King James Version

What Does Job 1:12 Mean?

Job 1:12 in the King James Version says “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So S...” — study this verse from Job chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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. power: Heb. hand”

Job 1:12 · KJV

Context

10

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. substance: or, cattle

11

But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. and he: Heb. if he curse thee not to thy face

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. power: Heb. hand

13

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14

And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's permission to Satan includes both authorization and limits: 'all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.' This establishes God's absolute sovereignty—Satan operates only within divinely imposed boundaries. The verse refutes dualism and affirms monotheism: God alone is sovereign. The limitation reveals divine compassion—God doesn't abandon Job to unlimited suffering but carefully controls the test's parameters. This theological principle appears throughout Scripture: God uses even evil for His purposes (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern religions often portrayed divine conflicts with chaos forces or rival deities. Job's monotheism stands distinct: Satan isn't an equal opponent but a created being requiring divine permission. This theological precision influenced later Jewish and Christian demonology. The passage's literary structure demonstrates that visible earthly suffering has invisible spiritual dimensions.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does knowing that Satan requires God's permission to test us provide comfort during trials?
  2. What does God's setting of limits on Job's suffering teach about divine compassion within permitted testing?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 19

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָֽה׃2 of 19

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶל3 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַשָּׂטָ֔ן4 of 19

“So Satan”

H7854

an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) satan, the arch-enemy of good

הִנֵּ֤ה5 of 19
H2009

lo!

כָל6 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר7 of 19
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לוֹ֙8 of 19
H0
יָדֶ֑ךָ9 of 19

“Behold all that he hath is in thy power”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

רַ֣ק10 of 19
H7535

properly, leanness, i.e., (figuratively) limitation; only adverbial, merely, or conjunctional, although

אֵלָ֔יו11 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַל12 of 19
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּשְׁלַ֖ח13 of 19

“only upon himself put not forth”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

יָדֶ֑ךָ14 of 19

“Behold all that he hath is in thy power”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

וַיֵּצֵא֙15 of 19

“went forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

הַשָּׂטָ֔ן16 of 19

“So Satan”

H7854

an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) satan, the arch-enemy of good

מֵעִ֖ם17 of 19
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

פְּנֵ֥י18 of 19

“from the presence”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

יְהוָֽה׃19 of 19

“And the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Job. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Job 1:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Job 1:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 22:31-322 Corinthians 12:7John 3:35-361 Corinthians 10:13John 19:11Job 2:4-7

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