Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֤קָם
arose
H6965
וַיָּ֤קָם
arose
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 11
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיִּקְרַ֣ע
and rent
H7167
וַיִּקְרַ֣ע
and rent
Strong's:
H7167
Word #:
3 of 11
to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וַיָּ֖גָז
and shaved
H1494
וַיָּ֖גָז
and shaved
Strong's:
H1494
Word #:
6 of 11
to cut off; specifically to shear a flock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an enemy
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
רֹאשׁ֑וֹ
his head
H7218
רֹאשׁ֑וֹ
his head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
8 of 11
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל
and fell down
H5307
וַיִּפֹּ֥ל
and fell down
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
9 of 11
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
Cross References
1 Peter 5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:Genesis 37:29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.Genesis 37:34And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.Ezra 9:3And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.Deuteronomy 9:18And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Historical Context
Rending garments and shaving the head were standard Ancient Near Eastern mourning practices, indicating deep grief. Job's prostration in worship shows that even in following cultural mourning customs, his heart remained oriented toward God.
Questions for Reflection
- Is worship your first response to devastating news, or must you work your way toward it?
- What does Job's physical posture teach us about the embodied nature of genuine worship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Job's response demonstrates genuine, persevering faith. The tearing of his mantle and shaving his head represent proper covenant mourning, not sinful despair. The Hebrew 'shachah' (worshipped) is crucial—in his deepest agony, Job's first response is worship. This vindicates God's assessment (verse 8) and refutes Satan's accusation (verse 11). True faith, wrought by the Spirit, worships God even in incomprehensible suffering, seeing His hand rather than blind fate.