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This Bible quote has been used to impeach both God and the Bible.
This Bible quote has been used to impeach both God and the Bible.
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." (Job 1:1, AKJV)
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." (Job 1:1, AKJV)
These impeachments use 2 arguments:
These impeachments use 2 arguments:
(1) If Job is perfect, how can God have allowed him to be severely tormented by Satan?
(1) If Job is perfect, how can God have allowed him to be severely tormented by Satan?
(2) If Job is perfect, how can the New Testament say no one is righteous (Romans 3:10, 1 John 1:8)?
(2) If Job is perfect, how can the New Testament say no one is righteous (Romans 3:10, 1 John 1:8)?
But these arguments ignore 2 considerations:
But these arguments ignore 2 considerations:
(A) The possibility to translate without creating contradictions within the Bible.
(A) The possibility to translate without creating contradictions within the Bible.
(B) The clear description of grievous injustices committed by Job (Job 22:4-11).
(B) The clear description of grievous injustices committed by Job (Job 22:4-11).
(A) TRANSLATING WITHOUT PROBLEMS
(A) TRANSLATING WITHOUT PROBLEMS
The main Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of Job 1:1 do not necessarily read that Job was either "perfect" or "righteous".
The main Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of Job 1:1 do not necessarily read that Job was either "perfect" or "righteous".
Choosing that translation simply creates problems unnecessarily.
Choosing that translation simply creates problems unnecessarily.
The text can be translated without conflict between Job 1:1 and Job 22:4-11.
The text can be translated without conflict between Job 1:1 and Job 22:4-11.
The infallible translation approach would see Job being described in Job 1:1 as a lawful, well content and peaceful citizen, much like Paul is described as "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:6, AKJV). That description, of course, does not mean that Paul was blameless before God.
The infallible translation approach would see Job being described in Job 1:1 as a lawful, well content and peaceful citizen, much like Paul is described as "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:6, AKJV). That description, of course, does not mean that Paul was blameless before God.
The Hebrew words are:
The Hebrew words are:
(1) "tam"—complete, right, perfect, orderly, sound, wholesome, morally innocent, having integrity, normal, peaceful, quiet, blameless, pure (Holladay, Brown Driver Briggs)
(1) "tam"—complete, right, perfect, orderly, sound, wholesome, morally innocent, having integrity, normal, peaceful, quiet, blameless, pure (Holladay, Brown Driver Briggs)
(2) "yashar"—straight, right, correct, fitting, righteous, upright, sincere, honest, godly, just, pleasing, straightforward (Holladay, Brown Driver Briggs)
(2) "yashar"—straight, right, correct, fitting, righteous, upright, sincere, honest, godly, just, pleasing, straightforward (Holladay, Brown Driver Briggs)
The Greek words are:
The Greek words are:
(1) "amemptos"—blameless, without reproach, not blaming, well content
(1) "amemptos"—blameless, without reproach, not blaming, well content
(2) "dikaios"—lawful, just, equal, even, well balanced, fair, impartial,
(2) "dikaios"—lawful, just, equal, even, well balanced, fair, impartial,
(B) INTERPRETING WITHOUT PROBLEMS
(B) INTERPRETING WITHOUT PROBLEMS
Sure enough, the injustices that Job is accused of are not necessarily illegal in the society where he lived (Uz, not ancient Israel).
Sure enough, the injustices that Job is accused of are not necessarily illegal in the society where he lived (Uz, not ancient Israel).
"[Is] not your wickedness great,
"[Is] not your wickedness great,
And your iniquity without end?
And your iniquity without end?
For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason,
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
And stripped the naked of their clothing.
You have not given the weary water to drink,
You have not given the weary water to drink,
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
But the mighty man possessed the land,
But the mighty man possessed the land,
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
And the honorable man dwelt in it.
You have sent widows away empty,
You have sent widows away empty,
And the strength of the fatherless was crushed." (NKJV)
And the strength of the fatherless was crushed." (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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