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What happened to Job's Wife?

Theresa asks, What happened to Job’s wife? Is she the mother of his ten children born after he was restored?

Before I answer, I have 10-minute lesson about Job's Wife that you can watch HERE.

What makes this question an especially difficult one to answer is the fact that Job’s wife, or Mrs. Job as I like to call her, is a largely anonymous biblical figure. She is never named and only speaks briefly in Job 2.

Because of that, I cannot give a definitive answer with the authority of God’s Word when it comes to Job’s wife; but I do believe that Job’s wife at the end of the book of Job is the same woman as at the beginning. I believe Mrs. Job experienced all the suffering of Job—along with her own suffering—and was restored with Job to fullness of life at the end of the book.

While some Hebrew tradition contends that Job’s wife was Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, we cannot know for sure. Historical evidence does indicate that Job lived around the same time as Jacob, but there is no clear biblical evidence that he married Dinah.

Whomever she was, the Bible does not list the death of Job’s wife as any of the curses brought upon Job by Satan with the permission of God. While the Bible clearly records the death of Job’s children, we know that Job’s wife remains alive after the suffering is inflicted, because she speaks to Job in the midst of his suffering.

After she speaks, the book of Job never records her death or indicates that Job remarried. Because of that, the most reasonable interpretation of the end of Job is that the same woman who bore Job his first ten children who died also bore him ten children after he was restored, and together their family unit and family legacy was preserved.

Here's more about her: 

Job's Wife in the Bible:

In the Bible, Job's wife is only mentioned a few times, but her words have become famous. In Job 2:9-10, after Job loses his wealth, his children, and his health, his wife tells him to "Curse God and die!" Job's response is to rebuke her, saying, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" This interaction has led to much speculation about Job's wife and her character.

The Meaning of Job's Wife's Words:

The words spoken by Job's wife are often misunderstood. Some interpret her words as an expression of her own despair and frustration, while others see her as a temptress trying to lead Job away from his faith. However, it's important to consider the context of the story. Job's wife had also lost her children and wealth, and she may have been expressing her own grief and anger at God. Additionally, the phrase "curse God and die" may have been a common expression of extreme despair in that time and culture.

The Role of Job's Wife in the Story:

While Job's wife is only mentioned briefly in the Bible, her role in the story is significant. Her words provide a contrast to Job's unwavering faith in God, and her presence serves to highlight the depth of Job's suffering. Additionally, her words set the stage for Job's response, which emphasizes the importance of trusting God in the face of adversity.

Historical Interpretations of Job's Wife:

Throughout history, Job's wife has been interpreted in different ways. Some have seen her as a negative influence, while others have sympathized with her pain and struggles. She is highly regarded in many Christian traditions, and in some Jewish traditions, she is seen as a righteous woman who stood by her husband even amid tragedy.

Lessons from Job's Wife:

While Job's wife is a minor character in the story of Job, her words and actions provide valuable insights into the nature of faith and suffering. Her example challenges us to confront our own doubts and fears, and to trust in God even in the midst of pain and loss. Ultimately, the story of Job and his wife reminds us of the power of faith and the importance of standing firm in the face of adversity.

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Comments

Jason Lanning says:
She must have been an awful woman or Satan would have taken her too. I think she was left alive to further Job's suffering
Nicholas Mensah says:
Would like to know God more and more. Process through which Job's wife pass before she died...... Who was the last person Satan killed during Job's predicament......
Lee says:
Jobs wife suffered as he did...of course what was happening.... Satan had permission for cursing....killing....HE DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO TOUCH JOB.... As the word speaks of "the two shall become one"....as Job and "Mrs Job were ONE / Echad ....Mrs Job was protected....touching her would be touching him..... After the suffering....I would assume restoration and Renewal We're his children replaced or added to ?
Amie Estraza says:
I just want to ask question, what happened to job's wife did she returned back to Job after he leave him?
Chocho says:
I believe jobs wife was part of the plan all along, it was all a plot against job from the beginning. The blessings were also the curse, which later became the blessings and better. So yes it's possible that she was the mother of the later children. But she definitely never had jobs heart anymore. That's my opinion
Kia says:
I’m not sure what happened to Mrs Job but I can’t imagine what she went through. Loosing so much, she lost her faith. Knowing her husband did no wrong, she wanted it all to stop! I think some of us may have said the same thing to our husband in desperation.
Jesugbemi Foyinsayemi says:
I think Job’s wife was spared because they had become one. The Bible says God told Satan not to hurt Job. He and his wife and become one, so she was Job and he was his wife. It just goes to show the sacrament of marriage
Taderera Chisi says:
I want to believe that Job's wife was part of the plan to cause more suffering to Job. I say this because, I have discovered that, anyone can curse me in any way and I do not mind it much. But if a curse or a nasty or bad word comes from my spouse it hurts so bad. It's worse than a spear going through the intestines. So I can imagine how Job felt when that person, the wife, whose shoulder he desperately needed to lean on was telling him to die. It must have been emotionally terrible.
Evette says:
I ask the lord and I was so surprised that I saw someone put the same thing in the comment. The two shall become one. Praise God for his answers amen😊🙏
Victor says:
She was a horrible person, telling Job to curse God and die. Her name in Hebrew means Satan. Most likely she was a wedge between Job and kids, and God thought it an act of mercy to take kids, rather than face a life of misery with that wench.