Job 2 12

Job 2:12 kjv

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Job 2:12 nkjv

And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.

Job 2:12 niv

When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.

Job 2:12 esv

And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven.

Job 2:12 nlt

When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief.

Job 2 verses

Job 2 12 Meaning

Job 2:12 describes the profound and immediate reaction of Job's three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—upon seeing him after his severe afflictions. When they first spotted him from a distance, Job's suffering had so disfigured him that they could not recognize him. This dramatic realization led them to a public and intense display of grief, which included weeping aloud, tearing their cloaks, and scattering dust on their heads, all traditional signs of deep sorrow and mourning in ancient times, acknowledging the magnitude of his catastrophe and the presence of divine witness.

Job 2 12 Context

Job chapter 2 describes the second test of Job's faith and righteousness permitted by God at Satan's instigation. After losing his wealth, servants, and children (Job 1), Job retains his integrity. Satan then argues that Job's loyalty would break if his own body were afflicted. God grants permission for Satan to strike Job physically, but spares his life. Consequently, Job is afflicted with severe boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, causing him immense physical pain and social isolation (Job 2:7-8). He then sits among ashes, symbolizing deep mourning and humility. His wife suggests cursing God and dying (Job 2:9). Verse 12 is a pivotal moment: it marks the arrival of Job's three friends, who had heard of his great suffering and came to express sympathy and offer comfort. This verse highlights the friends' initial reaction to Job's appearance, setting the stage for their long, theological debates about the cause of his suffering, which will unfold in the subsequent chapters.

Job 2 12 Word analysis

• And when they lifted up their eyes afar off: This indicates the friends' perspective. They were approaching from a distance, implying they could observe Job before getting too close. The Hebrew, vayyis'u 'eineihem meraḥoq (וַיִּשְׂאוּ עֵינֵיהֶם מֵרָחֹוק), emphasizes the act of lifting their gaze and the significant distance.
• and knew him not: This is a crucial detail. The Hebrew vlo hikīruhū (וְלֹא הִכִּירֻהוּ) means they "did not recognize him." Job's physical deterioration due to his disease (boils, disfigurement, emaciation) was so severe that he was unrecognizable, even to close friends. This conveys the immense impact of his suffering.
• they lifted up their voice, and wept: This describes a public and audible outburst of grief. The phrase vayyis'u qōlām vayyivkū (וַיִּשְׂאוּ קֹולָם וַיִּבְכּוּּ) points to loud, communal weeping, typical of ancient mourning practices.
• and they rent every one his mantle: A strong visual symbol of deep distress, grief, or shock in the Ancient Near East. The Hebrew vayyiqrə'u 'îsh me'îllō (וַיִּקְרְעוּ אִישׁ מְעִלֹּו) refers to tearing one's outer garment or cloak. This was not a minor tear but a visible rending.
• and sprinkled dust upon their heads: Another well-documented sign of extreme sorrow, mourning, humiliation, or penitence. The Hebrew vayyizrqū 'āfār 'al-ro'shêhem (וַיִּזְרְקוּ עָפָר עַל־רֹאשֵׁיהֶם) means to cast or scatter dust upon the head. It conveyed a sense of self-abasement and despair, aligning oneself with the earth in grief.
• toward heaven: This small but significant phrase hasshāmāymah (הַשָּׁמַיְמָה) means "heavenward." It suggests that their actions were not merely outward expressions but were performed with an awareness of a divine audience. It could imply an appeal to heaven, acknowledging the divine hand in Job's calamity, or simply making their profound grief witnessed by the heavens.

Words-group analysis:

• "When they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not": This sequence emphasizes the sudden, shocking realization. The initial distance highlights that Job's disfigurement was not something revealed close up but was evident even from far away. The inability to recognize him is the most dramatic aspect, immediately signaling the unprecedented nature of his suffering.
• "they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven": This combined phrase captures the full ancient ritualistic and emotional response to overwhelming catastrophe. The acts are sequential, moving from audible lament (weeping) to visual, physical acts (rending clothes, dust on head). The mention of "towards heaven" universalizes the grief, connecting it to the ultimate arbiter of all circumstances. This signifies the profound depth of their shock and initial sympathy.

Job 2 12 Bonus section

The profound physical transformation of Job highlighted in "knew him not" underscores the extremity of God-ordained suffering that could be inflicted without the removal of life itself. This serves to maximize the theological tension in the book: How could such an righteous man endure such horrific, disfiguring pain? The friends' immediate, powerful, and collective ritual mourning indicates not only their shock but also their awareness of the spiritual magnitude of Job's catastrophe, likely sensing divine judgment (even if incorrectly) or a world-altering event had befallen their friend. Their response is immediate and unprompted, showcasing pure initial sorrow before their minds engage with theological reasoning. They sat with Job for seven days in silence after this, observing the gravity of his plight. This scene contrasts sharply with the later verbosity and increasingly judgmental tone of their arguments.

Job 2 12 Commentary

Job 2:12 provides a stark visual depiction of the immense suffering Job endured, so severe it rendered him unrecognizable to his closest friends. Their initial response—a loud lament, rending their clothes, and scattering dust heavenward—was not merely performative but a genuine and culturally appropriate outpouring of intense grief and shock. These were conventional ancient Near Eastern expressions of deepest mourning and despair, demonstrating true empathy. This verse is crucial as it portrays the pinnacle of the friends' sincere compassion for Job's plight before their theological frameworks and presumptions of Job's sinfulness clouded their judgment and led to the protracted, less sympathetic debates. It sets a tragic contrast between their initial raw, human reaction to suffering and their later intellectualized and rigid pronouncements. The detail "towards heaven" implies a recognition of the cosmic dimension of Job's suffering, that his affliction was not merely an earthly matter but had implications beyond the visible.