Who Was Job? Exploring the Mystery, the Message, and the Meaning

Job (Iyov) is introduced as a righteous and upright man, one who feared Hashem and turned away from evil. He was also enormously wealthy and owned vast flocks and raised ten children. Yet when the Satan was granted permission to test him, Job lost everything: his wealth, his children, and finally his health, as he was afflicted with terrible boils. Despite unimaginable suffering, Job did not curse Hashem and retained his moral innocence. In the end, Hashem restored his fortune, dignity, and family, blessing him with seven sons and three daughters: Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-Happuch.

When and Where Did Job Live?

The Book of Job does not clearly indicate when Job lived. Some say he lived during the time of the Exodus and was considered one of the wisest men alive, which is why Pharaoh is said to have consulted him. Interestingly, the name "Iyov" appears in ancient Egyptian papyri, and a 14th-century BCE king of Pella was also named Iyov.

The book does specify a location: the Land of Uz. According to the Rambam (Maimonides), this name is symbolic, deriving from the Hebrew word "eitzah" (counsel), since Job required wisdom and guidance to withstand his trials.

Some sages maintained that Job was never a real historical figure but rather a parable. Others said that Job did exist, but the lengthy dialogues recorded in the book are allegorical and were never actually spoken.

Behemoth, Leviathan, and Other Creatures

In Job Chapter 40, the enormous sea creature Leviathan is described in detail: "Can you fill his skin with barbed irons?" (Job 40:31). The Sages explain that only Hashem could make a sukkah (booth) from Leviathan’s skin, teaching that in the future, Hashem will slaughter the Leviathan and use its skin to construct a sukkah for the righteous.

Job also mentions other fascinating creatures:

• The re’em, a giant horned beast;

• The mysterious Behemoth, a fearsome swamp-dwelling monster;

• The legendary phoenix, or chol, which, according to tradition, rejuvenates itself after it is worn out. Of this bird, Job says: "I shall multiply my days like the sand" (Job 29:18), implying renewal and long life.

What the Sages Learned from Job

While Job is often viewed as a figure of suffering, the Sages derived important moral and halachic (Jewish legal) lessons from his words.

In one remarkable statement, Job explains why he showed compassion to his servants: "If I have denied justice to my servant or maidservant when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when Hashem rises up? When He calls me to account, what will I answer? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One form us both in the womb?" (Job 31:13–15)
This profound declaration teaches the fundamental equality of all human beings, regardless of status or class.

Another lesson the Sages drew comes from the verse:
"I made a covenant with my eyes, how then could I gaze upon a virgin?" (Job 31:1) Although there is no formal prohibition against looking at an unmarried woman, Job’s example teaches restraint and moral discipline. Some view this as a binding ethical obligation, derived from Job's own words.

Job and the World to Come

Despite his many virtues, the Sages noted that Job did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Throughout the book, when Job and his friends discuss reward and punishment, they make no mention of resurrection, an omission that some interpreted as a theological gap in Job’s understanding.

Ultimately, the story of Job is not just about suffering. It is about faith, integrity, and the enduring human quest to understand Divine justice. Whether allegorical or historical, his story continues to shape Jewish thought and values.