He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job's wealth isn't just listed for show; it highlights his integrated lifestyle as both a pastoralist and a farmer, unusual for his time and region. The inclusion of oxen for plowing alongside sheep and camels for herding points to a settled life that blended nomadic traditions with agricultural pursuits, setting him apart.
He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The book of Job opens by presenting Job as an exceptionally wealthy and righteous man living in the land of Uz, east of Palestine. This detailed description of his vast possessions—sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys—along with his numerous servants, establishes him as the most prominent figure in his region. The narrative sets the stage for the intense spiritual and personal trials he is about to face, contrasting his current prosperity and uprightness with the devastating losses that will soon follow.
The opening verses of Job paint a picture of incredible prosperity. But what did that wealth actually look like in ancient times?
Job wasn't just rich; he was exceptionally well-resourced, especially for his time and region.
Beyond Simple Numbers
This combination shows Job as a man of significant influence, blending nomadic wealth with settled agricultural enterprise. He wasn't just a wealthy individual; he was a leader whose prosperity impacted many.
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Being "the greatest of all the people of the east" sounds impressive, but what did that status truly signify?
Job's wealth wasn't just personal accumulation; it positioned him as a preeminent figure in his world.
More Than Money
This passage describes Abraham's possessions after leaving Egypt, listing sheep, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels, mirroring the types of wealth Job had and highlighting a similar patriarchal status.
Genesis 14:14When Abraham rescued Lot, he mustered 318 trained servants born in his household. This shows that having a large retinue of servants, like Job's 'very great household,' was a sign of significant wealth and influence in that ancient culture.
Judges 6:3-5This passage describes the Midianites and Amalekites coming with their livestock and tents and settling in the land, destroying the produce of the earth. This illustrates the nomadic lifestyle and the importance of livestock (camels, sheep) as the primary measure of wealth in the 'East,' much like Job's possessions.
1 Chronicles 5:21The description of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh conquering the Hagrites mentions their livestock: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. This shows the immense scale of animal wealth that was possible and considered significant in the ancient East, putting Job's substantial herd into context.
clarkeJob 1:3: "His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east."
His substance also was seven thousand sheep - A thousand, says the Chaldee, for each of his sons. Three thousand camels: a thousand for each of his daughters. Five hundred yoke of oxen for himself. And five hundred she-asses for his wife. Thus the Targum divides the…
jfbJob 1:3: "His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east."
- she-asses—prized on account of their milk, and for riding (Jud 5:10). Houses and lands are not mentioned among the emir's wealth, as nomadic tribes dwell in movable tents and live chiefly by pasture, the right to the soil not being appropriated by individuals. The…
Job's wealth isn't just listed for show; it highlights his integrated lifestyle as both a pastoralist and a farmer, unusual for his time and region. The inclusion of oxen for plowing alongside sheep and camels for herding points to a settled life that blended nomadic traditions with agricultural pursuits, setting him apart.
The book of Job opens by presenting Job as an exceptionally wealthy and righteous man living in the land of Uz, east of Palestine. This detailed description of his vast possessions—sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys—along with his numerous servants, establishes him as the most prominent figure in his region. The narrative sets the stage for the intense spiritual and personal trials he is about to face, contrasting his current prosperity and uprightness with the devastating losses that will soon follow.
The book of Job opens by presenting Job as an exceptionally wealthy and righteous man living in the land of Uz, east of Palestine. This detailed description of his vast possessions—sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys—along with his numerous servants, establishes him as the most prominent figure in his region. The narrative sets the stage for the intense spiritual and personal trials he is about to face, contrasting his current prosperity and uprightness with the devastating losses that will soon follow.
"He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east." — Job's wealth isn't just listed for show; it highlights his integrated lifestyle as both a pastoralist and a farmer, unusual for his time and region. The inclusion of oxen for plowing alongside sheep…
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Last reviewed October 2026