Job 1:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After each round of feasting Job rises early to sanctify his children and offer burnt offerings, in case any of them has sinned against God in his heart.
What Does Job 1:5 Mean?
When the feast days had run their course, Job acted as a kind of priest for his own family. He would consecrate his children and, rising early, offer a burnt offering for each one, fearing that in their hearts they might have sinned or spoken against God. The narrator notes that he did this continually.
Here the opening portrait deepens into practice. Job's reverence is not private only; it reaches outward in steady, sacrificial care for those he loves, even guarding against sins he cannot see. This pattern of a faithful one interceding for others, lifting up offerings on their behalf, quietly anticipates the great High Priest who would offer Himself for the sins of many.
Job 1:5 in the Original Language
barak (בָּרַךְ), 'cursed' -- normally 'to bless,' here used with grim irony for blasphemy, as if naming the deed sideways.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 1:5
What does Job 1:5 mean?
After each round of feasting Job rises early to sanctify his children and offer burnt offerings, in case any of them has sinned against God in his heart.