Bible Strands
Job 2:10
“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Job speaks to his wife, who has just urged him to "curse God and die" (2:9), in the midst of his sores from head to foot.
The words — נְבָלוֹת (nəḇālōt), "the foolish," is the plural of נָבָל, the strong Hebrew term for a fool who rejects God (cf. Ps 14:1); Job does not soften the blow.
The thread — Job 1:21 already voiced the same logic ("The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away"), and Lamentations 3:38 restates it from the opposite direction: "Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?"
Why it lands — The narrative's own verdict ("Job did not sin in what he said") forces the reader to separate a wife's anguish, which is real, from her theological demand, which Job refuses.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Lamentations 3:38 Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?
- Job 1:21 saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
- Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
- James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 16:23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
- Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
- John 18:11 “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
- Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
- 2 Samuel 24:10 After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”