Job 2:5

5 But if you reach out your hand and touch his flesh and bone, without doubt he'll curse you to your face!"

Job 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 2:5

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh,
&c.] That is, his body, which consisted of flesh and bones; these are the constituent parts of the body, and which distinguish it from spirit, ( Luke 24:39 ) ; this is the motion made by Satan for a second trial of Job's integrity; he moves that God would take off his hand of providence over him, which secured his health unto him, and stretch his hand of power upon him, and fill his flesh with diseases, and his bones with rottenness; or break them, and touch him to the quick, to the marrow, which gives exquisite pain; or by his bone may be meant him himself F21:

and he will curse thee to thy face;
he will fly in thy face, arraign thy providence, and call in question thy wisdom, justice, truth, and faithfulness: or he will "bless thee" F23, and take his farewell of thee F24, and have nothing more to do with thee or religion; if he does not do this, for something is to be understood, the words being an imprecation, let me be in a worse condition than I am at present; let me not have the liberty of ranging about in the earth, to do the mischief I delight in; let me bound, and cast into the bottomless pit before my time, or be thrown into the lake burning with fire and brimstone, where I know I must be forever.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 So Gussetius and Genevenses, in ib. p. 630.
F23 (Kkrby) "benedicet tibi", Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt.
F24 "Te valere jubebit", Schultens.

Job 2:5 In-Context

3 ADONAI asked the Adversary, "Did you notice my servant Iyov, that there's no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil, and that he still holds on to his integrity, even though you provoked me against him to destroy him for no reason?"
4 The Adversary answered ADONAI, "Skin for skin! A person will give up everything he has to save his life.
5 But if you reach out your hand and touch his flesh and bone, without doubt he'll curse you to your face!"
6 ADONAI said to the Adversary, "Here! He is in your hands, except that you are to spare his life."
7 Then the Adversary went out from the presence of ADONAI and struck Iyov down with horrible infected sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.