1:4 kjv

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

Job 1:4 nkjv

And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Job 1:4 niv

His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Job 1:4 esv

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

Job 1:4 nlt

Job's sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them.

Job 1 verses

Job 1 4 Meaning

This verse describes a regular routine of feasting practiced by Job's sons in their individual homes. Each son would host a feast on his specific day, and they would consistently extend invitations to their three sisters to join them for food and drink. It portrays a scene of family unity and celebration, suggesting a close-knit and socially active household among Job's children.

Job 1 4 Context

Job 1:4 follows immediately after the initial description of Job's exceptional righteousness and immense prosperity (Job 1:1-3). This verse sets the stage by introducing his children and their routine social interactions, specifically their regular feasting. The scene depicts a family living in comfort and apparent harmony, enjoying the fruits of Job's prosperity. This peaceful and prosperous setting is crucial for the dramatic shift that begins in the very next verse (Job 1:5), where Job's spiritual anxieties concerning these very feasts become apparent, foreshadowing the impending trials that will challenge Job's piety and wealth. Historically and culturally, feasting was a common social activity, often marking significant events, celebrations, or simply fostering community. For the original audience, such scenes would paint a picture of wealth and domestic wellbeing, while also subtly preparing them for the underlying moral questions that Job will raise about the nature of prosperity and potential for sin within it.

Job 1 4 Word analysis

• His sons: Hebrew: bānāw (בָּנָיו), literally "his sons." This refers to Job's seven sons mentioned in Job 1:2. The phrasing establishes them as adult individuals with their own households and social lives, distinct from merely being children living under their father's roof.
• used to go: Hebrew: hāləḵū (הָלְכוּ), past tense of "to go," often implying a continuous or repeated action in narrative contexts like this, suggesting a habitual practice.
• and hold feasts: Hebrew: wəʿāśū mišṯeh (וְעָשׂוּ מִשְׁתֶּה). Mišṯeh means "a feast" or "drinking party." It encompasses eating and drinking, often in a festive setting. While it can denote pure celebration, it carries the potential for excess, especially given Job's later concern (1:5). The action of "holding" or "making" indicates the sons actively organized and hosted these events.
• in their houses: Hebrew: bəḇêṯō (בְּבֵיתוֹ). The singular possessive suffix ("his house") indicates that each son hosted the feast in his own individual dwelling, reinforcing their adult status and independent households, yet still within the family orbit.
• each on his day: Hebrew: ʾîš yōw̄mōw (אִישׁ יוֹמוֹ), literally "a man his day." This idiomatic expression denotes a rotation, where each son had a specific designated day for hosting the feast. Many scholars interpret this as possibly referring to their birthdays, which were celebrated occasions in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
• and they would send: Hebrew: wəšālḥū (וְשָׁלְחוּ), past tense of "to send," again indicating a habitual action. This shows a deliberate and organized invitation.
• and invite: Hebrew: wəqārʾū (וְקָרְאוּ), past tense of "to call/invite." This emphasizes their proactive effort to gather the entire family.
• their three sisters: Hebrew: šəlōš ʾăḥōṯêhem (שְׁלֹשׁ אֲחֹתֵיהֶם). The exact number corresponds to Job's three daughters mentioned in Job 1:2. This highlights the inclusivity of the gatherings, bringing the entire sibling group together. In a patriarchal society, the deliberate inclusion of the sisters speaks to a close family bond and mutual affection.
• to eat and drink with them: Hebrew: leʾĕḵōl wəlišṯōṯ ʿimmāhem (לֶאֱכֹל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת עִמָּהֶם). This clearly states the purpose of the gathering – to share food and drink, indicating fellowship and communal enjoyment. It provides the general nature of the feasts, setting the scene before Job's fears are revealed.

Words-group analysis:

• "His sons used to go and hold feasts in their houses, each on his day": This phrase paints a picture of routine, organized social life among Job's sons. The repetition ("used to go," "each on his day") underscores the consistent nature of these gatherings, implying prosperity, leisure, and perhaps a measure of independence from parental oversight. It also suggests a balanced and communal family dynamic among the sons themselves, taking turns in hosting.
• "and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them": This demonstrates the inclusiveness and strong familial bonds among Job's children. It signifies that the feasting was not exclusively a male gathering but a full family affair, highlighting mutual affection and fellowship among siblings, extending beyond gender roles often seen in ancient cultures. The act of "sending and inviting" suggests thoughtfulness and a desire for all to participate.

Job 1 4 Bonus section

• Symbolic numbers: Job 1:2 already mentioned seven sons and three daughters. The continuation here reinforces these symbolic numbers. Seven often represents completeness or perfection (spiritual or numerical) in the Bible, and three (for daughters) can also be seen as a significant number. The total of ten children highlights Job's great blessings and fullness of family.
• Contrast to societal norms: In some ancient Near Eastern societies, female participation in large public feasts or banquets was restricted. The explicit mention of the sisters being "sent for and invited" to eat and drink with them (the brothers) suggests a notable degree of integration and affection within Job's family, possibly a cultural nuance within the Land of Uz (where Job resided). This further enhances the picture of familial harmony.

Job 1 4 Commentary

Job 1:4 serves as a seemingly idyllic description of family life within Job's prosperous household, depicting his adult children engaging in regular social gatherings marked by shared meals and drinks. It conveys a sense of unity, leisure, and a generally pleasant domestic scene. The detail of "each on his day" implies a systematic, perhaps rotational, feasting schedule, possibly connected to their birthdays or specific events. The deliberate inclusion of their three sisters highlights a commendable degree of sibling affection and inclusiveness, going beyond mere formality to foster genuine communal joy. However, this outwardly benign image immediately gives way to a deeper theological concern in the subsequent verse (Job 1:5). The descriptive neutrality of verse 4 is contrasted sharply by Job's subsequent spiritual anxiety, underscoring the biblical tension between innocent enjoyment and the potential for human sin, even within seemingly good activities. This initial portrait of normalcy and prosperity sets the perfect stage for the profound trials that are about to disrupt Job's ordered world, revealing the vulnerability of earthly blessings and the hidden spiritual realities that can permeate human experiences, even feasts.