Job 2:1 kjv
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
Job 2:1 nkjv
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
Job 2:1 niv
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.
Job 2:1 esv
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.
Job 2:1 nlt
One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.
Job 2 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Heavenly Council / Divine Assembly | ||
| Job 1:6 | "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them." | First identical scene of heavenly court |
| 1 Ki 22:19-22 | "I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him..." | Micaiah's vision of divine council and messengers |
| Ps 82:1 | "God takes his stand in the divine assembly; he judges in the midst of the gods." | God's rule over divine beings in assembly |
| Jer 23:18 | "For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD...?" | References to prophetic participation in divine council |
| Ps 89:7 | "God is greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones..." | God's awe and reverence among heavenly beings |
| Ps 103:20-21 | "Bless the LORD, O you his angels... all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!" | Angels as servants in heavenly assembly |
| Role of Ha-Satan (The Accuser/Adversary) | ||
| Zech 3:1-2 | "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him." | Satan acting as accuser of Joshua |
| Rev 12:10 | "...the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God." | Satan as constant accuser of believers |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." | Satan as the spiritual enemy seeking to destroy |
| Lk 22:31 | "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat." | Satan seeking permission to test/sift Peter |
| Num 22:22 | "But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand as an adversary against him." | Angel of the LORD acting as an adversary (satan) |
| God's Sovereignty Over Evil/Suffering | ||
| Job 1:12 | "The LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power; only against him do not stretch out your hand.'" | God setting specific limits on Satan's actions |
| Job 2:6 | "And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.'" | God imposing further limits, even over life |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." | God as ultimate creator and controller of all events |
| Prov 16:4 | "The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." | God's predetermined purpose even for wickedness |
| Rom 9:17-18 | "...For this very purpose I have raised you up... He has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills." | God's sovereign control over even rebellious hearts |
| Acts 4:27-28 | "...to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." | God's predetermined plan encompassing human evil |
| James 1:2-4 | "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." | Trials permitted by God to produce maturity |
| Nature of "Sons of God" (Benei HaElohim) | ||
| Gen 6:2, 4 | "the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive... The Nephilim were on the earth... when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man..." | Angelic interpretation often debated, but points to non-human beings |
| Ps 29:1 | "Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength." (often "sons of God" in Hebrew) | "Sons of God" referring to divine/angelic beings |
| Heb 1:6-7 | "...He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.'" | Angels as spiritual beings serving God |
| Jude 1:6 | "And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority..." | Fallen angels mentioned, distinguishing them from humanity |
Job 2 verses
Job 2 1 Meaning
Job 2:1 describes a second gathering of the heavenly assembly, akin to the one presented in Job 1:6. In this divine court, the "sons of God"—angelic beings—once again presented themselves before the LORD (Yahweh), and notably, "the Adversary" (Satan) also appeared among them. This reiterates the prior event, underscoring that Satan still functions within God's domain and under His ultimate sovereignty.
Job 2 1 Context
Job 2:1 immediately follows the conclusion of Job's first test, where he loses his possessions and children but remains faithful (Job 1:21-22). The verse functions as a deliberate reiteration of the heavenly court scene, providing the narrative backdrop for the second, more severe, wave of Job's suffering. This second encounter between God and Satan sets in motion the affliction upon Job's physical body. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern mythologies often depicted various gods or divine beings assembling in a council, often under a chief deity. The Book of Job adopts this motif but critically redefines it: there is one sovereign God (Yahweh) who presides supreme, and even "the Adversary" is subordinate to His will. This scene serves as a theological polemic against polytheistic or dualistic notions where evil powers might be co-equal with the ultimate divine authority. Instead, all beings, including adversarial ones, operate only within the confines of God's permissive will.
Job 2 1 Word analysis
- Again (וַיְהִי יוֹם - vayhî yôm): Literally "And there was a day." This phrase signifies a new or renewed event of a similar nature to a previous one, not a single instance, but a recurrent pattern of divine administration. Its repetition from Job 1:6 signals the start of another, distinct but related, phase in Job's testing.
- there was a day: Denotes a regular or specific occasion rather than an unexpected anomaly. This suggests the heavenly court is an established component of divine governance.
- the sons of God (בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים - benei ha'elohim): This Hebrew phrase consistently refers to divine or angelic beings, not human descendants of Seth or other human lineages in this context. They are members of the heavenly host, functioning in God's presence.
- came to present themselves (לְהִתְיַצֵּב - l'hityatsev): From the Hithpael stem of the root יָצַב (yatsav), meaning "to take one's stand," "to station oneself," "to be present for duty or inspection." It implies accountability and submission to the Divine authority, similar to a formal report or muster.
- before the LORD (עַל יְהוָה - al YHWH): YHWH (Yahweh) is the sacred covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship and absolute sovereignty. The "sons of God" and even Satan come "upon" or "in the presence of" this supreme, personal God.
- and Satan (וְהַשָּׂטָן - vehaśśāṭān): The definite article "הַ" (ha-) renders it "the accuser" or "the adversary" rather than a proper name, indicating his function within the heavenly court. He is presented as a specific kind of divine agent, albeit one with an opposing role. He is not independent but appears before Yahweh.
- came also among them: Indicates Satan is not an outside, renegade force operating autonomously, but rather integrated into (though certainly distinct in purpose from) the heavenly assembly. He has access to God's presence and operates within a divine sphere of permission, highlighting God's ultimate control.
Job 2 1 Bonus section
- The structure of Job 1-2 serves as a "prologue" in prose, distinct from the central poetic dialogues. This frames the core theological debate and grounds it in a specific narrative of divine-human interaction, revealing a cosmic drama behind human suffering.
- The portrayal of "Ha-Satan" in Job contrasts significantly with later post-exilic and New Testament developments, where "Satan" evolves into a specific, named entity—the arch-enemy of God and humanity, synonymous with evil itself. In Job, "the Adversary" is primarily a divine prosecutor, a functionary in the heavenly court whose role is to test the faithfulness of humanity before God, demonstrating that even opposing forces serve God's broader design.
- This verse underscores a key theme: God permits evil, but He does not initiate it, nor is He complicit in its malevolence. Evil agents like "the Adversary" are confined by God's decree, illustrating His unparalleled dominion over all creation, visible and invisible. This counters any dualistic notion that pits good and evil forces as equals.
Job 2 1 Commentary
Job 2:1 is pivotal as it initiates the next phase of Job's ordeal, stemming from a second session of the heavenly council. The recurrence of this scene, mirroring Job 1:6, immediately establishes that Satan operates with God's permission and within His sovereign oversight. "The Adversary" is neither omnipotent nor omniscient; he must present himself to God, report, and receive specific boundaries for his actions. This divine supervision is a critical theological assertion, demonstrating that God is never blindsided or overpowered by evil, but rather orchestrates or permits even the malicious intents of Satan for higher, often mysterious, purposes. The suffering of Job is thus rooted not in his sin (as assumed by his friends) but in a divinely permitted test, underscoring God's absolute sovereignty and the deeper dimensions of human suffering and divine purpose. This scene challenges simplistic retribution theology by showcasing suffering as a means for God to reveal His glory and the purity of a servant's faith.