Wisdom Literature Part 01
There are many lessons and wisdom that can be gained from the Book of Job. Ezekiel names Job along with Noah and Daniel as an example of righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14, 20), and James notes Job’s perseverance (James 5:11).
We will be starting a series on several of the Wisdom Literature books in the Bible, starting with Job. In today’s lesson we will give an introduction to the book and specifically look at the title, author, date, audience and purpose of the book.
Title
The English title, like the Hebrew title, refers to the book’s main character “Job,” and it bears two possible meanings. If derived from the Hebrew word, the name means “Persecuted One.” And if related to the Arabic word meaning “come back,” or “repent,” it may mean “one who turns back” (to God) or “Repentant One.”
Author
The Book of Job does not identify its author. Jewish tradition credits the book to Moses, writing it from a more ancient source, possibly from oral tradition. Other scholars have suggested as writers Job himself, Elihu, Solomon, Hezekiah and Ezra. We simply don’t know.
Some scholars treat Job as a fictional character, but Scripture treats him as a historical figure. Ezekiel names Job along with Noah and Daniel as an example of righteousness (Ezekiel 14:14, 20), and James notes Job’s perseverance (James 5:11).
Textual evidence (the names of places and individuals) sets the events surrounding Job of Uz in the area of Aram and Edom. This was likely “among Abrahams’ non-Israelite descendants and related family a few generations after Jacob and Esau . . . probably while the Israelites were in Egypt” (Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Job). The name “Job” may refer to King Jobab, the son of Zerah, a grandson of Esau. Also, “it is reasonable to suppose that Job was such a king considering his vast wealth and his distinction of being the greatest man in the East . . . As descendants of Abraham and Isaac, many of the Edomites probably continued to worship the true God in this early period—helping to explain the religious understanding of Job and his friends” (Beyond Today Bible Commentary: Job).
Date
The events in the Book of Job point to a time prior to the Exodus, sometime between 2,000-1,400 B.C. The date may be narrowed further by noting Job 1:8:
“God said, ‘And the LORD said unto Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’”
Job likely lived during a period when there was no one else like him on earth, perhaps sometime after the patriarchs and Joseph but prior to Moses.
Audience
The original audience of Job is not specifically identified in the book. Interpreters of the book generally note that there is nothing specifically “Jewish” in it, such as specific references to the covenant and the law, but this would be understandable if Job was written prior to Moses. As wisdom literature, the book speaks to all people: its meaning is universal.
Purpose
The Book of Job offers wisdom about God, righteousness, and human suffering. Among its vital lessons, the book addresses a common fallacy “that the righteous always prosper and sinners always suffer and, conversely, that suffering proves sinfulness and prosperity proves righteousness” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1988: pp. 859).
The book affirms the absolute authority of God and reveals that God may allow suffering as a means of perfecting a person in godliness. The book also presents us with several profound questions: e.g., “If we lost all evidence of the blessing of God in our lives today, would we still remain faithful to God and serve Him with our lives?” and “Do we serve God because He is worthy or because He is generous?”
The Book of Job also exhorts those who “fear the LORD” to trust God patiently while awaiting the resolution of their problems. Ultimately, THE great lesson of the book is this: Man must be judged; God must be justified! So, it is more accurate to say that the Book of Job is about God, not about Job.
© Randy Urwiller, 2025. All rights reserved.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
