Job – Chapter 1

Old Testament22 Verses

Chapter Summary

Job 1 opens with the words: "There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil." Job stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 22 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God feeding His people. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.

2And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.

3And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a family exceedingly great: and this man was great among all the people of the east.

4And his sons went, and made a feast by houses, every one in his day. And sending, they called their three sisters, to eat and drink with them.

5And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early, offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.

6Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them.

7And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.

8And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?

9And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain?

10Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth?

11But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he bless thee not to thy face.

12Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

13Now upon a certain day, when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine, in the house of their eldest brother,

14There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,

15And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the servants with the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

16And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

17And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and taken them; moreover, they have slain the servants with the sword: and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

18He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

19A violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, and it fell upon thy children, and they are dead: and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

20Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, and having shaven his head, fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.

22In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God.

Important Verses in Job 1

There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.

Job 1:1

Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them.

Job 1:6

And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.

Job 1:16

And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job 1:21

Historical Context

Job belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for all who wrestle with the mystery of suffering and God's justice. Chapter 1 of 42 opens the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. It is a wisdom instruction on how to live before God in ordinary circumstances with 22 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Job, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and…" The chapter ends with: "In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God. " Read against its original backdrop, Job confronts the deepest human question: why do the innocent suffer? Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC.

Who Wrote It

Unknown inspired poet of Israel

When It Was Written

Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense presents maxims, observations, or arguments meant to form character and discernment. A pivotal line is verse 1: "There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 2340). Here, the Church sees Job as prefiguring Christ in innocent suffering (CIC 1502). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Job8 mentions

Reflection for Today

Job Chapter 1 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. the Church sees Job as prefiguring Christ in innocent suffering (CIC 1502). Here the believer is invited to ponder perseverance through trial.

May your reading of Job Chapter 1 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God's ways transcend human understanding applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Job Chapter 1 about?

Job 1 contains 22 verses. It opens with "There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and…" and closes with "In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God. ". The book as a whole is wisdom literature in poetic dialogue.

What is a key verse in Job 1?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Job Chapter 1?

This chapter mentions Job.

Who wrote Job and when?

Unknown inspired poet of Israel. Uncertain; commonly dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BC.

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