Job 1:20

KJV

¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

KJV (with Strong's)

Then Job {H347} arose {H6965}, and rent {H7167} his mantle {H4598}, and shaved {H1494} his head {H7218}, and fell down {H5307} upon the ground {H776}, and worshipped {H7812},

Complete Jewish Bible

Iyov got up, tore his coat, shaved his head, fell down on the ground and worshipped;

Berean Standard Bible

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

American Standard Version

Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 1:20 captures a pivotal moment of profound human grief and extraordinary spiritual resilience. Upon receiving news of the complete devastation of his family and possessions, Job's immediate, visceral reaction is to engage in customary rites of mourning, tearing his garment and shaving his head. Yet, remarkably, these expressions of utter sorrow culminate not in despair or rebellion, but in an act of humble prostration and worship before God, demonstrating an unwavering faith and submission to divine sovereignty even in the face of incomprehensible suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 1:20 serves as the dramatic climax to the rapid succession of calamities detailed in the preceding verses (Job 1:13-19). Having been introduced as a man of exemplary righteousness and prosperity (Job 1:1-5), Job is systematically stripped of his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and, most tragically, all ten of his children, each loss announced by a sole surviving messenger. This verse immediately follows the final, most devastating report, setting the stage for Job's initial response to the test orchestrated between God and Satan (Job 1:6-12). His actions here are not merely a reaction to loss but a foundational demonstration of the integrity of his faith, directly addressing Satan's accusation that Job served God only for material blessing. It also powerfully foreshadows Job's profound declaration in [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Declaration of God's Sovereignty"), which further articulates his submission and trust.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The actions described in Job 1:20—tearing one's mantle, shaving one's head, and falling to the ground—were deeply ingrained and universally understood expressions of extreme grief, mourning, and humility in the ancient Near East. Tearing one's outer garment (mantle) was a public, often violent, act signifying overwhelming distress, despair, or horror, seen in instances like [Genesis 37:34](/genesis/37-34 "Genesis 37:34 - Jacob's Grief for Joseph") or [2 Samuel 1:11](/2-samuel/1-11 "2 Samuel 1:11 - David's Mourning for Saul and Jonathan"). Shaving one's head, particularly in a context of mourning, symbolized humiliation, defilement, or utter desolation, often associated with a vow or a profound state of sorrow, as seen in [Jeremiah 7:29](/jeremiah/7-29 "Jeremiah 7:29 - Mourning for Jerusalem"). Falling down upon the ground, or prostration, was a gesture of deep reverence, submission, and humility before a superior, whether human or divine. In Job's case, these combined actions communicate the totality of his emotional devastation while simultaneously preparing for the profound spiritual act of worship that follows.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several central themes of the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **Nature of True Worship**, demonstrating that authentic devotion is not contingent upon favorable circumstances but can persist and even deepen amidst unimaginable suffering. Job's worship is an act of profound faith, not a mere ritual. Secondly, it underscores the **Sovereignty of God**, as Job's prostration implicitly acknowledges God's ultimate control over all events, even those that bring pain and loss. His response is one of submission to a divine will he cannot comprehend but still trusts. Thirdly, the verse introduces the theme of **Integrity in Adversity**, showcasing Job's unwavering character and faithfulness, which is the very essence of the test God allows Satan to inflict. This integrity, first introduced in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job's Character"), is here put to its ultimate test and found to be genuine, setting the stage for the book's exploration of the problem of suffering for the righteous.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arose (Hebrew, _qum_):** This verb signifies a decisive and immediate action, not a passive reaction. It implies Job's intentionality in his response to the news, rather than being paralyzed by grief. His rising is a prelude to his active expressions of mourning and, ultimately, worship.
* **Rent (Hebrew, קָרַע, _qara'_):** This word describes a violent tearing or ripping. It's not a gentle removal but an act of forceful destruction of his garment, indicative of the extreme emotional agony and shock Job experienced. This physical act mirrors the tearing apart of his life and family.
* **Worshipped (Hebrew, שָׁחָה, _shachah'_):** This is a crucial term, meaning "to bow down," "to prostrate oneself," or "to do obeisance." It signifies a posture of deep reverence, humility, and submission before a superior being. In this context, it is an act of profound adoration and acknowledgment of God's supreme authority, even in the midst of overwhelming personal tragedy. It elevates Job's response beyond mere cultural mourning to a spiritual declaration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Job arose":** This phrase emphasizes the immediate and active nature of Job's response. Despite the overwhelming shock and grief, he does not collapse in despair but takes deliberate action, signaling his engagement with the reality of his loss.
* **"and rent his mantle":** This was a customary and highly visible act of extreme grief and distress in ancient Near Eastern culture. The tearing of the outer garment symbolized the rending of one's inner being, a public display of profound sorrow and anguish over irreparable loss.
* **"and shaved his head":** Another deeply symbolic act of mourning, often associated with humiliation, defilement, or a complete stripping away of personal dignity and beauty. It signified utter desolation and a complete surrender to the gravity of the loss, leaving no aspect of his former prosperity untouched.
* **"and fell down upon the ground":** This action, prostration, is a gesture of profound humility and submission. It indicates Job's recognition of his own smallness and vulnerability in the face of overwhelming circumstances, and his acknowledgment of a higher power.
* **"and worshipped":** This is the culminating and most significant action. Despite the preceding acts of intense mourning, Job's ultimate response is not to curse God or despair, but to offer worship. This demonstrates an extraordinary level of faith, reverence, and submission to God's sovereign will, even when that will brings pain and incomprehension. It is an active choice to acknowledge God's worthiness regardless of circumstances.

#### Literary Devices
Job 1:20 is rich with **Symbolism**, as each of Job's actions—tearing his mantle, shaving his head, and falling to the ground—are highly symbolic of profound grief, humiliation, and submission in ancient Near Eastern culture. These physical acts are external manifestations of his internal devastation. The verse also employs powerful **Juxtaposition**, placing the raw, visceral expressions of human sorrow directly alongside an act of profound spiritual worship. This stark contrast highlights the extraordinary nature of Job's faith: his grief is real and unreserved, yet it does not prevent or diminish his worship. Furthermore, the verse uses **Climax** by building from the initial act of rising, through the escalating signs of mourning, to the ultimate and most significant action of worship, presenting it as the apex of his response. This climactic structure underscores the theological weight of Job's decision to worship despite everything.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 1:20 offers a profound theological statement on the nature of authentic faith and the sovereignty of God. Job's response challenges the simplistic notion that worship is merely a transactional exchange for blessings. Instead, it reveals a faith that is deeply rooted in God's character, not His gifts. His prostration and worship, even in the midst of utter devastation, affirm God's absolute authority and goodness, even when His ways are inscrutable to human understanding. This act of worship in suffering serves as a powerful testament to the integrity of Job's heart, proving that his devotion was not conditional upon his prosperity, but was an intrinsic posture of his soul before his Creator. It sets the stage for the book's enduring exploration of why the righteous suffer and how true faith endures.

* [Deuteronomy 6:5](/deuteronomy/6-5 "Deuteronomy 6:5 - Love the Lord Your God")
* [Psalm 34:18](/psalm/34-18 "Psalm 34:18 - God is Near the Brokenhearted")
* [Habakkuk 3:17-19](/habakkuk/3-17 "Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Rejoicing in the Lord Despite Circumstances")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 1:20 presents a challenging and inspiring model for believers facing trials and tribulations. In a world that often measures faith by outward prosperity or emotional comfort, Job's response compels us to re-evaluate the depth and authenticity of our own worship. When life unravels, when the foundations are shaken, and when sorrow seems insurmountable, our natural inclination might be to question, to rage, or to withdraw from God. Job, however, demonstrates a radical commitment to acknowledging God's sovereignty even when His actions are incomprehensible. His worship is not an act of denial of his pain, but an act of trust that transcends it. This verse teaches us that true worship is not merely an expression of joy in good times, but a profound act of submission, reverence, and faith in the midst of profound sorrow and confusion. It calls us to cultivate a heart that can still say, "Blessed be the name of the Lord," even when everything has been taken away.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond to unexpected loss or devastating news? Is my initial reaction one of despair, anger, or turning towards God?**
* **What does Job's act of worship in the face of total loss reveal about the nature of true faith and devotion?**
* **Is my worship of God conditional on my circumstances, or is it rooted in His unchanging character and sovereignty?**
* **In what practical ways can I cultivate a posture of worship and submission to God, even when I don't understand His plan or purpose in my suffering?**

### FAQ

**Why did Job tear his clothes and shave his head, and what do these actions signify in the context of his worship?**

Answer: Job's actions of tearing his mantle and shaving his head were deeply ingrained cultural expressions of extreme grief, mourning, and distress in the ancient Near East. Tearing one's outer garment (mantle) was a public, visceral display of overwhelming sorrow, despair, or horror, symbolizing the rending of one's inner being. Shaving one's head, particularly in a mourning context, signified humiliation, defilement, or utter desolation, a stripping away of personal dignity and a complete surrender to the gravity of the loss. These were not acts of defiance against God but traditional, ritualistic ways of expressing profound human anguish. The significance lies in the fact that these acts of intense mourning **culminated** in worship. Job did not suppress his grief; he fully expressed it through culturally appropriate means. Yet, his grief did not lead to cursing God, but to prostration and worship, demonstrating that his faith was robust enough to encompass both deep sorrow and unwavering reverence for God's sovereignty. His worship was not a denial of his pain but an act that transcended it.

**Is Job's worship in this verse a sign of resignation to fate, or an active expression of genuine faith?**

Answer: Job's worship in Job 1:20 is unequivocally an active expression of genuine faith, not mere resignation to fate. While his actions of mourning show his profound human sorrow, his subsequent prostration and worship (Hebrew: _shachah_, meaning to bow down in reverence) signify a conscious and intentional act of submission and adoration towards God. Resignation implies a passive giving up, a spirit of defeat. Job's worship, however, is an active acknowledgment of God's ultimate authority and worthiness, even when His ways are incomprehensible. It is a declaration that despite the overwhelming pain and loss, God remains God, worthy of all reverence and trust. This is further underscored by his famous declaration in [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Declaration of God's Sovereignty"), "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." This is not the language of a defeated man, but of one whose faith is so deeply rooted that it can bless God even in the crucible of suffering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's profound act of worship in Job 1:20, amidst the utter devastation of his life, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate suffering and submission of Jesus Christ. Job, a righteous man, endures inexplicable loss and responds with humble adoration, acknowledging God's sovereignty even unto death. This prefigures Christ, the perfectly righteous Son of God, who willingly embraced unimaginable suffering—not for His own sin, but for the sins of humanity—and yet maintained perfect obedience and trust in the Father. Just as Job "fell down upon the ground, and worshipped," Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, "fell on His face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will'" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Christ's suffering, culminating in His death on the cross, was the ultimate act of worship and obedience, fulfilling the prophetic shadows of Job's integrity in adversity. His cry from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry on the Cross")), echoes the lament of the righteous sufferer, yet His ultimate submission ("It is finished!" [John 19:30](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - Jesus' Final Words on the Cross")) reveals the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world through perfect, suffering obedience ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Job's worship in loss points to the One who, "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered" ([Hebrews 5:8](/hebrews/5-8 "Hebrews 5:8 - Christ's Obedience Through Suffering")), becoming the perfect High Priest and the ultimate example of worship in the face of the Father's inscrutable will.

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

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

2 Samuel 12:16

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

2 Samuel 12:20

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Genesis 37:34

And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Genesis 37:29

And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

Ezra 9:3

And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.

Deuteronomy 9:18

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.