The name of the book of Job in the Bible comes from its central character. The English name is derived from the Latin Iob, from the Greek Iōb, which was the transliteration of the Hebrew Īyōb. The meaning of the name is uncertain.
Authorship
The author is uncertain. The name of the author is not indicated in the book. That Job himself could not have written all of it is shown by the inclusion of the record of his death (Job 42:17 KJV). Some have suggested that Moses wrote the account. This hypothesis would explain its inclusion in the canon, but it is mere speculation.
Job Existed
Job was a real person as Ezekiel 14:14–20 (KJV) and James 5:11 (KJV) indicate. He was a native of the land of Uz (Job 1, 19 KJV), which scholars have located either northeast of Palestine near desert land, probably between the city of Damascus and the Euphrates River, or to the southeast in the area of Edom. Job probably lived before or around the time of Abraham (c. 2167–1992 b.c.). Some have suggested that Job was about 70 years old at the time of the events in Job (Job 42:16 KJV). He was very wealthy; he and his sons were homeowners in a large city of the region (Job 4; 29:7 KJV); he was a respected and popular judge and benefactor of his fellow citizens (Job 29:7–25 KJV). He was a righteous man in God’s eyes (Job 1, 5, 8; 2:3 KJV; Ezek. 14:14–20 KJV; James 5:11 KJV). The events related in this book were initiated by God (Job 6–8 KJV), for God did not allow Job’s trials because of any sin in his life (Job 2:3 KJV). Job emerged from the severe testing with a fresh appreciation of God’s sovereignty and sufficiency for the believer’s life (Job 42:1–6 KJV).
Purpose of the Book of Job
Many suggestions have been made as to the purpose of the book of Job. However, the overriding intention seems to be to demonstrate to man the inadequacy of human reason to account for the suffering of the innocent. There is a mystery of divine freedom which does not contradict God’s goodness or sovereignty but remains elusive to man. Therefore, man is resigned to an attitude of trust and dependence on a good God whose workings man cannot fathom.
This article includes material from the King James Study Bible, Full-Color Edition from Thomas Nelson. To learn more about this Bible, watch the video!
10 replies on “Who Wrote the Book of Job?”
Please I want to know more on this topic
Nobody knows. People think it could be Moses.
it seems to me that Job was not a real character. This is a wonderful story with many life lessons that we can learn from. Think sometime as Christians we read too much into the scripture . The checking in by satan with God seem to be like a bed time story that you will tell your children( once upon a time).
Job was a real person, evident by Ezekiel 14:14-20. If we believe he wasn’t, then we are saying Noah and Daniel were fictitious also, and that is just not the case.
As I have ALWAYS said, and the comments listed above bare me out, the Bible was NOT WRITTEN for us “en masse” but for each and every one individually…We determine HOW the Bible affects our lives and how we live them on an INDIVIDUAL BASIS. Think people…it’s the ONLY book in the world, that after 3500 years, we are STILL trying to interpret! Put 25 pastors, priests, or rabbis in a room and I guarantee you’ll have 15-20 DIFFERENT interpretations of the same passage!!! Once again, the Bible was written for YOU!!! NOT US!
The Truth is absolute, not relative, yet ever-more personal:
“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NLT)
“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
II Peter 1:20-21 NKJV
“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.”
2 Peter 1:16-19 (NLT)
I think so to
You can say what you want about inspiration but the fact of the matter is that the Bible was written by people. Imperfect people.
Common sense will tell you each of Jobs three friends wrote down their speeches and some one put the book together durning Jobs lifetime. Job no doubt helped inform the writer by the Holy Spirits guidance.
I would like to know who wrote this article so I may give proper credit if I share it. Who is the author please?