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Easton's Bible Dictionary
persecuted, An Arabian patriarch who resided in the land
of Uz (q.v.). While living in the midst of great prosperity, he was suddenly overwhelmed
by a series of sore trials that fell upon him. Amid all his sufferings he maintained
his integrity. Once more God visited him with the rich tokens of his goodness
and even greater prosperity than he had enjoyed before. He survived the period
of trial for one hundred and forty years, and died in a good old age, an example
to succeeding generations of integrity ( Ezekiel
14:14 , 14:20
) and of submissive patience under the sorest calamities ( James
5:11 ). His history, so far as it is known, is recorded in his book.
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
he that weeps or cries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(persecuted)
(1) The third son of Issachar, ( Genesis
46:13 ) called in another genealogy JASHUB. ( 1
Chronicles 7:1 )
(2) The patriarch, from whom one of the books of the Old Testament is named. His
residence in the land of Uz marks him as belonging to a branch of the Aramean
race, which had settled in the lower part of Mesopatamia (Probably to the south
or southeast of Palestine, in Idumean Arabia), adjacent to the Sabeans and Chaldeans.
The opinions of Job and his friends are thus peculiarly interesting as exhibiting
an aspect of the patriarchal religion outside of the family of Abraham, and as
yet uninfluenced by the legislation of Moses. The form of worship belongs essentially
to the early patriarchal type; with little of ceremonial ritual, without a separate
priesthood, it is thoroughly domestic in form and spirit. Job is represented as
a chieftain of immense wealth and high rank, blameless in all the relations of
life. What we know of his history is given in the book that bears his name.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
job ('iyobh, meaning of name doubtful; some conjecturing
"object of enmity," others "he who turns," etc., to God; both uncertain guesses;
Iob):
The titular hero of the Book of Job, represented as a wealthy and pious
land-holder who lived in patriarchal times, or at least conditions, in the land
of Uz, on the borders of Idumea. Outside of the Book of Job he is mentioned by
Ezekiel (Ezekiel
14:14 , 14:20)
as one of 3 great personages whose representative righteousness would presumably
avail, if that of any individuals could, to redeem the nation; the other two being
Noah, an ancient patriarch, and Daniel, a contemporary of the prophet. It is difficult
to determine whether Job was an actual personage or not. If known through legend,
it must have been on account of some such experience as is narrated in the book,
an experience unique enough to have become a potent household word; still, the
power and influence of it is due to the masterly vigor and exposition of the story.
It was the Job of literature, rather than the Job of legend, who lived in the
hearts of men; a character so commanding that, albeit fictitious, it could be
referred to as real, just as we refer to Hamlet or Othello. It is not the way
of Hebrew writers, however, to evolve literary heroes from pure imagination; they
crave an authentic basis of fact. It is probable that such a basis, in its essential
outlines, existed under the story of Job. It is not necessary to suppose, however,
that the legend or the name was known to Israel from ancient times. Job is introduced
(Job 1:1) as if he had not been known before. The writer, who throughout the book
shows a wide acquaintance with the world, doubtless found the legend somewhere,
and drew its meanings together for an undying message to his and all times.
John Franklin Genung
Tags:
bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, job, land of uz, pious, righteous, wealthy
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