Job 2 5

Job 2:5 kjv

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 2:5 nkjv

But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"

Job 2:5 niv

But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

Job 2:5 esv

But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face."

Job 2:5 nlt

But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

Job 2 verses

Job 2 5 Meaning

In Job 2:5, Satan, the adversary, presents a deeper challenge to God regarding Job's integrity. After Job endured the loss of his possessions and children, Satan alleges that Job's continued devotion is solely because his own body remains untouched. Satan asserts that if God permits him to afflict Job's very "bone and flesh"—that is, Job's physical being and health, leading to excruciating pain—Job will surely denounce God directly. This verse signifies a crucial escalation of the trial, moving from external afflictions to a profound, personal, and internal suffering, testing Job's faith to its absolute core.

Job 2 5 Context

Job 2:5 occurs at a pivotal point in the narrative after Satan's initial, failed attempt to break Job's integrity. In chapter 1, Satan accuses Job of fearing God only for material prosperity. God allows Satan to destroy Job's possessions, servants, and all ten children, yet Job maintains his piety, worshipping God and stating, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21).

When the heavenly council reconvenes in Job 2:1-2, Satan is again present. God highlights Job's continued blamelessness, challenging Satan's earlier premise. Unabashed, Satan escalates his accusation in Job 2:4, arguing, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life." This phrase suggests that Job would sacrifice anything material to preserve his own physical health. He implies Job's previous endurance was easy because his personal body remained untouched. Job 2:5, then, is Satan's direct demand for permission to inflict physical suffering upon Job, betting that intense pain will finally make Job curse God. This forms the basis for the subsequent trials of Job's physical torment, notably grievous boils.

The broader biblical context is a discussion about the nature of righteousness, suffering, and God's sovereignty. It challenges the conventional retribution theology prevalent among Job's friends, which links suffering directly to sin. Job's case proves that righteous individuals can suffer immensely, and their faith is genuinely tested for deeper divine purposes, demonstrating that true faith is not conditional on material blessings.

Job 2 5 Word analysis

• But: (וְאוּלָם, v'ulam) - This conjunctive word emphasizes a shift or contrast, indicating a strong counter-argument by Satan following God's affirmation of Job's integrity. It signals a dramatic turning point in the celestial dialogue.
• put forth: (שְׁלַח, shalach) - "To send," "to stretch out," "to extend." Implies active divine permission. In the context of "hand," it suggests exertion of power or action.
• Your hand: (יָדְךָ, yadkha) - Refers to God's active involvement or direct agency. While God doesn't physically do the harming, His permission allows it. "Hand" often represents power, authority, and divine action in Hebrew scripture (e.g., Ex 7:4, Deut 34:12). Satan understands that only God's authority can permit such an action.
• now: (נָא, na') - A particle often used to add emphasis or urgency to a request, like "please" or "do it now." Satan's impatience is evident.
• and touch: (וְגַע, v'ga') - From the root נָגַע (naga'), meaning "to touch," but often implies "to strike," "to injure," or "to afflict," particularly when referring to God's hand (e.g., Ps 38:2, 1 Sam 6:9). Here, it distinctly means to inflict harm, especially through disease or pain.
• his bone: (עַצְמוֹ, atzmo) - Literally "his bone," referring to the innermost structure of the body, signifying deep, penetrating, and agonizing pain, going beyond mere surface injuries. Bones symbolize foundational strength and inner being (e.g., Prov 14:30). Afflicting the bones represents an attack on the very core of one's physical existence and resilience.
• and his flesh: (וּבְשָׂרוֹ, u'vesaro) - Literally "and his flesh," signifying the visible and sensitive parts of the body, susceptible to disease and decay. Paired with "bone," it indicates a total bodily affliction, both externally visible and internally agonizing. This is a common Hebrew idiom (Job 19:20; Gen 2:23; Ezek 37:6) emphasizing the entirety of a physical being. The combined "bone and flesh" expresses an attack on Job's very person and vitality.
• he will surely curse You: (אִם־לֹא יְבָרֲכֶךָּ, im-lo y'var'khekha) - This is a significant Hebrew idiom expressing an emphatic negation. Literally, it translates to "if he will not bless You," but in contexts like this (where it functions as a solemn oath or strong prediction, often with implied consequences for failing the prediction), it actually means the opposite: "he will surely curse you." The idiom works by challenging God to perform an action, implying that if He does, the contrary outcome (cursing) will occur. It's a verbal dare, essentially saying, "I am so confident of the opposite, that if this happens, may [negative action] occur." This form is found elsewhere with negative outcomes (1 Sam 14:44; 2 Kgs 5:20) and dramatically heightens Satan's conviction that Job's faith will break.
• to Your face: (אֶל־פָּנֶיךָ, el-panekha) - "To your face" or "before your face," meaning directly and overtly, in opposition to God's presence or character. It's a defiant and public repudiation, not just a private grumble. This implies an open blasphemy, a complete renunciation of God, a direct challenge to His authority and goodness.

Job 2 5 Bonus section

• The challenge in Job 2:5 is deeper than Job's initial test because it directly assails his person, implying that one's commitment to God cannot withstand the extreme pain and degradation of physical suffering. It questions whether faith is truly selfless when the ultimate stakes—one's very body and comfort—are on the line.
• The phrase "bone and flesh" carries a profound theological weight, indicating not just superficial pain but an affliction that targets one's entire physical existence. This idiom appears elsewhere in scripture (e.g., Gen 2:23 describing Eve, Judg 9:2 relating to kinship) to denote deep personal connection or identity, emphasizing how severe the proposed affliction is to Job's core self.
• This verse provides a counter-narrative to the common belief in the ancient Near East that prosperity was a direct indicator of divine favor and suffering was a direct punishment for sin. Job's continued suffering despite his righteousness fundamentally challenges this simplified view.
• Satan, though powerful, cannot act without divine permission, underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty even over the realm of evil. God sets the boundaries for the testing, allowing affliction but preserving Job's life, showing His measured control and benevolent purpose even in the face of an adversary's demands.

Job 2 5 Commentary

Job 2:5 represents the escalating stakes in the cosmic drama between God and Satan concerning Job's integrity. Satan, unable to prove his initial hypothesis—that Job served God only for material gain—shifts his accusation to a more insidious claim: Job's righteousness is contingent on his physical well-being. "Skin for skin," he declares, means that while Job might sacrifice possessions and even family, he would never give up his own life or suffer acute bodily pain without reviling God.

Satan's demand to "touch his bone and his flesh" signifies a request for total bodily affliction, encompassing both superficial injury and profound internal torment. This is not merely an external test but an assault on Job's very being, striking at the core of human existence where pain is most intimate and challenging. The unique Hebrew idiom, "if not he will bless You," meaning "he will surely curse You," underscores Satan's absolute conviction that Job's breaking point lies in physical suffering. He believes that faced with debilitating agony and potential death, Job will blaspheme God openly "to Your face"—a public and defiant rejection.

This verse sets the stage for Job's unparalleled suffering and profound theological debate that unfolds throughout the book. It highlights several critical points: the depth of Satan's malice, his relentless accusations, God's sovereignty in allowing affliction even while setting boundaries, and the nature of genuine faith—faith that perseveres not out of self-interest or a comfortable life, but purely out of devotion to God. Job's subsequent endurance will not only vindicate him but will expose the superficiality of Satan's claims and reveal the enduring quality of a steadfast heart.