Job 1:9
New International Version
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

New Living Translation
Satan replied to the LORD, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.

English Standard Version
Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?

Berean Standard Bible
Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

King James Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

New King James Version
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

New American Standard Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

NASB 1995
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

NASB 1977
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Legacy Standard Bible
And Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without cause?

Amplified Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Christian Standard Bible
Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

American Standard Version
Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Contemporary English Version
"Why shouldn't he respect you?" Satan remarked.

English Revised Version
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Satan answered the LORD, "Haven't you given Job a reason to fear God?

Good News Translation
Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it?

International Standard Version
But in response, Satan asked the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Majority Standard Bible
Satan answered the LORD, ?Does Job fear God for nothing?

NET Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD, "Is it for nothing that Job fears God?

New Heart English Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught?

World English Bible
Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Satan answers YHWH and says, “Is Job fearing God for nothing?

Young's Literal Translation
And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'For nought is Job fearing God?

Smith's Literal Translation
And the adversary will answer Jehovah and say, Did Job fear God gratuitously?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain ?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Answering him, Satan said, “Does Job fear God to no purpose?

New American Bible
The satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?

New Revised Standard Version
Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Satan answered the LORD and said, Does Job revere God for nought?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Satan answered and said to LORD JEHOVAH: “Does Job worship God for nothing?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then the devil answered, and said before the Lord, Does Job worship the Lord for nothing?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Satan's First Attack
8Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.” 9Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.…

Cross References
Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. / “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” / “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Luke 4:5-8
Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. / “I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. / So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.” ...

Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Zechariah 3:1-2
Then the angel showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. / And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”

Genesis 3:1-5
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” / The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, / but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” ...

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

1 John 3:8
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

Ephesians 6:11-12
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Chronicles 21:1
Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

2 Corinthians 2:11
in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

1 Timothy 3:6-7
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. / Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?

Doth Job.

Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 2:10
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.

Job 21:14,15
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways…

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Adversary Fear Fearing God-Fearing Job Naught Nought Satan
Job 1
1. The holiness, riches, and reverent care of Job for his children.
6. Satan, appearing before God, obtains leave to afflict Job.
13. Understanding of the loss of his children and goods, in his mourning Job blesses God.














Does
The word "does" introduces a question, setting the stage for a challenge or test. In the Hebrew text, this is part of a rhetorical question posed by Satan. The use of a question here is significant as it implies doubt and skepticism, a common tactic of the adversary. It invites the reader to consider the motivations behind human actions, especially in their relationship with God.

Job
Job is the central figure in this narrative, a man described as "blameless and upright" (Job 1:1). His name in Hebrew, "Iyov," may mean "persecuted" or "hated," which is fitting given the trials he faces. Job's character is pivotal in this discourse, representing the faithful servant of God whose integrity is under scrutiny. Historically, Job is considered a patriarchal figure, possibly living during the time of the patriarchs like Abraham, which situates him in a context of early monotheistic faith.

fear
The Hebrew word for "fear" is "yare," which encompasses reverence, awe, and respect, rather than mere terror. In the biblical context, fearing God is synonymous with worship and obedience. It is a foundational concept in the wisdom literature of the Bible, where the "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not about being afraid of God but about recognizing His majesty and authority.

God
The term "God" here is "Elohim" in Hebrew, a plural form that denotes majesty and power. It is one of the most common names for God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His role as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In the context of Job, it highlights the divine authority and sovereignty that Job acknowledges and respects.

for nothing
The phrase "for nothing" translates from the Hebrew "chinnam," meaning "without cause" or "gratuitously." This challenges the sincerity of Job's piety, suggesting that his devotion might be motivated by the blessings he receives rather than genuine love for God. This question is central to the book of Job, as it explores the nature of true faith and the reasons behind human devotion to God. It raises the issue of whether righteousness is contingent upon reward, a theme that resonates throughout the narrative.

(9) Doth Job fear God for nought?--Manifesting the worst kind of scepticism, a disbelief in human goodness. Satan knows that the motive of an action is its only value, and by incrimination calumniates the motives of Job. The object of the book is thus introduced, which is to exhibit the integrity of human conduct under the worst possible trial, and to show man a victor over Satan.

Verse 9. - Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Satan insinuates that Job's motive is purely selfish. He serves God, not for love of God, or for love of goodness, but for what he gets by it. Satan is too shrewd to endeavour, as Job's friends do later, to pick holes in Job's conduct. No; that is exemplary. But the true character of acts is determined by the motive. What is Job's motive? Does he not serve God to gain his protection and blessing? Similarly, in modern times, ungodly men argue that religious and devout persons are religious and devout with a view to their own interest, because they expect to gain by it, either in this world, or in the next, or in both. This is a form of calumny which it is impossible to escape. And bad men, who are conscious to themselves of never acting except from a selfish motive, may well imagine the same of others. It is rarely that such an insinuation can be disproved. In the present instance God vindicates his servant, and covers the adversary with shame, as the other adversaries and calumniators of righteousness will be covered at the last day.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Satan
הַשָּׂטָ֛ן (haś·śā·ṭān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7854: An opponent -- Satan, the arch-enemy of good

answered
וַיַּ֧עַן (way·ya·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“Does Job
אִיּ֖וֹב (’î·yō·wḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 347: Job -- a patriarch

fear
יָרֵ֥א (yā·rê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

God
אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

for nothing?
הַֽחִנָּ֔ם (ha·ḥin·nām)
Adverb
Strong's 2600: Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage


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OT Poetry: Job 1:9 Then Satan answered Yahweh and said Does (Jb)
Job 1:8
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