Job's Wife

Figure Analysis

Job's wife really gets off easy. When Satan unleashes the craziness on Job, Job's wife survives. Oh, and she's not happy with the situation. She yells at him: "Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die" (2:9). Hmmm. Sounds a bit reactive, but that's just us. Still, misery and death often go hand in hand, and Job's wife pops in here to remind us of just that.

Job, of course, has a different opinion about all of this: "You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?" (2.10). Oh, foolish women.

Later, Job comments that his misery is due at least in part to the fact that his wife can't stand his bad breath (19:17). We mean, when it's bad, it's bad—there's nothing worse than bad breath mixed with ash and sackcloth. We couldn't make this stuff up if we tried.

By the very end of the story, Mrs. Job seems to bear her husband a bunch of kids (42:10-17). What a wild ride.