So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Satan is depicted as departing from God's presence, not acting independently, which highlights that even Satan's power is ultimately under divine permission. The description of the sores covering Job entirely, from head to toe, emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his suffering and the sheer physical agony he endured.
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Fresh from his encounter with God, Satan immediately unleashes a horrific plague upon Job, covering him from head to toe in agonizing sores. This follows a divine dialogue where God permitted Satan to test Job further, but with the restriction that he spare Job's life. Now, Job is physically afflicted in a way that is both excruciating and utterly dehumanizing, setting the stage for his friends' arrival and the profound theological debates that are about to unfold.
We often fear Satan's actions as independent acts of malice. But what does Job's story reveal about the true source of authority behind suffering?
The narrative of Job immediately clarifies that Satan's actions are not unrestrained. He must go forth from the presence of the Lord. This isn't merely a physical departure, but a powerful statement of divine permission.
Under God's Watch
Satan operates within boundaries set by God. He requested permission to afflict Job, and God granted it, albeit with specific limitations (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).
This concept is crucial: Satan is not an equal and opposite force to God. He is a created being, subject to the Creator's ultimate authority. Even in the most devastating circumstances, God remains sovereign.
Job's affliction was not just skin-deep. What does the description of his sores tell us about the holistic nature of his suffering?
The description of Job's affliction is graphic and comprehensive: 'from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.' This wasn't a minor ailment; it was a total bodily assault.
A Crippling Condition
Commentators suggest various severe diseases, like elephantiasis or a virulent form of leprosy, characterized by intense pain, itching, and disfigurement. This level of suffering would render a person not only physically miserable but also socially outcasts, as they would be considered unclean and contagious.
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Furthermore, the purpose was not just physical agony. Satan desired Job to 'curse God' (Job 2:5). The physical torment was designed to break Job's spirit, leading him to despair and rebellion against God. This highlights how suffering often targets both our physical well-being and our mental and emotional state.
This passage describes a plague of boils as a curse for disobedience, mirroring the nature and source of Job's affliction and highlighting the devastating impact of such diseases.
Luke 13:16Jesus speaks of Satan binding a woman with a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, showing that Satan has the power to inflict physical ailments, a power God permits him to exercise.
Exodus 9:10The plague of boils inflicted on the Egyptians in Egypt closely resembles Job's suffering, indicating a divine punitive power that Satan was permitted to wield.
2 Corinthians 12:7Paul mentions a 'thorn in the flesh,' a messenger of Satan, sent to torment him, illustrating how God allows spiritual adversaries to inflict hardships for protective reasons, even on His devoted servants.
bensonJob 2:7: "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."
Job 2:7 . Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord — Or, from the Lord, απο του Κυριου , as the LXX. render it. Compare Acts 5:41 , They departed, απο προσωπου του συνεδριου , from the presence of the council that is, from the council. And smote Job with sore biles — Ελκει πονηρω , with a foul ulcer, or evil inflammation, say the Seventy; breaking out and s…
pulpitJob 2:7: "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown."
Verse 7.- So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord (comp. Job 1:12, ad fin.). Satan, we may be sure, is always anxious to quit the immediate presence o
Satan is depicted as departing from God's presence, not acting independently, which highlights that even Satan's power is ultimately under divine permission. The description of the sores covering Job entirely, from head to toe, emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his suffering and the sheer physical agony he endured.
Fresh from his encounter with God, Satan immediately unleashes a horrific plague upon Job, covering him from head to toe in agonizing sores. This follows a divine dialogue where God permitted Satan to test Job further, but with the restriction that he spare Job's life. Now, Job is physically afflicted in a way that is both excruciating and utterly dehumanizing, setting the stage for his friends' arrival and the profound theological debates that are about to unfold.
Fresh from his encounter with God, Satan immediately unleashes a horrific plague upon Job, covering him from head to toe in agonizing sores. This follows a divine dialogue where God permitted Satan to test Job further, but with the restriction that he spare Job's life. Now, Job is physically afflicted in a way that is both excruciating and utterly dehumanizing, setting the stage for his friends' arrival and the profound theological debates that are about to unfold.
"So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." — Satan is depicted as departing from God's presence, not acting independently, which highlights that even Satan's power is ultimately under divine permission. The description of the sores covering Job…
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Last reviewed October 2026