Bible Strands
Job 2:6
“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks to Satan, granting permission to afflict Job while explicitly commanding him to spare his life. This occurs immediately after Satan challenges Job's motives in Job 2:5.
The words — הַ/שָּׂטָ֖ן (ha./sa.Tan) translates literally to "the adversary," and בְ/יָדֶ֑/ךָ (ve./ya.De./kha) means "in your hand." These terms define the exact boundary of delegated authority.
The thread — The narrative of divine permission and satanic opposition continues in Job 1:12 and reappears in Luke 22:31 where Satan requests to sift the disciples. It stands in contrast to 1 Corinthians 10:13, which establishes that permissible testing never exceeds human capacity.
Why it lands — The text records a direct divine limit that preserves Job's life despite total physical affliction. It requires the reader to acknowledge that permitted suffering operates within strict, non-negotiable boundaries.
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
And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
- Luke 22:31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
- Job 1:12 “Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
- Revelation 2:10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
- Job 38:10 when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors,
- Luke 8:29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.
- Psalms 65:7 You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.
- Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain.
- Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,