Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 1:11
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
11. curse thee to thy face ] that is, renounce thee openly. See on Job 1:5. The phrase and he will curse thee has the form of an oath in the Heb. Satan so little believes in the sincerity of human religion that he is not afraid to take his oath that it is hollow.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But put forth thine hand now – That is, for the purpose of injuring him, and taking away his property.
And touch all that he hath – Dr. Good renders this, and smite. The Vulgate and the Septuagint, touch. The Hebrew word used here naga means properly to touch; then to touch anyone with violence Gen 26:11; Jos 9:19, and then to smite, to injure, to strike; see Gen 32:26, 33; 1Sa 6:9; Job 19:21; compare the notes at Isa 53:4. Here it means evidently to smite or strike; and the idea is, that if God should take away the property of Job, he would take away his religion with it – and the trial was to see whether this effect would follow.
And he will curse thee to thy face – He will do it openly and publicly. The word rendered curse here barak is the same as that used in Job 1:5, and which is usually rendered bless; see the notes at Job 1:5. Dr. Good contends that; it should be rendered here bless, and translates it as a question: Will he then, indeed, bless thee to thy face? But in this he probably stands alone. The evident sense is, that Job would openly renounce God, and curse him on his throne; that all his religion was caused merely by his abundant prosperity, and was mere gratitude and selfishness; and that if his property were taken away, he would become the open and avowed enemy of him who was now his benefactor.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Job 1:11
But put forth Thine hand now.
Conscious and unconscious hypocrisy
There are two kinds of hypocrisy in the world–conscious hypocrisy and unconscious. Of conscious hypocrisy it is not our intention to speak; we would fain believe that deliberate hypocrisy is as rare as deliberate atheism. We do not think that it was with conscious hypocrisy that Satan intended to charge Gods servant Job, or with knowingly serving the Lord for what he could gain by it. Had he been guilty of this his probation must have made it manifest. It was a more latent hypocrisy the tempter wished to detect. The accusation of the adversary had reference to unconscious hypocrisy, and this is not so rare in the world. The insinuation against the patriarch was, that there was a measure of hypocrisy in him unknown to his own soul; that there was some self-interest at the root of his service of which he was not aware; that he was not so honest as he thought himself, or as others thought him; and that his affliction would elicit these facts against him. It is true that, to some extent, men are not so good as they seem; that there is not a little unconscious hypocrisy in the world; that the characters of men depend, more than they are disposed to acknowledge, upon their circumstances; that many of us would not be so good as we are were our positions in life worse. We ought to have examined ourselves very narrowly, and be well assured of our spiritual estate, ere we think, still less affirm, that we should not be the same as they–in worse social positions–did we by some providential reverse change places with them. This unconscious hypocrisy is a danger to which we are all liable. (Alfred Bowen Evans.)
The ease with which God can destroy mans estate
The extreme importunity of Satan to do mischief. It is a truth which Satan here speaks concerning the hand of God: that if God do but touch the highest and greatest estate in the world, it will fall to pieces quickly. (J. Caryl.)
He will curse Thee to Thy face.—
Trial the touchstone
1. Satan can only guess at the hearts of men. He would undertake and enter warranty with God that Job would blaspheme if God did but touch him, but he was deceived: Satan did but speak at a venture.
2. Affliction is the trial and touchstone of sincerity. When God doth afflict you, then He doth bring you to the touchstone, to see whether you are good metal or no; He doth bring you then to the furnace, to try whether you be dross or gold, or what you are. Affliction is the great discoverer. That unmasks us. Satan was not out in the thing. While religion and prosperity go together, it is hard to say which a man follows; but when once they are forced to a separation, where the heart was will soon be manifest The upright in heart are like Ruth,–whatsoever becometh of the Gospel, they will be sharers with it in the same condition. When zeal is kindled only with the beams of worldly hopes, when worldly hopes fail our zeal is extinct, and our endeavour is cut off with our expectation. (J. Caryl.)
Temptations of the afflicted
The hour of affliction is the hour of temptation. Satan loves to fish when the waters are troubled. He would bring us to hard thoughts of God by the hard things we suffer from God. Touch him, and he will curse Thee to Thy face. In such stormy weather some vessels are cast away. Faith is a special antidote against the poison of the wicked one. It can read love in the blackest of Divine dispensation, as by a rainbow we see the beautiful image of the suns light in the midst of a dark and waterish cloud. (G. Swinnock.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 11. But put forth thine hand] Shoot the dart of poverty and affliction against him.
And he will curse thee to thy face.] im lo al paneycha yebarechecca, “If he will not bless thee to thy appearances.” He will bless thee only in proportion to the temporal good thou bestowest upon him; to the providential and gracious appearances or displays of thy power in his behalf. If thou wilt be gracious, he will be pious. The exact maxim of a great statesman, Sir Robert Walpole: Every man has his price. “But you have not bought such a one?” “No, because I would not go up to his price. He valued himself at more than I thought him worth; and I could get others cheaper, who, in the general muster, would do as well.” No doubt Sir R. met with many such; and the devil many more. But still God has multitudes that will neither sell their souls, their consciences, nor their country, for any price; who, though God should slay them, will nevertheless trust in him; and be honest men, howsoever tempted by the devil and his vicegerents. So did Job; so have done thousands; so will all do, in whose hearts Christ dwells by faith.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Put forth thine hand, to wit, in way of justice and severity, as that phrase is used, Isa 5:25 Eze 25:7,13,16.
Touch, i.e. afflict or destroy, as this word is used, Gen 26:11; Rth 2:9; Psa 105:15; Zec 2:8.
He will curse thee to thy face; he who is now so forward to serve and bless thee, will then openly and boldly blaspheme thy name, and reproach thy providence, as unjust and unmerciful to him.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. curse thee to thy faceinantithesis to God’s praise of him (Job1:8), “one that feareth God.” Satan’s words are tootrue of many. Take away their prosperity and you take away theirreligion (Mal 3:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But put forth thine hand now,…. With draw thine hand of providence, power, and protection, with which thou hast covered and screened him; and, instead of that, “send” u forth thine afflicting hand, not barely in a way of chastisement and correction, but in wrath and vengeance, consuming and destroying all he had; and this he desires might be done now, immediately, without delay, while Job was in the midst of his prosperity; for Satan was in haste to have mischief done to him, being an object of his great hatred and enmity: some, instead of “now”, render it, “I pray thee” w, as being an entreaty of Satan, and an importunate one, and which he was eagerly desirous of obtaining; well knowing that no hurt could be done to Job without leave from God, or his doing it himself: the Vulgate Latin version is, “put forth thine hand a little”, as if its being exerted but a little, or a small touch of it, would be sufficient to discover Job’s hypocrisy; but Satan doubtless knew Job better than this suggests, and that such was his integrity, that a small trial would not affect him; and besides, he immediately adds:
and touch all that he hath; which was not a slight touch, but an heavy one, reaching to all his family and substance, and to his person too, and the health of it at least; as appears by the proviso or saving clause put in by the Lord afterwards, when he gave leave to smite him:
and he will curse thee to thy face; or, if he does not curse thee to thy face x; then, let it be so and so with me, worse than it now is; let me have my full damnation; for the words are an imprecation of the devil, wishing the worst of evils to himself, if Job, in such circumstances, did not “curse” God to his “face”; that is, not only openly and publicly, but impudently; signifying that he would fly in his face, like a man passionate, furious, and enraged, and like those wicked persons, hungry and hardly bestead, that would fret and curse their king and their God, Isa 8:21 or like those men, who, under their pains and sores, blasphemed him that had power over them, Re 16:10, or like those carnal professors, whose words were stout against God, Mal 3:13 in suchlike passionate expressions Satan insinuates Job would break out against God, murmuring at and complaining of his providence, arraigning his wisdom, righteousness, and holiness, in his dealings with him: or, if “he does not bless thee to thy face” y, as it may be rendered; that is, either he “will bid thee farewell” z, and apostatize from thee, [See comments on Job 1:5] as sometimes nominal professors do, when affliction and tribulation come upon them, they are offended, and drop their profession, Mt 13:21 or, as others, “if he hath not blessed thee to thy face” a; then let it be thus with me, that is, it will be then a clear case, that Job in times past had only blessed God to his face, or outwardly; he had only honoured him with his lips, but his heart was far from him, and his fear towards him taught by the precept of men, as is the character of hypocrites,
Isa 29:13 this Satan wickedly insinuates; one of the Targums is,
“if he does not provoke thee to the face of thy Word;”
Ben Melech interprets “by thy life”, and takes it to be the form of an oath.
u “mitte”, Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Schmidt. w “quaeso”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Bolducius. x “si non”, Schultens. y “Nisi in faciem tuam benedicet tibi”, Piscator, Schmidt. z “Si non in faciem tuam valere te jussurus sit”, Schultens. a “Si non super facies tuas benedixerit tibi”, Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Satan asks and receives permission to test Job. (Job. 1:11-12)
TEXT 1:11, 12
(11) But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. (12) And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath Is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
COMMENT 1:11, 12
Job. 1:11Satan suggests to Yahweh that if you remove the security of his wealth, he will curse you to your face (see Job. 6:28; Job. 13:15; Job. 16:8). The form of the Hebrew sentence is that of an oath meaning I swear that he will curse you. (Is Marx correct, toois alienation caused by things, or the absence of things?)
Job. 1:12Yahweh accepts Satans challenge. What is the real motive of Jobs piety? Will Job love God when his physical security is removed? Real piety must be based in disinterestedness with respect to reward or punishment. How relevant this issue is for contemporary man! Job immediately is confronted with Satans attack. The speed with which God allows Satan to afflict Job is surely evidence of Gods complete trust in Jobs integrity and piety.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
11. Touch all that he hath God needs but touch the fairest estate of man and it withers. The word may also be rendered smite, as in Job 1:19. It is worthy of special remark that Job’s piteous cry, “the hand of God hath touched me,” (Job 19:21,) corresponds to the present cruel demand of Satan with the same word, . Some have indulged the fanciful notion that the Satan here is merely an accusing angel; but the maliciousness evinced not only in his sneer at human virtue, but in his desire that God should touch all that Job hath, already proclaims him the devil whose works Christ came to destroy.
And he will curse thee
And , literally, If not, truly, verily; the formula of an path without the apodosis. The evil spirit is by no means chary of the words he uses.
Curse thee in the sense of renouncing, as in Job 1:5. (See note.) The shameless effrontery and arrogance of Satan are heightened by the added words, “to thy face.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 1:11. He will curse thee to thy face He will blaspheme thee, &c. He will, with the highest degree of insolence and contumacy, intirely renounce thee and religion, says Schultens. See the note on chap. Job 2:9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Job 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Ver. 11. But put forth thy hand ] Make Job feel the weight of it, as good people usually do more than others; yet not ad exitium, to destruction but ad exercitium, to their training, their crosses are not penal, but probational, and medicinal. The same holy hand of God that was put forth to protect and bless Job shall be put forth to afflict him. It must needs be therefore done in measure, and in mercy. If he smite Job, it shall be in the branches only, and not at the root, Isa 27:8 , for there is a blessing in it; his hand shall not be further put forth to smite than to save, Isa 59:1 Act 4:31 Psa 144:7 . If Satan or his instruments over do, and offer to exceed their commission, he will never endure it, Zec 1:15 . This Satan knew very well, and therefore motioneth that God would put forth his hand and touch him; or, Put forth thy hand, I pray thee; or, Put forth thy hand a little (so some render it) and touch him; that is, lightly afflict him. Confer Gen 26:11 ; Gen 26:19 Psa 105:15 .
And touch all that he hath
And he will curse thee to thy face
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hand. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for power exercised by it.
touch = hurt. Figure of speech Tapeinosis (App-6), meaning much more than “touch”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But put: Job 1:12, Job 2:5, Isa 5:25
touch: Job 4:5, Job 19:21, Gen 26:11, Psa 105:15, Zec 2:8
and he will curse thee: Heb. if he curse thee not, Job 1:5, Job 1:21, Job 2:9, Isa 8:21, Mal 3:13, Mal 3:14, Rev 16:9, Rev 16:11, Rev 16:21
Reciprocal: Gen 3:3 – touch Lev 24:11 – cursed 1Ki 21:13 – blaspheme God 2Ki 6:33 – this evil is of the Lord 2Ch 32:31 – to try him Job 2:3 – thou movedst Job 3:1 – cursed Job 23:10 – he hath Isa 54:17 – every Isa 65:3 – to my face Luk 8:31 – they Joh 8:44 – When 2Co 2:11 – General Heb 11:17 – when
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 1:11. But put forth thy hand now In a way of justice and severity, as the phrase of putting or stretching forth Gods hand is used, Isa 5:25, and Eze 25:7; Eze 25:13; Eze 25:16 : and touch all that he hath That is, afflict or destroy his children and substance; and he will curse thee to thy face He who is now so forward to serve and bless thee, will then openly and boldly blaspheme thy name, and reproach thy providence as unjust and unmerciful to him. Or, as Schultens paraphrases the words, He will, with the highest degree of insolence and contumacy, entirely renounce thee and religion. Thus, when Satan could not accuse Job of any thing really ill, he charges him with having merely selfish and sinister ends in view in doing good, which was, in effect, charging him with being a hypocrite. Let us not think it strange if those who are approved and accepted of God, be unjustly censured by the devil and his instruments; and if they be otherwise perfectly unexceptionable, it is easy to charge them with hypocrisy, as Satan charged Job, and they have no way to clear themselves, but patiently to wait for the judgment of God. As there is nothing we should dread more than being hypocrites, so there is nothing we should dread less than being called and accounted so without cause. It was a great truth that Job did not fear God for naught; he got much by it: for godliness is great gain. But it was a false lie that he would not have feared God if he had not got this by it, as the event proved. Jobs friends charged him with hypocrisy because he was greatly afflicted, Satan because he greatly prospered. It is no hard matter for those to calumniate that seek occasion. Let us remember it is not mercenary to look at the eternal recompense in our obedience; but to aim merely or chiefly at temporal advantages in our religion, and to make it subservient to them, is spiritual idolatry, worshipping the creature more than the Creator, and is likely to end in a fatal apostacy. Men cannot long serve God and Mammon.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and {r} touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to {s} thy face.
(r) This signifies that Satan is not able to touch us, but it is God that must do it.
(s) Satan notes the vice to which men are commonly subjected, that is, to hide their rebellion and to be content with God in the time of prosperity which view is disclosed in the time of their adversity.