Job 2:5

KJV

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {H199} put forth {H7971} thine hand {H3027} now, and touch {H5060} his bone {H6106} and his flesh {H1320}, and he will curse {H1288} thee to thy face {H6440}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But if you reach out your hand and touch his flesh and bone, without doubt he'll curse you to your face!"

Berean Standard Bible

But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

American Standard Version

But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 2:5 records Satan's second, more audacious challenge to God concerning Job's integrity. Having failed to break Job's faith through the loss of his possessions and children, Satan now proposes a direct assault on Job's physical body, confidently asserting that such profound personal suffering would inevitably lead Job to renounce God to His face. This verse is pivotal, setting the stage for the most intense phase of Job's trials and deepening the theological inquiry into the nature of disinterested worship and the purpose of suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows God's commendation of Job in [Job 2:3](/job/2-3 "God's Commendation of Job's Integrity"), where the Lord highlights Job's continued integrity despite Satan's initial, devastating attacks. Satan's statement in [Job 2:4](/job/2-4 "Satan's Second Accusation") sets up the challenge of [Job 2:5](/job/2-5 "Satan's Challenge to Afflict Job Physically"), arguing that Job's resilience was due only to the preservation of his own life and health. The dialogue between God and Satan in [Job 1](/job/1 "Job 1 - Satan's First Challenge") and [Job 2](/job/2 "Job 2 - Satan's Second Challenge") forms the dramatic prologue to the book, establishing the cosmic stakes of Job's suffering before the lengthy poetic dialogues begin. The request in [Job 2:5](/job/2-5 "Satan's Challenge to Afflict Job Physically") directly leads to God granting permission for physical affliction in [Job 2:6](/job/2-6 "God Grants Permission to Satan, with a Limit"), initiating Job's personal agony.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a location generally understood to be outside of Israel, suggesting a non-Israelite setting for the protagonist. This broadens the theological implications of the book, making Job's experience universally applicable rather than confined to the covenant people. The cultural understanding of suffering in the ancient Near East often linked misfortune directly to sin, a view strongly challenged by the narrative of Job. Satan's argument in [Job 2:5](/job/2-5 "Satan's Challenge to Afflict Job Physically") taps into a common human instinct for self-preservation, suggesting that physical pain is the ultimate breaking point for loyalty, a concept deeply ingrained in many ancient cultures where physical well-being was seen as a direct sign of divine favor. The "curse to thy face" implies a public, direct renunciation, a profound act of rebellion against a deity.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 2:5](/job/2-5 "Satan's Challenge to Afflict Job Physically") is central to several major themes in the Book of Job. It underscores the **nature of true worship**, questioning whether devotion to God can be disinterested, free from the expectation of reward or protection. Satan's challenge directly assaults Job's **integrity** and the very premise of his righteousness, pushing the boundaries of the "fear of God" mentioned in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job's Righteousness"). The verse also highlights the **reality of spiritual warfare**, portraying Satan as the relentless "accuser of the brethren" ([Revelation 12:10](/revelation/12-10 "Revelation 12:10 - Satan the Accuser")) who seeks to undermine faith through severe trials. Crucially, it demonstrates God's **sovereignty** even over evil, as Satan must seek and receive divine permission to act, and God sets the limit of "only spare his life" in [Job 2:6](/job/2-6 "God Grants Permission to Satan, with a Limit"), affirming His ultimate control amidst profound suffering.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Touch (Hebrew, _nāga'_):** This verb signifies a direct, impactful contact or strike, often with an intent to harm or afflict. In this context, it moves beyond the indirect harm of property loss or the death of children (which were external to Job's body) to a personal, physical assault. It implies a violation of Job's bodily integrity, a far more intimate and painful form of suffering.
* **Bone and his flesh (Hebrew, _‘eṣem ûbāśār'_):** This is a merism, a literary device where two contrasting or complementary parts represent the whole. "Bone and flesh" together signify the entirety of Job's physical being, his very essence and vitality. It's a comprehensive term for his physical existence, emphasizing that Satan seeks to inflict suffering that penetrates to the deepest level of his person, not just external circumstances.
* **Curse (Hebrew, _bārak'_):** While the root _bārak_ typically means "to bless," in contexts of confrontation with God, especially when paired with "to thy face" or "and die" (as in [Job 2:9](/job/2-9 "Job's Wife's Advice to Curse God")), it carries the antithetical meaning of renouncing, reviling, or blaspheming God. Satan's use of this word is deeply ironic, twisting the language of devotion into an act of ultimate rebellion, predicting Job's outright rejection of the Lord in the face of unbearable pain.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But put forth thine hand now":** This clause represents Satan's audacious request for divine permission. It acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty, as Satan cannot act without God's explicit allowance. The "now" indicates an immediate escalation, a pressing demand for a more severe test.
* **"and touch his bone and his flesh":** This specifies the nature of the proposed affliction. It's a direct, physical attack on Job's very being, moving beyond the external losses of the first test. It implies an internal, deeply personal, and agonizing form of suffering that would challenge Job's physical endurance and mental fortitude.
* **"and he will curse thee to thy face":** This is Satan's confident prediction and the core of his accusation. He believes that physical pain is the ultimate breaking point for human faith, asserting that Job's piety is merely transactional and will collapse into open blasphemy when his personal well-being is threatened. "To thy face" implies a direct, defiant renunciation of God's authority and goodness.

#### Literary Devices
The language of [Job 2:5](/job/2-5 "Satan's Challenge to Afflict Job Physically") is rich with literary devices that amplify its dramatic and theological impact. **Merism** is prominently used in "bone and his flesh," which represents the totality of Job's physical being, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the proposed suffering. The verse also employs **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader, unlike Satan, knows Job's true character and the outcome of the test; Job will not curse God. Satan's use of the word "curse" (Hebrew _barak_) is a profound example of **Verbal Irony**, as the word typically means "to bless," highlighting the perverse nature of Satan's intent—to turn a man of blessing into a blasphemer. Furthermore, Satan's confident assertion that Job "will curse thee to thy face" functions as **Hyperbole**, an overstatement meant to convince God of the certainty of Job's downfall under extreme duress, thereby challenging God's assessment of Job's integrity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 2:5 profoundly deepens the theological inquiry into the nature of suffering and the integrity of faith. It posits the ultimate test: can a person truly serve God for who He is, rather than for what He provides? Satan's challenge suggests that all human piety is ultimately self-serving, a transactional relationship based on blessings. This verse forces a confrontation with the problem of evil and suffering, not as a direct consequence of sin (as Job's friends will argue), but as a battleground for cosmic truth—the truth of God's character and the genuineness of human devotion. It highlights the spiritual warfare at play, where an adversary actively seeks to undermine faith, and God, in His sovereignty, permits trials for purposes beyond human comprehension, often to refine and demonstrate the authenticity of faith.

* [Deuteronomy 8:2-3](/deuteronomy/8-2-3 "Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - Testing to Know What Is in Your Heart")
* [1 Peter 1:6-7](/1_peter/1-6-7 "1 Peter 1:6-7 - Faith Tested by Fire")
* [James 1:2-4](/james/1-2-4 "James 1:2-4 - The Testing of Your Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 2:5 serves as a stark reminder that trials can escalate, moving from external losses to deeply personal, physical suffering. In our own lives, faith is often tested not just by what we lose, but by what we endure within our own bodies and minds. This verse challenges us to examine the foundation of our faith: Do we serve God purely out of love and reverence for His character, or is our devotion contingent upon His blessings and protection? When we face profound physical pain, chronic illness, or mental anguish, the temptation to question God's goodness or even to renounce Him can be immense. Job's story, initiated by this very challenge, calls us to trust in God's sovereign control even when we cannot understand His purposes. It encourages us to hold fast to our integrity, knowing that our suffering, while painful, is permitted by a God who sets limits and ultimately works all things for His glory and our good, even when the "why" remains elusive.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does physical suffering challenge your perception of God's goodness and power?**
* **What does "cursing God to His face" look like in modern life, beyond explicit blasphemy?**
* **In what ways might you be tempted to serve God conditionally, based on blessings rather than His inherent worth?**
* **How can remembering God's sovereignty, even over the forces of evil, strengthen your resolve in times of intense personal trial?**

### FAQ

**Why does God allow Satan to afflict Job, especially after Job's initial steadfastness?**

Answer: God allows Satan to afflict Job not because Job has sinned, but to demonstrate the nature of true faith and to vindicate Job's integrity against Satan's cynical accusation. Satan claims Job serves God only for material blessings and protection (a transactional faith). By permitting the severe tests, God allows Job's genuine, disinterested piety to be revealed, proving that Job fears God for who He is, not just for what He provides. This cosmic drama also serves to highlight God's ultimate sovereignty, even over the forces of evil, as He sets the boundaries for Satan's actions (e.g., "only spare his life" in [Job 2:6](/job/2-6 "God Grants Permission to Satan, with a Limit")). The purpose is not punitive, but revelatory and refining, ultimately deepening Job's understanding of God, as expressed in [Job 42:5](/job/42-5 "Job's Confession of Seeing God").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 2:5, with its depiction of Satan's relentless pursuit to break a righteous man through physical suffering, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate suffering of the truly righteous One, Jesus Christ. While Job's suffering was a test of his integrity, Christ's suffering was a substitutionary act, bearing the curse of sin on behalf of humanity ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Satan's confident prediction that Job would "curse thee to thy face" finds its antithesis in Christ's perfect obedience and submission, even unto death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience Unto Death")). When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus resisted Satan's every ploy, demonstrating unwavering faithfulness where Job, a human, could only point to a flawed, though commendable, integrity ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1-11 "Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus")). The "bone and his flesh" that Satan sought to afflict in Job finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's incarnation, where God Himself took on human flesh to experience suffering and death, not as a victim of Satan's accusation, but as the conquering Lamb of God ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"); [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through Christ's perfect endurance of suffering and His victory over death, Satan's power is ultimately shattered, and the question of disinterested worship is answered definitively in the perfect obedience of the Son.

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 1:11

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Job 1:5

And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings [according] to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Leviticus 24:15

And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.

Job 19:20

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

Job 19:21

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

Psalms 38:2

For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

Psalms 38:7

For my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease]: and [there is] no soundness in my flesh.