Job 1:21

KJV

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And said {H559}, Naked {H6174} came I out {H3318} of my mother's {H517} womb {H990}, and naked {H6174} shall I return {H7725} thither: the LORD {H3068} gave {H5414}, and the LORD {H3068} hath taken away {H3947}; blessed {H1288} be the name {H8034} of the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. ADONAI gave; ADONAI took; blessed be the name of ADONAI."

Berean Standard Bible

saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

American Standard Version

and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 1:21 presents Job's profound and immediate response to catastrophic loss, where he articulates a foundational truth about human existence and divine sovereignty. Stripped of his children and vast wealth, Job falls in worship, acknowledging his inherent vulnerability and the transient nature of all earthly possessions. His declaration, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD," is a powerful testament to unyielding faith and submission to God's ultimate control, even in the face of incomprehensible suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 1:21 is the climax of the introductory narrative (Job 1:1-22), serving as Job's initial, unprompted reaction to the devastating news of his children's deaths and the destruction of his entire livelihood. The preceding verses establish Job as a man of exemplary righteousness, "perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" ([Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Righteousness")). A heavenly dialogue between God and Satan sets the stage, with Satan challenging Job's integrity, asserting that his piety is contingent upon his prosperity. God permits Satan to test Job, leading to the rapid succession of calamities described in [Job 1:13-19](/job/1-13 "Job 1:13-19 - Job's Calamities"). Job's response in [Job 1:20-22](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20-22 - Job's Response to Suffering") immediately disproves Satan's accusation, demonstrating Job's unwavering faith and establishing the central conflict and theological questions that the rest of the book will explore. This verse is pivotal, showcasing Job's character before the lengthy dialogues with his friends begin.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region likely east of Palestine, and depicts a patriarchal society, possibly pre-Mosaic, given the absence of references to the Mosaic Law or the Israelite nation. In this ancient Near Eastern context, wealth was measured in livestock, servants, and family size, all of which Job possessed in abundance ([Job 1:3](/job/1-3 "Job 1:3 - Job's Great Wealth")). Children, especially, were seen as a divine blessing and a guarantee of legacy. The cultural norms of mourning involved tearing garments, shaving the head, and falling to the ground ([Job 1:20](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20 - Job's Initial Mourning")), all actions Job performs. His subsequent words, however, transcend typical expressions of grief, reflecting a deep theological understanding of divine sovereignty and human transience that was both culturally profound and personally revolutionary.

* **Key Themes:** Job 1:21 powerfully encapsulates several core themes that resonate throughout the book and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty**, as Job explicitly attributes both the "giving" and "taking away" to the LORD, acknowledging God's absolute authority and control over all circumstances, life, and possessions. This theme is central to the entire Book of Job, asserting that God is sovereign over both blessing and adversity, a truth echoed in Hannah's song in [1 Samuel 2:6](/1_samuel/2-6 "1 Samuel 2:6 - The LORD Kills and Makes Alive"). Secondly, the verse underscores **Human Mortality and Transience**, particularly through the phrase "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither." This universal truth emphasizes that humanity enters and leaves the world without material possessions, recognizing that all earthly goods are temporary gifts. This profound realization helps Job detach from his immense losses, a concept also articulated in [Ecclesiastes 5:15](/ecclesiastes/5-15 "Ecclesiastes 5:15 - Naked We Come, Naked We Go"). Lastly, Job's response exemplifies **Worship Amidst Suffering**. Despite his unimaginable grief, Job's immediate reaction is not anger or despair, but worship: "blessed be the name of the LORD." This demonstrates an extraordinary level of faith and submission, where his relationship with God transcends his circumstances and establishes a model for enduring faith.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Naked (Hebrew, _‘arôm'_):** This word signifies a state of being unclothed, exposed, or vulnerable. In this context, it powerfully conveys the utter lack of possessions or material goods with which a person enters the world. It emphasizes human dependence and the fundamental truth that material wealth is not inherent to one's being but is acquired and temporary. Job's use of "naked" highlights the ultimate transience of all earthly things.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _YHWH'_):** The consistent use of "the LORD" in the King James Version (and most English translations) refers to God's covenant name, Yahweh (YHWH). This is not a generic title for deity but the personal, self-revealing, and eternal name of the God of Israel. Job's use of this specific name signifies a deep, personal, and relational understanding of God, emphasizing that it is the faithful, covenant-keeping God who is sovereign over both giving and taking.
* **Blessed (Hebrew, _bārak'_):** This verb carries the sense of kneeling, praising, or revering. It denotes an act of acknowledging and declaring the inherent worthiness, goodness, and majesty of God. Crucially, Job is not blessing God *for* the suffering or loss, but he is affirming God's character and worthiness of praise *despite* the suffering. It is an act of submission and adoration that transcends circumstances, recognizing God's unchanging nature and supreme authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither":** This opening clause is a profound statement on the universal human condition. It acknowledges the cycle of life, from birth to death, emphasizing that all individuals enter the world without possessions and will leave it in the same state. This serves as a powerful reminder of human fragility, dependence, and the ultimate transience of all material wealth and earthly achievements. It sets the stage for Job's detachment from his losses.
* **"the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away":** This declaration is the theological core of Job's response. It is an explicit and direct attribution of both prosperity ("gave") and adversity ("taken away") to the sovereign will and action of God (YHWH). Job does not blame fate, chance, or Satan (whose role he is unaware of); instead, he recognizes God as the ultimate source and controller of all things. This statement affirms God's absolute authority over life, death, and all circumstances, underscoring that everything is a gift from His hand.
* **"blessed be the name of the LORD":** This concluding phrase is an extraordinary act of worship and submission. Despite the unimaginable grief and loss, Job chooses to praise and honor God's name. "The name of the LORD" represents God's character, reputation, and entire being. By blessing His name, Job affirms God's inherent goodness, justice, and worthiness of praise, regardless of the pain he is experiencing. It is an act of profound faith that transcends circumstantial understanding and demonstrates an unwavering trust in God's ultimate righteousness.

#### Literary Devices
Job 1:21 is rich in **Parallelism**, a common feature of Hebrew poetry, which enhances its rhetorical power and theological depth. The verse employs both **Antithetical Parallelism** ("Naked came I... naked shall I return" and "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away"), where opposing ideas are juxtaposed to emphasize a complete truth or contrast. This structure reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's sovereignty and the cyclical reality of human existence. The phrase "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away" also functions as a **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent the whole, implying that God is in control of everything from beginning to end. Furthermore, Job's immediate response to worship, despite his profound suffering, creates a powerful **Irony** when viewed against Satan's challenge that Job served God only for gain; Job's actions immediately refute this accusation. The entire verse serves as a profound **Confession** or **Affirmation** of faith, articulating a theological truth through personal experience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 1:21 stands as a monumental declaration of faith and a profound theological statement on divine sovereignty and human transience. It establishes that true worship is not conditional upon prosperity but flows from an unshakeable recognition of God's ultimate authority over all aspects of life, including both blessing and adversity. Job's ability to "bless the name of the LORD" even as everything is stripped away reveals a spiritual maturity that transcends mere gratitude for gifts and instead rests in the Giver Himself. This verse challenges the common human tendency to equate God's goodness with favorable circumstances, asserting that God remains worthy of praise even when His ways are inscrutable and painful. It underscores the biblical truth that all possessions are temporary loans from God, and our ultimate security and joy must be found in Him alone, not in what He provides or takes away.

* [Deuteronomy 8:17-18](/deuteronomy/8-17 "Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - God Gives Power to Get Wealth")
* [Psalm 49:16-17](/psalm/49-16 "Psalm 49:16-17 - Do Not Be Afraid When Others Grow Rich")
* [James 5:11](/james/5-11 "James 5:11 - The Patience of Job")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 1:21 offers a profound and challenging model for believers navigating the complexities of suffering and loss in a fallen world. It calls us to cultivate a radical detachment from material possessions and an unwavering attachment to God Himself. In a culture that often measures worth by what one possesses or achieves, Job's declaration reminds us that we enter and leave this world with nothing, making all earthly gains temporary and ultimately insignificant in the face of eternity. His response teaches us to acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty not just in times of blessing, but especially when circumstances are painful, confusing, or seemingly unjust. To "bless the name of the LORD" in the midst of profound grief is not to deny the pain, but to affirm God's unchanging character and inherent worthiness of praise, thereby finding strength and peace that transcends our understanding. This act of worship transforms our perspective, shifting our focus from what we have lost to who God remains, enabling us to find contentment and purpose even in the most desolate seasons of life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's immediate response to catastrophic loss challenge my typical reactions to adversity and suffering?**
* **In what ways do I tend to attribute my blessings to my own efforts or to chance, rather than to God's sovereign giving hand?**
* **What does it truly mean to "bless the name of the LORD" when circumstances are painful, incomprehensible, or feel unfair?**

### FAQ
**Was Job blessing God for the suffering He inflicted?**

Answer: No, Job was not blessing God *for* the suffering itself, but rather *despite* the suffering. His declaration "blessed be the name of the LORD" is an affirmation of God's inherent worthiness, goodness, and sovereignty, regardless of the circumstances. He recognized that God is the ultimate source of all things, both good and seemingly bad, and that God's character remains worthy of praise even when His ways are mysterious or painful. Job's response is an act of profound submission and trust, acknowledging God's right to give and to take away, without questioning His ultimate righteousness. This is further clarified in [Job 2:10](/job/2-10 "Job 2:10 - Job's Response to His Wife"), where Job states, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?"

**What does "naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither" mean for our possessions and materialism?**

Answer: This phrase highlights the universal human condition of entering and leaving this world without any material possessions. It serves as a profound reminder of the temporary nature of all earthly wealth, status, and achievements. For believers, it encourages a healthy detachment from materialism, fostering a perspective that recognizes all we have as a gift from God, to be stewarded rather than clung to. It underscores that our true security and ultimate value are not found in what we possess, but in our relationship with God. This sentiment is echoed in the New Testament, reminding us that "we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it" ([1 Timothy 6:7](/1_timothy/6-7 "1 Timothy 6:7 - We Brought Nothing Into This World")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 1:21, with its profound declaration of divine sovereignty and human submission in the face of loss, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job's experience of being stripped bare, acknowledging that he came "naked" and would return "thither," foreshadows Christ's ultimate self-emptying. Though eternally rich in glory, Jesus "made himself poor" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ Became Poor for Our Sake")), ultimately becoming "naked" on the cross, stripped of His garments by the soldiers ([John 19:23](/john/19-23 "John 19:23 - Soldiers Divide Jesus' Garments")) and bearing the full weight of humanity's sin. His perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death, embodies the spirit of "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away." Christ willingly submitted to the Father's plan, accepting the "cup" of suffering ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")), knowing that His life was given by the Father and would be "taken away" for the salvation of the world. Yet, in His resurrection, the Father "gave" Him back, exalted and glorified. Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross "for the joy set before him" ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith")), perfectly demonstrating how to "bless the name of the LORD" even in the most agonizing suffering. His life, death, and resurrection provide the ultimate pattern for enduring faith, reminding us that in Him, even the deepest loss can lead to ultimate gain and eternal glory.

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

Ecclesiastes 5:15

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

1 Timothy 6:7

For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Job 2:10

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Ephesians 5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Isaiah 45:7

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things].