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Job's wife- did she say to 'bless" or to "curse" God?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Mexdeaf, Jan 4, 2011.

  1. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    While reading my Scripture for this morning, I started studying about Job's wife, and I came across some interesting commentary on the internet (realizing, of course, that not all of it is reliable). Let me just share a quote from one site:

    The major reason why most translations and all scholars render the verse "Curse God, and die," is that the verb "bless," used here, is also used in 1:5; 1:11 and 2:5 and, in all of those cases it seems to be used euphemistically. For example, in 1:5, Job is seen as the efficient (and officious) parent, sacrificing for his children "lest they bless (i.e. 'curse') God in their hearts." It is almost as if the word "curse" was too unholy a word for Job to utter; hence he uses the opposite word "bless" with the understanding that "curse" would be meant. For why would he sacrifice for his children if they were literally "blessing" God? Using this example and the others in 1:11 and 2:5 (where the Satan is speaking), scholars have argued that Job's wife's use of "bless" in 2:9 should also be rendered as "curse."

    - from http://www.drbilllong.com/MoreJobEssays/JobsWife.html

    Very interesting and certainly casts Job's wife and her part in the story in a new light, if indeed it is correct. Perhaps Deacon or one of our other Hebrew scholars could comment.
     
  2. jonathan.borland

    jonathan.borland Active Member

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    Funny that the same thing happens in English, as in, e.g., "The man blessed me out because I made a mistake."

    Yes, it's true, the normal word for bless, ברך, is used in those places in Job.
     
  3. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    Good morning Mexdeaf

    The accuracy of verse 9, is made clear by verse 10........
    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.”
     
  4. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Here is a case where a knowledge of language nor a lexicon actually helps, but context proves everything.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  5. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    I think StillLearning gets the carrot for the best answer so far. The next verse answers the question very clearly it seems.
     
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