Job 1:5

Were gone about. Or, “had made the round,” or “completed the circle.” The picture is that of a cycle of days, following each other in rotation.

Sanctified them. As the patriarchal priest of the household, he “consecrated” his children. It seems that Job summoned his children to appear at his house, where some form of religious ceremony was conducted.

My sons have sinned. The sons apparently were living lives of carefree luxury. Job, in his spiritual sensitivity, recognized their dangers, and implored divine forgiveness in their behalf. The sin that Job feared in his sons, strangely enough, was the same sin that he himself was later tempted to commit. They were tempted by ease; he was tempted by hardship.

Cursed. Heb. barak, more than 200 times translated “to bless.” But here and in Job 1:11; 2:5, 9; 1 Kings 21:10, 13, the required meaning seems to be the exact opposite. Rather than to assign directly to barak opposite meanings, many scholars prefer to regard the use here as a euphemism. Others translate barak by its usual meaning “to bless” and translate ’Elohim “gods” instead of “God,” thus implying that the sons blessed false deities. It appears, however, that “curse” is intended and that ’Elohim means the true God. Words with exactly opposite meanings are found also in other ancient languages such as Egyptian.

Continually. Literally, “all the days.” Though a man of wealth and influence, Job did not permit his responsibilities to diminish his concern for his children, whom he continually held before his God.

Were gone about. Or, “had made the round,” or “completed the circle.” The picture is that of a cycle of days, following each other in rotation.

Sanctified them. As the patriarchal priest of the household, he “consecrated” his children. It seems that Job summoned his children to appear at his house, where some form of religious ceremony was conducted.

My sons have sinned. The sons apparently were living lives of carefree luxury. Job, in his spiritual sensitivity, recognized their dangers, and implored divine forgiveness in their behalf. The sin that Job feared in his sons, strangely enough, was the same sin that he himself was later tempted to commit. They were tempted by ease; he was tempted by hardship.

Cursed. Hebrew barak, more than 200 times translated “to bless.” But here and in Job 1:11; 2:5, 9; 1 Kings 21:10, 13, the required meaning seems to be the exact opposite. Rather than to assign directly to barak opposite meanings, many scholars prefer to regard the use here as a euphemism. Others translate barak by its usual meaning “to bless” and translate ’Elohim “gods” instead of “God,” thus implying that the sons blessed false deities. It appears, however, that “curse” is intended and that ’Elohim means the true God. Words with exactly opposite meanings are found also in other ancient languages such as Egyptian.

Continually. Literally, “all the days.” Though a man of wealth and influence, Job did not permit his responsibilities to diminish his concern for his children, whom he continually held before his God.