Job 2:7 (KJV)

What does Job 2:7 mean?

Job 2:7 describes how Satan left the LORD’s presence and struck Job with painful boils that covered his entire body, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. This verse shows the beginning of Job’s physical suffering, which follows his earlier losses.

In the story, Job is a faithful man who has already lost his children and possessions. Now, Satan is allowed by God to test Job further by attacking his health. The verse marks a turning point where Job’s suffering becomes personal and physical, setting the stage for the challenges and conversations that follow in the book.

The Hebrew behind Job 2:7

• שָּׂטָן (śāṭān, "Satan"): This word means "adversary" or "accuser." In Job, Satan is not a proper name but a title for the one who challenges Job’s faithfulness.
• נָגַע (nāgaʿ, "smote"): This verb means to strike or afflict. It emphasizes that Job’s suffering is not accidental but a direct result of Satan’s action.
• שְׁחִין רָע (sheḥīn raʿ, "sore boils"): The phrase refers to inflamed, painful sores. The word "raʿ" means "bad" or "evil," stressing the severity of Job’s affliction.
• מִכַּף רַגְלוֹ עַד קָדְקֳדוֹ (mi-kaf raglo ʿad qadqodó, "from the sole of his foot unto his crown"): This expression highlights that Job’s suffering was total, affecting his entire body without relief.

Why Job 2:7 matters

• Job 2:7 clarifies that Job’s suffering was not just emotional or financial but also deeply physical, making his endurance even more remarkable in the story.
• The verse shows that the suffering came with God’s permission but was carried out by Satan, which is important for understanding the book’s exploration of suffering and faith.
• By describing the extent of Job’s boils, the verse prepares the reader for the reactions of Job’s wife and friends, who respond to his visible, severe pain in the following passages.