Job 2 10

Job 2:10 kjv

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 2:10 nkjv

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job 2:10 niv

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job 2:10 esv

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job 2:10 nlt

But Job replied, "You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

Job 2 verses

Job 2 10 Meaning

Job 2:10 portrays Job's steadfast faith and integrity in the face of profound adversity. Despite losing his children and possessions and now suffering from grievous physical pain, he refuses to succumb to despair or blasphemy. When his wife suggests he curse God and die, Job rebukes her, articulating a profound theological truth: believers must accept both blessings (good) and misfortunes (adversity) as coming from God's hand. In this moment of intense trial, Job's verbal integrity remains unbroken, validating his righteousness against the accuser's challenge.

Job 2 10 Context

Job 2:10 occurs after Job has lost all his children, possessions, and health, now afflicted with terrible boils from head to foot (v. 7). He is sitting among ashes, scraping himself with a piece of pottery, in utter physical agony and emotional distress. His wife, witnessing his deplorable state, urged him to "Curse God and die" (v. 9). This verse captures Job's immediate and resolute response to this ultimate temptation. Within the broader narrative of Job, this moment is pivotal as it directly answers the accuser's (Satan's) charge in Job 1:11 and 2:5 that Job would curse God to His face if afflicted. Historically, Job's understanding stands in contrast to the simplistic retribution theology prevalent in the Ancient Near East, which presumed that suffering was always a direct consequence of sin. Job's unmerited suffering, and his response, directly challenges this belief.

Job 2 10 Word analysis

• "But he said to her" (וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלֶיהָ - vayyomer 'eleiha): An immediate, firm response, underscoring Job's resolve even in his debilitated state. It highlights the direct confrontation of perspectives between husband and wife.
• "'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.'" (כְּדַבֵּר אַחַת הַנְּבָלוֹת תְּדַבֵּרִי - kəḏabbēr 'aḥaṯ hannəḇālōṯ təḏabbērî):
  • "Foolish" (הַנְּבָלוֹת - hannəḇālōṯ): This word, derived from naval (נָבָל), denotes more than mere lack of intelligence. It refers to someone morally base, impious, senseless in a spiritual or ethical sense, one who acts despicably or contemptibly toward God or humanity. It carries connotations of depravity and godlessness, as seen in Ps 14:1 ("The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"). Job's rebuke implies his wife's words were not merely ill-advised but demonstrated a profound lack of spiritual discernment and an implicit abandonment of faith.
• "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (גַּם אֶת־הַטּוֹב נְקַבֵּל מֵאֵת הָאֱלֹהִים וְאֶת־הָרָע לֹא נְקַבֵּל - gam 'et-haṭṭōwḇ nəqabbēl mê'ēṯ hā'ĕlōhîm wə'et-hārāʿ lō' nəqabbēl):
  • "Accept" (נְקַבֵּל - nəqabbēl): To receive, to take. It implies not just passive reception but also acknowledgment and endurance.
  • "Good" (הַטּוֹב - haṭṭōwḇ): Refers to prosperity, blessings, well-being, everything desirable received from God.
  • "Adversity" (הָרָע - hārāʿ): This word denotes evil in the sense of calamity, misfortune, disaster, suffering. It refers to a negative experience or outcome, not moral wickedness on God's part. Job acknowledges God as the source of both favorable and unfavorable circumstances. This is a profound statement of divine sovereignty, affirming God's right to act according to His will and the human responsibility to respond with trust, regardless of the nature of the circumstances.
  • This phrase acts as a rhetorical question, emphasizing the illogical and faithless nature of accepting only blessings while rejecting hardships from the same divine source. It asserts a balanced understanding of divine providence.
• "In all this Job did not sin with his lips." (בְּכָל־זֹאת לֹא־חָטָא אִיּוֹב בִּשְׂפָתָיו - bəkol-zo'ṯ lō'-ḥāṭā' 'îyôḇ biśfāṯāyw):
  • "In all this" (בְּכָל־זֹאת - bəkol-zo'ṯ): This phrase sums up all his sufferings—loss, pain, and his wife's discouraging counsel. It signifies the complete scope of his trial up to this point.
  • "Did not sin" (לֹא חָטָא - lo' chāṭā'): He did not transgress, stumble, or err. Specifically, his response aligns with God's will. This directly refutes the accuser's challenge in Job 1:11 and 2:5 that Job would "curse God."
  • "With his lips" (בִּשְׂפָתָיו - biśfāṯāyw): The emphasis on "lips" is crucial. The accuser specifically prophesied that Job would curse God to His face (Job 1:11, 2:5), which is done verbally. Job's maintaining control of his words, refusing to utter a blasphemous curse, is a primary demonstration of his integrity in this test. It highlights the importance of what one says during trials (Ps 39:1, Jas 3:2).

Job 2 10 Bonus section

The scene in Job 2:10 showcases a dramatic moment of spiritual warfare fought not on a battlefield but within Job's own home, with his wife serving (unwittingly) as an instrument of temptation, much like Eve or Peter. Job's firmness, despite extreme pain and the voice of a trusted companion, points to an extraordinary divine enabling grace. His response also prefigures Christ, who similarly suffered innocently, was tempted, and maintained perfect obedience and integrity. This narrative demonstrates that true faith is tested in the crucible of suffering and proven not by an absence of pain, but by unwavering trust in the One who allows it. Job's choice validates that suffering can deepen, rather than destroy, one's relationship with God when met with trust and spiritual understanding.

Job 2 10 Commentary

Job 2:10 marks a monumental demonstration of Job's unwavering piety and spiritual maturity. While his friends will later accuse him of hidden sin, and he himself will grapple deeply with God's perceived injustice, here he exemplifies true worship. His response to his wife highlights the core tension of faith: how does one reconcile a loving, sovereign God with immense suffering? Job understands that divine prerogative extends to both pleasant and painful experiences. He teaches that gratitude for "good" must extend to submission during "adversity," acknowledging God's hand in all of life's provisions. This verse counters the accuser's claim, proving Job's faithfulness was not transactional but deeply rooted in who God is, regardless of circumstances. His unblemished lips amidst such trials underline the power and integrity of spoken words in affirming or denying one's faith.