Job 2 7

Job 2:7 kjv

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Job 2:7 nkjv

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

Job 2:7 niv

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Job 2:7 esv

So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

Job 2:7 nlt

So Satan left the LORD's presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.

Job 2 verses

Job 2 7 Meaning

Job 2:7 describes the immediate consequence of Satan's second challenge to God regarding Job's integrity. Having received divine permission, Satan inflicts a terrible physical ailment upon Job, covering him from head to foot with severe, painful boils. This act escalates the trial, moving from external possessions and family to Job's own body, testing his faith and faithfulness in a more profound and personal way.

Job 2 7 Context

Job chapter 2 continues the narrative established in chapter 1. In the first chapter, Satan challenged God's assessment of Job, claiming Job's piety was purely self-serving, a result of God's abundant blessings. God permitted Satan to afflict Job's possessions and children, yet Job maintained his integrity, proclaiming, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Job 2 opens with Satan returning to the divine council, again implying Job's righteousness is conditional. This time, Satan claims Job would curse God if his physical health were touched ("But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face," Job 2:5). God grants Satan permission once more, but with the crucial limitation that Job's life must be spared. Job 2:7, therefore, describes the immediate execution of this second phase of the trial, transitioning from external loss to profound personal suffering. It highlights Satan's malicious intent and God's sovereign allowance within set boundaries.

Job 2 7 Word analysis

• So: Implies a direct consequence or result of the preceding divine permission (Job 2:6). It links Satan's action to God's authority.
• Satan (Hebrew: הַשָּׂטָן, haśśāṭān): The definite article "the" indicates he is not just a satan (adversary) but the accuser or adversary, acting as a prosecutor in the heavenly court. His role here is to test and prove/disprove integrity. He is a subordinate figure to God, operating only within divine permission.
• went forth: Signifies his departure from the divine presence to execute the authorized plan. It conveys a sense of direct action and immediate obedience to the divine permission, even though his purpose is malicious.
• from the presence of the LORD (Hebrew: מֵאֵת פְּנֵי יְהוָה, mēʾēt pᵊnê Yahweh): "Presence" (פְּנֵי, pᵊnê) often refers to being before God, implying accountability or audience. It highlights that Satan's actions are not independent but are observed and permitted by the sovereign God. "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is God's covenant name, underscoring His ultimate authority and fidelity, even in trial.
• and struck (Hebrew: וַיַּךְ, way·yaḵ): A strong verb denoting a forceful and direct act. It indicates a deliberate, potent blow, not an accidental or incidental event.
• Job: The focus of the attack, personally.
• with painful boils (Hebrew: בִּשְׁחִין רָע, bišḥîn rāʿ):
  • Boils (שְׁחִין, šᵊḥîn): Refers to erupting skin lesions, often accompanied by intense pain, fever, and disfigurement. This specific term is used for the sixth plague in Egypt (Ex 9:9-11) and as a curse in Deuteronomy (Deut 28:27), implying it was a known and severe affliction. Scholars suggest it could describe a form of severe ulcerating skin disease, possibly gangrenous boils or a condition resembling elephantiasis, rendering a person repulsive and debilitated.
  • Painful (רָע, rāʿ): Literally "evil" or "malignant." It emphasizes the severe, grievous, and debilitating nature of the disease, not merely cosmetic issues. This wasn't a minor irritation but a deeply debilitating and offensive malady, causing extreme suffering.
• from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head: An idiom indicating the complete, pervasive, and systemic nature of the affliction. No part of his body was untouched or spared. This emphasizes the totality of his physical misery and degradation.

Words-group analysis

• "Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD": This phrase reiterates Satan's subordinate position. His actions, even malicious ones, are constrained by divine permission and proximity to God's sovereign rule. It's not a free-for-all; God remains in control, despite allowing this specific form of evil.
• "struck Job with painful boils": Highlights the direct and deliberate nature of the suffering. This was not a natural sickness but an infliction from a spiritual adversary, aiming to break Job's spirit and faith. The chosen affliction (skin disease) would not only cause physical agony but also social ostracization in ancient contexts, as such conditions were often associated with uncleanness and divine displeasure.
• "from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head": Emphasizes the overwhelming and pervasive nature of Job's suffering. It leaves no room for escape or comfort, affecting every part of his physical being. This extreme condition serves to test Job's faithfulness to its uttermost limits, aligning with Satan's assertion that Job's righteousness was superficial.

Job 2 7 Bonus section

The concept of "boils" (שְׁחִין) carried significant cultural and religious connotations in the ancient world, particularly among the Israelites. It was a common symptom of leprosy and other severe skin diseases, which often led to isolation from community life and the temple. This adds another layer to Job's suffering: beyond the physical agony, he endured ritual impurity and social banishment. This made his steadfastness even more remarkable, as it defied the prevailing wisdom that such suffering must indicate divine curse due to sin. The book of Job directly challenges such simplistic theological interpretations. The narrative highlights that even in such a desolate state, Job was still "in the hand" (under the power/permission) of God (Job 2:6), emphasizing divine sovereignty over all circumstances, even those brought about by spiritual adversaries.

Job 2 7 Commentary

Job 2:7 marks a crucial turning point in the Book of Job, initiating the deepest phase of his testing. Satan, the accuser, with divine permission, directly inflicts debilitating disease upon Job, intensifying the trial beyond anything external. The "painful boils" would have rendered Job both physically miserable and socially unclean, a double affliction that tested his core identity and relationship with God. This verse powerfully illustrates that suffering is not always a consequence of sin (as Job's friends would later assume) but can be a test of faith, allowed by a sovereign God who sets boundaries even for evil. It demonstrates the depth of Satan's malice, yet simultaneously God's ultimate control. Job's subsequent response (Job 2:10), when even his wife suggests cursing God, is a testament to the resilient faith that Satan sought to destroy but could not.