Job 1:11 - Exposition

But put forth thine hand now ; literally, send forth thy hand, as a man does who strikes a blow (comp. Genesis 22:12 ; Exodus 3:20 ; Exodus 9:15 , etc.). And touch all that he hath ; or, smite all that he hath ; i.e. ruin him, strip him of his possessions. And he will curse thee to thy face. Professor Lee translates, "If not, he will bless thee to thy face;" the LXX ; "Surely he will bless thee to thy face;" Canon Cook, "See if he will not renounce thee openly." But the majority of Hebraists agree with the Authorized Version. Satan suggests that, if Job be stripped of his possessions, he will openly curse God, and renounce his worship. Here he did not so much calumniate, or lie, as show the evil thoughts that were in his own heart. No doubt he believed that Job would act as he said.