As in the book of job, satan is accusing people before god. But that ignores the obvious hebrew wording for the sake of christian tradition again, the phrasing is actually the satan. This is the real focus of the book of job, and you can see how the heavenly scene of job 12 sets us up perfectly to focus on these difficult theological and ethical issues. Satan only occurs as a specific character once, however. Satan is like a roving ambassador who comes to god to give a report on what he has seen and heard. Satan without the definite article is used in 10 instances, of which two are translated diabolos in the septuagint and satan in the king james version kjv. Job 2 gnt satan tests job again when the day bible gateway. Job 1, new revised standard version nrsv the bible app. Contemporary english version why shouldnt he respect you. Hshtn or ha shatan in hebrew simply means the adversary. The satan replies, is it for naught hebrew chinam that job has put his faith in you. Adversary, in this context, is a courtroom metaphor and refers to the advocate on the other side of the argument i.
That is the primary role of satan in the old testament. Satan visits heaven and asks for permission to torment job. Jan 02, 2020 there may have been such instruments in heaven, but there is no evidence outside this verse to verify it. Satan takes the bait and raises a question about job s sincerity and motivation for serving god. So the lord said to satan, behold, he is in your power, only spare his life. This verse is considered to be a description of the first act by god. The character of the satan has no power over job or god. With regard to both biblical texts, gods speech in the book of job and genesis 1. Satan insinuates that jobs motive is purely selfish.
We find this notion throughout the book of job, where god gives permission to the satan to challenge the righteous job. For the rest of the lesson, the role of satan in the book of job is covered. In the book of job, the hasatan of the torah becomes a literary figure in christianity and takes on the role of the accuser. This is an obvious reference to the angels, and we know that satan is an angel even though a fallen one. Job 2 icb satan appears before god again on bible gateway. The book of job is a book in the ketuvim writings section of the hebrew bible tanakh, and. The book of job explores the nature of true piety and the problem of innocent.
In the book of job, many english translations say that satan was in heaven. In the original hebrew version of the bible, who was satan. Several commenters to the last post asked for some information on the satan. Feb 02, 20 according to epps, references in the bible to the devil and satan are, in the main, to be understood as personifications of the lustful principle in man. He is ha satan the accuserand it is a job description rather. Satan answered, i have been walking here and there, roaming around the earth. And prior to satan s creation by the unknown author of job which is simply a moral tale, not actual history, god was often described as being a satan. Heb hasatan answered the lord, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. Satan does not deny any part of job s character, nor directly charge him with anyone sin. Holman christian standard bible satan answered the lord, does job fear god for nothing. The word itself, the hebrew satan, is simply an adversary, and is so used in 1 sam 29. The book begins with the description of job as a just and upright man. It is translated as satan eighteen times in the old testament, fourteen of those occurrences being in job 12, the others in 1 chronicles 21.
Misfortune befalls job, and, in three cycles of speeches, his three friends give the explanation that this must be punishment from god for his sins, and they urge him to repent. The two scripture passages that describe satan before he fell are ezekiel 28. For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing god and turning away from evil. The hebrew scriptures, and jewish theology, views satan radically differently than. Job 2 international childrens bible icb satan appears before god again. The closest the old testament comes to having ha satan act as the christian devil is in the book of job. Jun 24, 2014 satan visits heaven and asks for permission to torment job. Heb ha satan answered the lord, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. The book starts with god and satan discussing job, a perfect and upright man who feared god and eschewed evil 1. However, put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh. Christian standard bible satan answered the lord, does job fear god for nothing.
Satan answers that job is pious only because god has blessed him. Oct 19, 2015 in this weeks sermon, the historical dating and literary criticism is commented on in the beginning. In fact, one of the most dramatic and powerful expressions of mans struggle with god and his conscience involves job and satan. What does this tell us about the place of evil in the world. Another text which describes the hasatan, or opponent to god is found in the verse of zechariah 3. The word satan throughout this passage has the article. Apr 19, 2007 lest satan should get an advantage of us. God boasts about job, whom god considers to be an outstanding example of what a religious person should be. Heb ha satan went out from the presence of the lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears god and turns away from evil. The book of job is the first book of the wisdom literature of hebrew scripture, and. In this story, some literal translations of the text replace satan correctly as the adversary job verse 2. Then the lord said to satan, have you considered my servant job.
Before we discuss some of the devices of satan, we first need to know who he is. Watch full episodes for free in the superbook app or on the superbook kids website. Although english bibles continue the practice of capitalizing the word satan in passages like job 1 and 2, those passage do not have a specific individual in mind that is, satan in these passages should not be understood as a proper. So as far as the book of job is concerned, there was indeed a designated angel whos job it was to accuse or oppose. Examples of satan personally killing people rationalwiki. Verses from the book of job figured prominently in the plot of the film mission. The accuser hebrew, hasatan is not satan, the devil, but an angel whose job. Hes like a cardboard cutout character in the story, whose only role is to raise the questions that are the real focus of this book. Analysis this is a key passage for setting the stage for all that follows. In gods word, we discover that satan is gods enemy and is.
Here in the book of job the answer to that question is no. God had given satan permission to afflict job with all manner of hardships and misfortune. Job 2 gnt satan tests job again when the day bible. When referring to the celestial adversary, the word is typically accompanied by the definite article. Satan tells god that job is only virtuous because he is well off. Good news translation satan replied, would job worship you if he got nothing out of it. The name satan comes from a hebrew word signifying an adversary, an enemy, and an accuser. Job 1 nrsv job and his family there was once a bible gateway. Job and his family there was once a man in the land of uz whose name was.
Then satan answered the lord, and said, doth job fear god for nought. God accepts the challenge and gives satan permission to destroy jobs life. There is some dispute as to whether it should be taken as a proper name or a title. Satan only pops up in chapters 1 and 2when things get poetic, hes out of there for good. In hebrew, satan actually means the accuser or the prosecutor, and he is referred to as the satan, not just satan. This is not simply a satan, an adversary, or some discontent human person. Rather, it begins with a typical day in the divine oval office, and the topic of gods just operation of the cosmos is put on the table.
The book of job is ancient israelite wisdom literature, and its purpose isnt to teach us about how satan and god make bets and leave innocent peoples fates hanging in the balance. English bible, most modern versions continued to use the word lucifer, and they. Watch full episodes for free in the superbook app or on the superbook kids. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to ruin him without cause. For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears god and shuns evil. Strongs number h7854 matches the hebrew satan, which occurs 27 times in 23 verses in the hebrew concordance of the kjv. There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. Satan answered the lord, i have been wandering around the earth. Aug 02, 2010 in the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job. The central sectionwhere job speaks to his friends, and god speaks to them allis in verse, and its. Job 2, new revised standard version nrsv the bible app. He serves god, not for love of god, or for love of goodness, but for what he gets by it. May 30, 2007 the book of job is where satan, the literary device, makes his first appearance.
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