Job 1:20

Job 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
• New International Version (NIV)At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

Context of Job 1:20

18That servant was still speaking, when a fourth servant arrived. He said to Job, ‘Your children were eating a feast at a party in the home of your oldest son. 19Suddenly there was a strong storm that came from the desert. The wind destroyed the house where your children were. The house fell on them and it killed them. I was the only one who escaped. I ran here to tell you what has happened.’ When Job heard this news he was very upset. He tore his clothes and he cut off all his hair. Then he bent down low on the ground to worship God. 21He said, ‘When I was born, I had nothing. When I die, I will take nothing with me. The Lord has given me all the things that I have. The Lord may choose to take those things away. I will continue to praise the name of the Lord!’ 22Even after all these things had happened, Job still did not do anything bad. He did not say that God had done something wrong to him.

Job 1:20 word by word

וַיָּ֤קָם אִיּוֹב֙ וַיִּקְרַ֣ע אֶת־מְעִל֔וֹ וַיָּ֖גָז אֶת־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַ֖רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Jobאִיּוֹב'îyôb · JobH347
• aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• his mantleמְעִילme‛îyl · robeH4598
• and shavedגָּזַזgâzaz · to shearH1494
• his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• and fell downנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• upon the groundאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and worshippedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812

Cross-references for Job 1:20

• Genesis 37:29Later, Reuben returned to the dry well. He saw that Joseph was not there. He tore his clothes because he was very upset.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I was very upset. I tore my shirt and my coat. I pulled out hair from my head and my beard. I was angry and ashamed. I sat down.
• Deuteronomy 9:18Then I again fell down with my face on the ground, to pray to the Lord. I did that for 40 days and nights. I did not eat or drink anything. You had done an evil thing which caused the Lord to be very angry.
• 2 Samuel 12:16David asked the Lord to make his child well again. He lay on the floor of his house all night and he ate no food.
• 2 Chronicles 7:3All the Israelites saw the fire come down. They also saw the Lord's glory above the temple. They went down on their knees on the flat stones of the yard, with their faces towards the ground. They worshipped the Lord and they thanked him. They said, ‘He is good. His faithful love continues for ever.’
• Matthew 26:39Jesus went a short way beyond them. He went down with his face on the ground. He prayed, ‘Father, if it is possible, please save me from this time of great pain. But Father, I do not ask you to do what I want. Do what you want to do.’
• 1 Peter 5:6Remember that God is strong and powerful. So be humble in front of him. Then he will lift you up to a good place at the right time.

Commentaries on Job 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Rent his mantle - Tearing the garments, shaving or pulling off the hair of the head, throwing dust or ashes on the head, and fitting on the ground, were acts by which immoderate grief was expressed. Job must have felt the bitterness of anguish when he was told that, in addition to the loss of all his property, he was deprived of his ten children by a violent death. Had he not felt this most poignantly, he would have been unworthy of the name of man…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Then Job arose - The phrase to arise, in the Scriptures is often used in the sense of beginning to do anything. It does not necessarily imply that the person had been previously sitting; see 2 Samuel 13:13. And rent his mantle - The word here rendered “mantle” מעיל me‛ı̂yl means an upper or outer garment. The dress of Orientals consists principally of an under garment or tunic - not materially differing from the “shirt” with us - except that the sleeves…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-22Verses 20-22 Job humbled himself under the hand of God. He reasons from the common state of human life, which he describes. We brought nothing of this world's goods into the world, but have them from others; and it is certain we can carry nothing out, but must leave them to others. Job, under all his losses, is but reduced to his first state. He is but where he must have been at last, and is only unclothed, or unloaded rather, a little sooner than he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head: These were common ceremonies in the Ancient Near East to show grief. People sometimes responded this way instead of harming themselves when shocked, in horror, or after hearing bad news (2:12; Genesis 37:29, 34; Judges 11:35; Jeremiah 16:6; Ezekiel 7:18; Amos 8:10). He fell to the ground and worshiped: Then in an unexpected move, Job did not give a desperate cry, but had hope (1 Peter 5:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Job arose--not necessarily from sitting. Inward excitement is implied, and the beginning to do anything. He had heard the other messages calmly, but on hearing of the death of his children, then he arose; or, as Eichorn translates, he started up (2Sa 13:31). The rending of the mantle was the conventional mark of deep grief (Ge 37:34). Orientals wear a tunic or shirt, and loose pantaloons; and over these a flowing mantle (especially great persons and…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 1:20

• Bereavement
• Dress
• Job
• Mantle
• Mourning
• Prayer
• Rending
• Resignation
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Job
• Apparel
• Charge
• Cloak
• Consider
• Eschew
• Feast
• Mantle
• Mourn
• Naked

Commentaries on Job 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings