King James Version

What Does Job 2:10 Mean?

Job 2:10 in the King James Version says “But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God... — study this verse from Job chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Job 2:10 · KJV


Context

8

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

9

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

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.

11

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

12

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Job's rebuke of his wife is theologically profound: 'shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' The Hebrew 'ra'' (evil/calamity) acknowledges that both blessing and affliction come from God's sovereign hand. This is not dualism—God doesn't commit moral evil—but it affirms that God ordains all circumstances, including suffering (Isaiah 45:7). The narrator's verdict 'in all this did not Job sin with his lips' shows that accepting God's sovereignty over both prosperity and adversity is righteous, not fatalistic.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Job's response reflects a mature ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition that acknowledged divine sovereignty over all of life, in contrast to the dualistic theologies of surrounding cultures that attributed evil to independent dark gods.

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you truly accept both pleasant and painful circumstances as from God's hand?
  2. How does Job's theology of sovereignty differ from fatalism or stoicism?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 22

But he said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלֶ֗יהָ2 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי3 of 22

speaketh

H1696

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

אַחַ֤ת4 of 22

as one

H259

properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first

הַנְּבָלוֹת֙5 of 22

of the foolish women

H5036

stupid; wicked (especially impious)

תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי6 of 22

speaketh

H1696

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

גַּ֣ם7 of 22

What

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אֶת8 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַטּ֗וֹב9 of 22

good

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

נְקַבֵּ֑ל10 of 22

and shall we not receive

H6901

to admit, i.e., take (literally or figuratively)

מֵאֵ֣ת11 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים12 of 22

at the hand 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

וְאֶת13 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָרָ֖ע14 of 22

evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

לֹ֣א15 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

נְקַבֵּ֑ל16 of 22

and shall we not receive

H6901

to admit, i.e., take (literally or figuratively)

בְּכָל17 of 22
H3605

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

זֹ֛את18 of 22
H2063

this (often used adverb)

לֹֽא19 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

חָטָ֥א20 of 22

sin

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

אִיּ֖וֹב21 of 22

In all this did not Job

H347

ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience

בִּשְׂפָתָֽיו׃22 of 22

with his lips

H8193

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)


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 2:10 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 2:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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