Job 2:6

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Satan {H7854}, Behold, he is in thine hand {H3027}; but save {H8104} his life {H5315}.

ADONAI said to the Adversary, "Here! He is in your hands, except that you are to spare his life."

“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”

And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.

Job 2:6 presents a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of Job, revealing the divine conversation between the LORD and Satan concerning Job's continued suffering. After Satan's initial challenge and God's permission to afflict Job's possessions and family, Satan returns, claiming Job would curse God if his own body were touched. Here, God grants Satan further power but sets a crucial boundary: Job's life must be spared.

Context

This verse follows the devastating events of Job chapter 1, where God allowed Satan to destroy Job's wealth, servants, and children. Despite these immense losses, Job responded with worship and submission, declaring, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). Satan, however, was not satisfied, asserting that Job's piety was superficial and would crumble if his physical body were afflicted. The scene returns to the heavenly court, where Satan proposes a second, more personal attack. God's response in Job 2:6 is the permission for this new phase of testing, but with a strict, life-preserving limitation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Permission: This verse profoundly illustrates God's supreme sovereignty over all creation, even over evil. Satan, though powerful, is not an independent force but operates strictly under divine permission and within God's set boundaries. God allows the suffering, but He is not the author of evil; rather, He uses it for His ultimate purposes.
  • Satan's Limited Power: The command "but save his life" clearly defines the extent of Satan's power. He can inflict pain and disease, but he cannot take a human life without God's explicit permission. This boundary underscores that Satan is a created being, subordinate to the Almighty.
  • The Sanctity of Life: God's directive to "save his life" highlights the preciousness of human life in God's eyes. Even in the midst of severe testing, God places a high value on Job's existence, reserving the ultimate authority over life and death itself. This limitation prevents the test from becoming a means of destruction.
  • The Nature of the Test: The purpose of Job's suffering is not punishment but a profound test of his integrity and faith. By allowing Satan to touch Job's body but spare his life, God creates a scenario where Job's devotion can be proven genuine, not based on mere blessings or physical comfort.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "save his life" translates the Hebrew term nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ). While often translated as "soul" or "spirit," nephesh in this context refers to Job's very essence, his living being, or his physical life-breath. It signifies that God protected Job's core existence, preventing Satan from delivering a fatal blow. This emphasizes that while Job's body would be afflicted, his ability to live and make choices, including his choice to remain faithful, would be preserved.

Practical Application

For believers today, Job 2:6 offers profound comfort and insight into the nature of suffering. It reminds us that no trial we face is beyond God's control. Even when it feels as if destructive forces are at work, God always sets limits. This assurance is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and with every temptation, He will provide a way of escape. When enduring hardship, we can find strength in knowing that our lives are ultimately in God's sovereign hands, and He has a purpose even in our pain.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

  • Luke 22:31

    And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:

  • Luke 22:32

    But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

  • Job 1:12

    And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

  • Revelation 2:10

    Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

  • Luke 8:29

    (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

  • Luke 8:33

    Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

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