King James Version

What Does Job 1:16 Mean?

Job 1:16 in the King James Version says “While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up ...” — study this verse from Job chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. The fire: or, A great fire”

Job 1:16 · KJV

Context

14

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

15

And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. The fire: or, A great fire

17

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. fell: Heb. rushed

18

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The 'fire of God' (Hebrew 'esh Elohim') likely refers to lightning, demonstrating that natural disasters join human evil in testing Job. This raises profound theological questions about God's relationship to natural evil. Reformed theology maintains that God sovereignly uses natural phenomena without being morally culpable for the suffering they cause. The destruction of the sheep removed Job's primary source of wealth and clothing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Lightning strikes that cause fires were interpreted in the ancient world as divine judgment. The messenger's attribution to 'God' reveals how even observers recognized the supernatural nature of Job's comprehensive calamity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you understand God's relationship to natural disasters that cause human suffering?
  2. When have you experienced what seemed like divine judgment, only to later see God's refining purpose?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
ע֣וֹד׀1 of 21
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

זֶ֣ה2 of 21
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

מְדַבֵּ֗ר3 of 21

“While he was yet speaking”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

וְזֶה֮4 of 21
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

בָּ֣א5 of 21

“there came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וַיֹּאמַר֒6 of 21

“also another and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵ֣שׁ7 of 21

“The fire”

H784

fire (literally or figuratively)

אֱלֹהִ֗ים8 of 21

“of God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

נָֽפְלָה֙9 of 21

“is fallen”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

מִן10 of 21
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם11 of 21

“from heaven”

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וַתִּבְעַ֥ר12 of 21

“and hath burned up”

H1197

to be(-come) brutish

בַּצֹּ֛אן13 of 21

“the sheep”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

וּבַנְּעָרִ֖ים14 of 21

“and the servants”

H5288

(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit

וַתֹּֽאכְלֵ֑ם15 of 21

“and consumed”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וָאִמָּ֨לְטָ֧ה16 of 21

“them and I only am escaped”

H4422

properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn

רַק17 of 21
H7535

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

אֲנִ֛י18 of 21
H589

i

לְבַדִּ֖י19 of 21
H905

properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit

לְהַגִּ֥יד20 of 21

“alone to tell”

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

לָֽךְ׃21 of 21
H0

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 1:16 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 1:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Kings 1:12Genesis 19:24Leviticus 10:21 Kings 18:38Leviticus 9:24Numbers 11:1-3

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