Old Testament
The Story of Job
Also: Ayubu (Kiswahili)
Upright man of Uz who lost everything, wrestled with God in his suffering, and was restored.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Job of Uz was blameless and upright, feared God and turned away from evil. He lost his children, wealth and health, yet did not curse God. Job 1:1Job 1:13–22Job 2:7–10
His friends argued that suffering is punishment; Job protested his innocence and asked God for an answer. The LORD spoke from the whirlwind, Job repented, and the LORD restored his fortunes. Job 4:7–8Job 31:35Job 38:1–3Job 42:1–10
Told in: Job
Life at a glance
- Home
- The land of Uz Job 1:1
- End of life
- Lived 140 years after his restoration Job 42:16–17
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Job
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Loss and faithfulness
In one day Job loses his livestock, servants and children; he worships, saying, The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Struck with sores
Job is struck with sores; his wife tells him to curse God, but he refuses. Three friends come to comfort him.
The debate with his friends
Job curses the day of his birth; his friends insist he must have sinned, and Job maintains his innocence and longs for a hearing with God.
More about this event
Supporting passage: Job 31:35–40
The LORD answers from the whirlwind
Job 38:1–41 · Job 40:1–5 · Job 42:1–6
The LORD questions Job about creation; Job confesses that he spoke of things too wonderful for him.
Restoration
The LORD rebukes the friends, Job prays for them, and the LORD gives Job twice as much as before, with sons and daughters.
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Job. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollection
Teaching or quotation mentioning them
- James 5:11 — You have heard of the endurance of Job.
Family and relationships
- Eliphaz, Bildad and ZopharFriends who came to comfort himJob 2:11
Books associated with Job
- Job Main narrative figure
- Job Book named after them
The book is named after Job; it does not name its author, and Job is not presented as writing it.
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
SufferingFaith
- How does Job respond in Job 1:20-22?
- What does Job say he knows in Job 19:25-27?
Read offline
Save this story, then download the Bible books it uses in your version: Job. The story uses the books already on your device; it never stores a second copy.