Job 1:2

KJV

And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there were born {H3205} unto him seven {H7651} sons {H1121} and three {H7969} daughters {H1323}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

Berean Standard Bible

He had seven sons and three daughters,

American Standard Version

And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 1:2 immediately follows the introduction of Job as a blameless and upright man, establishing his immense personal prosperity and divine favor through the detailed description of his family. This verse highlights the ideal composition of his household, specifically mentioning seven sons and three daughters, thereby underscoring the completeness of his blessings and setting a profound stage for the severe trials that are about to unfold.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse seamlessly continues the introductory description of Job from [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction of Job's Character and Location"). After establishing Job's impeccable moral character ("blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil"), the narrative immediately pivots to detail his material and familial blessings. By enumerating his children before his extensive livestock and servants in [Job 1:3](/job/1-3 "Job 1:3 - Job's Material Wealth"), the text deliberately emphasizes that his family was arguably the most significant and cherished aspect of his prosperity. This deliberate sequencing underscores the depth and completeness of Job's initial blessed state, making the subsequent devastation of his family in [Job 1:18-19](/job/1-18-19 "Job 1:18-19 - The Death of Job's Children") all the more striking and impactful for the reader.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a large family, particularly one with numerous sons, was considered an unequivocal and paramount sign of divine blessing, prosperity, and high social standing. Sons ensured the continuation of the family line, provided essential labor for agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and offered security and care in old age. Daughters, while also valued, contributed to the family's social network through strategic alliances formed by marriage. The specific numbers "seven sons and three daughters" represent a perfect, ideal, and complete family unit within this cultural milieu, signifying Job's exceptional status not just in terms of material wealth but also in terms of the profound favor he enjoyed from God. This cultural understanding is crucial for appreciating the magnitude of Job's initial blessings and the devastating impact of their subsequent removal.

* **Key Themes:** Job 1:2 contributes significantly to several key themes within the broader book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully establishes the theme of **Abundance and Prosperity**, portraying Job as exceptionally blessed by God, a common biblical motif where righteousness is often linked to earthly well-being, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 28:1-14](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings for Obedience") which outlines blessings for obedience. Secondly, it highlights **Family as a Divine Blessing**, aligning with the broader biblical perspective that children are a heritage and reward from the Lord, as beautifully expressed in [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children as a Heritage from the Lord"). Finally, and most critically, this verse serves as a dramatic **Setup for Trial**. The depiction of Job's perfect and complete family life creates a stark and poignant contrast with the impending losses, magnifying the depth of his suffering and introducing the central theological question of the book: why do the righteous suffer, especially when they are so abundantly blessed? The perfection of his family life here makes the subsequent tragedy in [Job 1:18-19](/job/1-18-19 "Job 1:18-19 - The Death of Job's Children") all the more devastating and central to the narrative's theological inquiry.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Born (Hebrew, _yâlad'_):** This primitive root signifies "to bear young" or "to beget." In the context of Job 1:2, it emphasizes the natural, yet divinely ordained, process by which Job's children came into existence. It highlights that his numerous offspring were not acquired possessions but were given through the natural course of life, a gift often attributed to divine blessing in ancient cultures, underscoring God's active role in bestowing this aspect of Job's prosperity.
* **Seven (Hebrew, _shebaʻ'_):** This number frequently symbolizes completeness, perfection, or divine fullness in biblical literature, often referred to as "the sacred full one." From the seven days of creation in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") to the seven spirits of God in [Revelation 1:4](/revelation/1-4 "Revelation 1:4 - The Seven Spirits of God"), "seven" consistently denotes wholeness or divine ordering. In Job 1:2, "seven sons" indicates that Job's male offspring were not merely numerous but perfectly complete, signifying the apex of familial blessing and prosperity in ancient thought.
* **Three (Hebrew, _shâlôwsh'_):** While "seven" often denotes divine completeness, "three" is a primitive number that, when combined with "seven," contributes to a sense of ideal completeness. In the context of Job's family, "three daughters" complements the "seven sons," bringing the total to ten, a number often associated with completeness or divine order (e.g., the Ten Commandments). The combination of seven and three further underscores the ideal, divinely ordained, and perfectly complete nature of Job's family structure.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there were born unto him":** This phrase emphasizes that Job's children were a direct result of God's blessing upon him, aligning with the ancient understanding that fertility and offspring were gifts from the divine. It highlights the passive reception of this blessing by Job, rather than an active acquisition, underscoring God's benevolent role in his prosperity and setting the stage for the dramatic reversal of fortune.
* **"seven sons and three daughters":** This specific enumeration is crucial for understanding the verse's profound meaning. As discussed in Key Word Analysis, the numbers "seven" and "three" are highly symbolic. "Seven sons" signifies perfect male progeny, ensuring the continuation of his lineage, the fullness of his social standing, and the ideal representation of male heirs. "Three daughters" completes the ideal family unit, contributing to the overall picture of Job's unparalleled blessedness and familial completeness. The precise listing emphasizes the completeness and perfection of his family, making the subsequent loss of all his children in [Job 1:18-19](/job/1-18-19 "Job 1:18-19 - The Death of Job's Children") profoundly impactful and a central element of his trial.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Job 1:2 is **Symbolism**, particularly through the precise use of numbers. The numbers "seven" and "three" are not merely descriptive counts; they carry profound symbolic weight, signifying completeness, perfection, and divine blessing. This numerical symbolism underscores the ideal nature of Job's family, portraying it as a divinely ordered and complete unit, the epitome of ancient Near Eastern prosperity. This perfection serves as a crucial element of **Foreshadowing**, subtly hinting at the magnitude of the loss to come. By establishing Job's blessings as utterly complete and ideal, the narrative effectively maximizes the shock and theological tension when these very blessings are systematically stripped away. The verse also employs **Juxtaposition** by placing this ideal family immediately after Job's blameless character, creating a vivid picture of a man who is perfectly blessed in every conceivable way, thus setting up the stark contrast with his impending suffering and the central theological dilemma of the book.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 1:2 serves as a foundational statement regarding the nature of blessing in the ancient world and within the biblical narrative. It portrays Job as a recipient of ideal familial prosperity, a tangible sign of God's favor and a fulfillment of promises often associated with covenant faithfulness. This initial state of perfect blessing sets the theological stage for the book's central inquiry into the relationship between righteousness and suffering, challenging the conventional wisdom that only the wicked suffer. The verse implicitly raises profound questions about the source and security of earthly blessings, preparing the reader for a deeper theological exploration of divine sovereignty, human suffering, and the true nature of faith that transcends circumstantial well-being.

* [Psalm 127:3](/psalms/127-3 "Psalm 127:3 - Children as a Heritage from the Lord")
* [Genesis 22:17](/genesis/22-17 "Genesis 22:17 - God's Promise of Numerous Offspring to Abraham")
* [Deuteronomy 28:4](/deuteronomy/28-4 "Deuteronomy 28:4 - Blessings on the Fruit of the Womb")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 1:2 invites us to reflect deeply on the nature of true blessing and the transient reality of earthly possessions and relationships. While Job's family represented the pinnacle of ancient prosperity and divine favor, this verse, when viewed in light of the entire narrative, subtly reminds us that even the most cherished gifts are held in God's hands and can be withdrawn. It challenges us to consider where our ultimate security and identity truly lie—is it primarily in our family, our wealth, our social status, or in our unwavering relationship with God? This verse encourages profound gratitude for the blessings we have, particularly the gift of family, but also cultivates a spiritual posture of holding all things loosely, recognizing that our greatest treasure is not what we possess but who possesses us. It prepares our hearts for the profound truth that true contentment, spiritual prosperity, and ultimate security are found in God alone, independent of our changing circumstances.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does Job 1:2, in the context of the entire book, teach us about the nature of earthly blessings and their ultimate security?**
* **How does our modern understanding of "blessing" compare with the ancient Near Eastern perspective presented here, and what spiritual lessons can we draw from the difference?**
* **If Job's perfect family was a sign of God's favor, how do we reconcile this with the suffering of righteous people today who may not experience such outward blessings?**

### FAQ

**Why are the specific numbers "seven sons and three daughters" mentioned? Is there a special meaning?**

Answer: Yes, the specific numbers "seven sons and three daughters" are highly significant and are not merely a casual count. In biblical numerology, "seven" often symbolizes completeness, perfection, or divine fullness (e.g., the seven days of creation in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), or the seven-fold Spirit of God in [Revelation 4:5](/revelation/4-5 "Revelation 4:5 - The Seven Spirits of God")). "Three" can symbolize divine emphasis, witness, or completeness (e.g., the Trinity). Together, "seven sons and three daughters" indicate that Job possessed an ideal, perfectly complete, and divinely blessed family. This detail underscores the magnitude of his prosperity and the depth of God's favor upon him, setting a powerful contrast for the devastating losses he is about to endure in [Job 1:18-19](/job/1-18-19 "Job 1:18-19 - The Death of Job's Children").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 1:2 describes an earthly blessing, the perfect family of Job powerfully foreshadows the ultimate spiritual family and blessing found in Christ. Job's "seven sons and three daughters" represented a complete and ideal earthly lineage, yet this was temporary and subject to loss and tragedy. In contrast, Jesus Christ, the truly "blameless and upright" one (echoing the description of Job in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Character")), came to establish an eternal family, a spiritual lineage that transcends earthly ties and is not subject to the vicissitudes of life or the ravages of death. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ became the "firstborn among many brothers and sisters" ([Romans 8:29](/romans/8-29 "Romans 8:29 - Christ the Firstborn Among Many Brothers")), gathering sons and daughters from every tribe and nation into God's eternal household ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")). The completeness symbolized by Job's ten children finds its ultimate fulfillment in the vast, innumerable spiritual family of God, redeemed by Christ's blood, where every member is eternally secure in Him ([John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand")). Job's earthly blessing, though profound, points to the infinitely greater, eternal, and unbreakable spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers in Christ Jesus ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 42:13

He had also seven sons and three daughters.

Psalms 127:3

Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

Psalms 127:5

Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Psalms 107:38

He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

Esther 5:11

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all [the things] wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

Psalms 128:3

Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Job 13:13

¶ Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what [will].