Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Study Note
Study Note
The introduction of Job as 'perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil' in the land of Uz (outside Israel) establishes from the outset that wisdom and covenant faithfulness are not exclusively Israelite properties — Job's exemplary character precedes any Sinaitic revelation. The accumulation of four virtues ('perfect, upright, God-fearing, evil-shunning') creates the most positively evaluated human character in the Hebrew Bible's opening description of any individual. Uz is associated variously with Edom (Lamentations 4:21) or Aram, indicating the story's self-conscious non-Israelite setting and its universal philosophical ambitions. The book's placement of perfect human virtue at the center of inexplicable suffering makes Job the paradigmatic text for theodicy — the most persistent challenge to any simple retribution theology across all traditions.
Other Translations
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.
A man there hath been in the land of Uz--Job his name--and that man hath been perfect and upright--both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil.
Cross References
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with …
And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am …
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I …
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born …
Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; …
I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, …
The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and …