Hiob

Hiob, also known as Job, is a central figure in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. He is depicted as a righteous and prosperous man who undergoes immense suffering as a test of his faith. The narrative begins by establishing Hiob's piety and his wealth, including his many possessions and children.

A celestial wager is described between God and Satan, where Satan claims that Hiob's devotion is solely due to his blessings and would cease if he were to lose them. God permits Satan to test Hiob, but with a restriction: Satan cannot take Hiob's life. Consequently, Hiob experiences a series of devastating calamities, including the loss of his livestock, his servants, and all of his children. He is then afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

Despite these trials, Hiob refuses to curse God, maintaining his integrity. The remainder of the Book of Job focuses on dialogues between Hiob and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who attempt to explain his suffering. They generally adhere to the conventional belief that suffering is a punishment for sin, urging Hiob to repent. Hiob, however, maintains his innocence and questions the justice of God's actions, expressing his deep anguish and desire for an explanation.

Eventually, a younger man named Elihu offers his perspective, suggesting that suffering can also be for correction and spiritual growth. The narrative culminates with God speaking directly to Hiob from a whirlwind, not providing a direct answer to Hiob's suffering but revealing His immense power and wisdom. Hiob, humbled by this divine encounter, repents his presumption. The book concludes with God rebuking Hiob's friends for misrepresenting Him and restoring Hiob's fortunes twofold, granting him new children and a long life.