What is the book of Job about?

Short answer

The book of Job tells of a righteous man who lost his wealth, his children and his health, yet would not curse God. His friends insisted he must be suffering for his sins, but God finally spoke to Job from a storm, showed him His wisdom and power, and Job humbled himself and trusted Him. The book teaches that God is wise and good even when we do not know why we suffer.

The book of Job is one of the oldest questions people ask God, set in story form: why does a good person suffer? It opens and closes in prose, while the long middle, from chapter 3 to the first verses of chapter 42, is poetry, a series of speeches in which Job and his friends wrestle with his pain. John MacArthur notes that Job measured his wealth in flocks and herds, like the patriarchs, and Matthew Henry placed him close to the time of Abraham.

A righteous man and a test he could not see (Job 1–2)

The book begins by introducing its hero.

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 · King James Version (1769)

The New Geneva Study Bible explains that these words do not mean Job was sinless, but that he sincerely sought to live rightly. MacArthur adds that he was a devoted husband and father who even offered sacrifices for his children in case they had sinned (Job 1:5).

Then the scene moves to heaven. Satan, whose name means “adversary,” claims that Job serves God only because God has blessed and protected him. God allows Satan to take away everything Job has, but not to touch Job himself (Job 1:6–12). MacArthur stresses that neither Job nor his friends ever learned about this conversation. The New Geneva Study Bible points out that Satan can act only within the limits God sets. Henry sees in the scene both how fiercely Satan hates the godly and how firmly God holds him back.

In a single day raiders and disasters take Job’s oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels and servants, and a storm kills all ten of his children (Job 1:13–19). Job’s response is one of the best known passages in the Bible.

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped, 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; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job 1:20–22 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur notes that Job heard the earlier reports calmly, but the death of his children brought out every sign of grief. Even so, instead of cursing God, he worshiped. Henry observes that Job was not unfeeling like a stone, yet in his grief he did nothing unworthy of God.

A second test follows: Job is struck with painful sores from head to foot, and his wife urges him to curse God and die. He answers that we should accept trouble from God as well as good (Job 2:7–10). MacArthur reminds readers that no one can fully understand Job’s later speeches without remembering the constant physical pain behind them.

Job and his friends (Job 3–37)

Three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, come to comfort Job and sit with him in silence for seven days (Job 2:11–13). Then Job breaks the silence by cursing the day he was born (Job 3:1–3).

What follows are three rounds of speeches. The friends defend one idea: God always rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked in this life, so Job must have sinned. Job insists he is innocent, pours out bitter complaints and demands that God answer him. In one of his darkest moments he says something remarkable.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:25–26 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur writes that at the point of Job’s deepest despair his faith reached its peak, as he declared that God was his Redeemer. The New Geneva Study Bible explains that the Hebrew word describes a defender or kinsman-redeemer, and that Job was longing for someone to stand between him and God.

A younger man, Elihu, then speaks at length (Job 32–37). MacArthur finds him angry and harsh toward Job, though he brings some fresh thoughts. The New Geneva Study Bible notes that, unlike the three friends, Elihu sees that suffering can serve to correct and train.

God answers from the storm (Job 38–42)

At last the Lord speaks.

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Job 38:1–4 · King James Version (1769)

Both MacArthur and the New Geneva Study Bible point out that God never tells Job why he suffered and never mentions Satan’s challenge. Instead He asks Job question after question about the creation of the earth, the sea, the light, the weather and the animals (Job 38, Job 39). MacArthur sums up the point: if Job is not as wise and powerful as God, he would do better to trust Him. Job finally replies:

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 42:2–6 · King James Version (1769)

MacArthur notes that Job still did not know the reason for his suffering, and at that moment nothing in his circumstances had changed. What changed was his heart: he stopped accusing God and bowed before Him. The New Geneva Study Bible explains that Job had known God by hearsay, and now he knew Him personally.

The ending holds a surprise. God rebukes the three friends because they did not speak rightly about Him, as Job did, and Job prays for them (Job 42:7–9). MacArthur explains that not everything the friends said was false, but they misrepresented God’s character and wrongly accused Job. Then God restores Job and gives him twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10–17).

What the book of Job teaches

The New Testament holds Job up as an example.

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Jas 5:11 · King James Version (1769)

William MacDonald comments that few people in history have lost so much in so short a time, yet Job never turned away from God, and in the end God showed Himself merciful. MacArthur adds that, as with Job, God has a purpose when His people suffer.

The book of Job warns against the easy conclusion that every trouble is a punishment for a particular sin: that was the friends’ mistake. It shows that God rules over all, even over Satan, and that a believer can bring honest grief and hard questions to Him. Most of all, it teaches trust when no explanation is given. Job did not get answers; he met God, and that was enough. For more on this question, see Why does God allow suffering?