Bible Reading Guide

Note: The numbers of the questions correspond to the chapters from which they come.

1. What is (the) Satan’s first argument for harming Job?
2. What is (the) Satan’s second argument for harming Job?
3. What aspect of his life does Job curse?
4. What was the point of the spirit’s night visit to Eliphaz?
5. Why is the one whom God corrects blessed?
6. What does Job challenge Eliphaz in his reply?
7. Why does Job want to be left alone?
8. To what is papyrus without water compared?
9. Why does Job despair of disputing with God?
10. Why can’t Job lift up his head?
11. What does Zophar recommend for Job?
12. What can the animals teach Job’s friends?
13. What does Job request from God?
14. How does Job see death?
15. How does Eliphaz describe the life of the wicked?
16. Where is Job’s advocate or intercessor?
17. If the upright are appalled at Job’s treatment, what will they do?
18. What happens to the memory of the wicked?
19. What is Job’s complaint toward God?
20. What happens to the children of the wicked, according to Zophar?
21. What happens to the children of the wicked, according to Job?
22. What do the righteous do on seeing the ruin of the wicked (Eliphaz)?
23. What would Job do if he could go to God?
24. What do murderers, adulterers, and thieves have in common?
25. To what creature does Bildad compare a mortal?
26. How is the realm of the dead in relation to God?
27. How does God regard the wicked in Job’s final word to his friends?
28. Where is wisdom found?
29. Why did people speak well of Job earlier?
30. How does Job describe his skin and body?
31. What is the last of Job’s proclamations of righteousness?
32. Why did Elihu wait to speak until the other friends finished?
33. According to Elihu, how may God speak to people?
34. Why does Elihu question whether God will reward Job?
35. Why does God not answer when people cry out?
36. What is the purpose of the word picture regarding clouds and rain?
37. From where does God come in golden splendor?
38. In God’s speech to Job, which constellations does he mention?
39. What does the ostrich find amusing?
40. What is Job’s confession toward God?
41. Describe the leviathan.
42. What is to be the purpose of Job’s prayer?

Study Questions

1. Which text of Job is longer: the Masoretic or the Septuagint?
2. How often does Zophar speak?
3. How does Job mourn for his children who have died?
4. How do the speeches of Eliphaz change in tone?
5. In the middle of the book (chaps. 29–31), how does Job regard his life?
6. Why does Elihu say Job is wrong to state that God is silent?
7. What question did Pelagius and Augustine debate concerning Job?
8. Where did critics begin to divide Job into different sources?
9. Which possible locations for Job’s homeland seem likely?
10. Job’s response calls on God to do what?
11. What is unusual about the three daughters Job receives at the end of the book?
12. If the book of Job doesn’t follow the expected wisdom “script,” what is it?
13. Where does most ancient Near Eastern wisdom come from?
14. Which types are generally closer to Job: Egyptian, Canaanite, or Mesopotamian?
15. In terms of optimism/pessimism, how does Job compare with Proverbs and Ecclesiastes?
16. Which experiential/philosophical category does Job excel in?
17. How are the ethics of Job 31 presented?