Job 2:5

5 Yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike unto his bone and unto his flesh -- if not: unto Thy face he doth bless Thee!'

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.

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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 And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil? and still he is keeping hold on his integrity, and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!'

4 And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, `A skin for a skin, and all that a man hath he doth give for his life.

5 Yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike unto his bone and unto his flesh -- if not: unto Thy face he doth bless Thee!'

6 And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Lo, he [is] in thy hand; only his life take care of.'

7 And the Adversary goeth forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smiteth Job with a sore ulcer from the sole of his foot unto his crown.