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

18While he was still speaking, another ⌞messenger⌟ came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine at their oldest brother’s home 19when suddenly a great storm swept across the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they died. I’m the only one who has escaped to tell you.” Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21He said, “Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away! May the name of the Lord be praised.” 22Through all this Job did not sin or blame God for doing anything wrong.

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 37:29When Reuben came back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was no longer there, he tore his clothes in grief.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothes ⌞in distress⌟, pulled hair from my scalp and my beard, and sat down in shock.
• Deuteronomy 9:18Once again I threw myself down in front of the Lord. I went without food and water for 40 days and 40 nights because of the sin you committed. You did what the Lord considered evil and made him furious.
• 2 Samuel 12:16David pleaded with God for the child; he fasted and lay on the ground all night.
• 2 Chronicles 7:3When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the Lord’s glory on the temple, they knelt down with their faces on the pavement. They worshiped and praised the Lord, ⌞by saying,⌟ “He is good; his mercy endures forever.”
• Matthew 26:39After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed, “Father, if it’s possible, let this cup ⌞of suffering⌟ be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.”
• 1 Peter 5:6Be humbled by God’s power so that when the right time comes he will honor you.

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