Job's News: Origin and Meaning of a Biblical Expression Meta Title: Job's News: Meaning and Biblical Origin of the Expression Meta Description: Discover the origin of "Job's news" in the biblical story of Job, his four devastating news reports and his remarkable reaction to these strokes of fate.
News News blog
A "Job's news" is news that devastates its recipient with catastrophic content. But where does this term come from? The answer can be found in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Who was Job?
Job was a wealthy, pious man described in the Old Testament as God-fearing and righteous. He led a blessed life with ten children, large livestock possessions, and many servants. His life was characterized by prosperity and a firm faith in God.
The Conversation Between God and the Devil
The story of Job begins with an unusual dialogue in heaven. The devil claims to God that people like Job are only God-fearing because they are doing well. If suffering and misfortune were to befall them, they would turn away from God. To test this claim, God allows the devil to test Job's faith through suffering.
The Four Messages of Job
What follows is a series of four devastating messages that reach Job in quick succession. These four messages become the epitome of a "Job's news":
- His cattle were stolen and his servants slain
- His sheep and more servants were burned by fire from heaven
- His camels were stolen and the remaining servants killed
- A storm destroyed the house where his children were celebrating, and all ten died
Each of these messages is delivered by a messenger who alone survived to bring the terrible news.
Job's Reaction to the Strokes of Fate
Despite these devastating blows of fate, Job did not react as the devil expected. Even when he was additionally afflicted with painful sores all over his body, he held fast to his faith. His famous words "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21) testify to his unwavering loyalty to God.
Although Job struggled with God and asked questions, he did not ultimately despair. He remained steadfast in his conviction and was eventually rewarded for his faithfulness: God gave him back everything he had lost, doubled.
The Expression Today
Over time, Job's story of suffering became a proverbial expression for severe strokes of fate. A "Job's news" today refers to news with catastrophic content that deeply shakes the recipient. In earlier times, the term "Job's post" was also used.
The story of Job reminds us that even in the darkest hours, hope can exist—a timeless message that goes beyond the mere expression.
