Job 2 3

Job 2:3 kjv

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Job 2:3 nkjv

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause."

Job 2:3 niv

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

Job 2:3 esv

And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason."

Job 2:3 nlt

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless ? a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause."

Job 2 verses

Job 2 3 Meaning

Job 2:3 presents a crucial dialogue between the LORD and Satan following Job's first, devastating trial. The verse reveals God's unwavering affirmation of Job's righteousness, even in the face of profound suffering. It explicitly states that Job still holds fast to his integrity, despite all that has befallen him, directly refuting Satan's accusation that Job served God only for personal gain. God also confronts Satan directly for having incited Him against Job to destroy him without cause, highlighting the innocence of Job and the malice of the adversary, while asserting God's ultimate authority over the permitted suffering. This verse sets the stage for the book's core exploration of disinterested faith.

Job 2 3 Context

Job 2:3 takes place in the heavenly throne room, following Satan's first attempt to discredit Job's righteousness (Job chapter 1). In the opening chapter, Job's material wealth and family were annihilated. Yet, Job's response was one of worship and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, stating, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Job did not sin or charge God with wrong (Job 1:22).

This verse begins the second round of divine-demonic dialogue, reinforcing the book's narrative frame where the human suffering on earth has a profound, unseen spiritual dimension. Historically and culturally, the narrative challenges ancient Near Eastern views where suffering was almost invariably linked to sin, suggesting that a righteous person would automatically be blessed. Job's blamelessness in suffering is a direct theological challenge to the simplistic retributive theology common at the time, and indeed, within certain theological circles even today. It demonstrates that not all suffering is punitive.

Job 2 3 Word analysis

• And the LORD said to Satan: Signifies the ongoing interaction in the heavenly court, emphasizing God's initiative and authority over the spiritual realm. Satan (שָׂטָן, satan), meaning "adversary" or "accuser," functions as the prosecuting attorney in the divine assembly.
• 'Have you considered my servant Job: Reiteration of the question from Job 1:8, signifying God's sustained attention to Job and His unwavering positive assessment. The phrase indicates a divine challenge to Satan.
• that there is none like him on the earth: An exceptional testament to Job's unique piety, describing his unparalleled uprightness and blamelessness among humanity.
• a blameless and upright man:
  • Blameless (תָּם, tam): Means complete, whole, innocent, morally sound. It describes an internal consistency and integrity, not sinless perfection.
  • Upright (יָשָׁר, yashar): Means straight, righteous, just. It describes external conduct and behavior that aligns with moral principles. Together, they depict Job as integrated in character and consistent in action.
• who fears God and turns away from evil?:
  • Fears God (יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים, yare Elohim): Not a terror-filled dread, but a reverential awe, deep respect, and devoted submission to God that defines his worldview and leads to obedience. This is a foundational virtue in Old Testament wisdom literature.
  • Turns away from evil (סָר מֵרָע, sar mera'): Implies active avoidance of sin and intentional adherence to righteousness. This is the practical outworking of his fear of God.
• He still holds fast to his integrity: This is the core declaration of Job's victory in the first test and the central point of Job 2:3.
  • Still (עֹדֶנּוּ, 'odenu): Emphatic adverb, stressing persistence despite everything that has happened. It confirms that Job's character has remained unchanged.
  • holds fast (מַחֲזִיק, makhazik): From the root חָזַק (khazaq), meaning to grasp firmly, strengthen, be resolute. It denotes a tenacious, firm grip on his inner moral quality, suggesting active resilience and unyielding commitment.
  • to his integrity (בְּתֻמָּתוֹ֙, betumato): Refers back to the concept of tam (blameless/complete). It implies his moral consistency, his innocence in character, and his sustained wholehearted devotion to God. It is his fundamental faithfulness, unwavering despite severe provocation.
• although you incited me against him:
  • incited me (וַתְּסִיתֵ֣נִי, vattesîtēnî): From the root סוּת (sut), meaning to incite, allure, entice, instigate. It indicates Satan's provocative role, acting as the motivator or persuader. Crucially, this demonstrates that Satan acts under God's ultimate permission and does not have autonomous power to act against God's will. God takes ultimate responsibility for allowing the trial, though Satan is the agent of its inception.
• to destroy him: (לְבַלְּע֖וֹ, lebhal‘ô): From בָּלַע (bal‘a), meaning to swallow, engulf, consume, or annihilate. It underscores Satan's malicious intent – to utterly devastate Job, physically, socially, and spiritually.
• without cause: (חִנָּֽם, ḥinnām): Meaning "for nothing," "gratuitously," "in vain," "without reason." This adverb is vital; it underscores the profound injustice of Job's suffering. Satan claimed Job served God for reward (with cause); God declares Job suffers without cause, proving the genuine, disinterested nature of his piety.

Job 2 3 Bonus section

• The reiteration of God's commendation of Job from Job 1:8 serves a powerful literary and theological purpose: it highlights the unchanging nature of God's assessment of Job, despite the dramatic change in Job's circumstances. This directly counters Satan's hypothesis that suffering would cause Job to curse God.
• The dialogue format of Job 1 and 2 places the human suffering within a cosmic context. It shows that there is a heavenly drama influencing earthly events, often unknown to the human participants. This frame challenges the conventional, simplistic view that all suffering is direct punishment for sin.
• God explicitly uses the term "my servant Job," demonstrating a close, covenantal relationship that even suffering does not sever. This deepens the tragic nature of the trial, yet affirms God's personal connection to His faithful.
• The phrase "without cause" (חִנָּם, ḥinnām) is critical. It shifts the entire burden of proof for Job's piety. Satan claimed Job served for a cause (reward). God affirms Job suffers without cause (unjustly), proving Job's disinterest in external benefits. This forms the heart of the "disinterested righteousness" theme of the book.
• While God takes responsibility for allowing the suffering ("incited me"), it's crucial to understand this within His omnipotence and wisdom, not as God being manipulable. He allows suffering for a higher purpose (to validate genuine faith), which distinguishes it from arbitrary malice.

Job 2 3 Commentary

Job 2:3 is pivotal in the narrative, validating Job's genuine devotion against Satan's cynical challenge. God’s opening words serve as a divine certification: Job's character remains impeccable, a stark refutation of Satan's belief that righteousness is always mercenary. The key phrase, "He still holds fast to his integrity," confirms that Job endured the first test without abandoning his foundational commitment to God. This enduring integrity is not a result of human strength alone but reflects a divinely acknowledged inner quality. God’s direct acknowledgement, "although you incited me against him to destroy him without cause," lays bare Satan's malevolent motive and clarifies that Job’s suffering, though devastating, was entirely unwarranted from Job’s perspective. This also subtly affirms God's sovereign control over even the actions of the adversary. The verse establishes the theological premise that genuine righteousness can exist apart from material reward, laying the groundwork for the deep philosophical questions about suffering that follow in the book. It offers comfort by showing that suffering is not always a sign of divine displeasure, and that one can remain righteous even when facing inexplicable hardship.