Let us now look at another central character of our lesson—Job’s wife. We have all imagined, or been lead to think of her as a cynical, hard-hearted woman. Who, in the midst of Job’s suffering, offered neither strength nor comfort to her husband; but rather coldly told him to end his miserable life and the suffering he was going through. We might even have thought that she wanted him dead to make her life easier. On the surface, that seems to be the most likely conclusion, especially since Job himself compares what she said to the talk of a foolish woman, and admonishes her about her faithless attitude. However, upon closer examination, there may be another view of Job’s wife and her words not as easily seen. Nonetheless, because she is so often judged on the basis of misinterpreting her one statement and her husband’s rebuke, we have tended to agree with Job. We have this rather uncomplimentary picture of her for three reasons: First, we have failed to assign to Job any weakness or fault that God may have been addressing. Second, we have failed to investigate what may have been the deeper meaning of her statement. Third, we have failed to appreciate what was her true character.

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

1 Cor 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

To begin with, let us examine her according to what we may indirectly ascertain from the rest of the Scriptures. Although little is said of her throughout the Book of Job, we may surmise that she was a good wife. We may also assume that her marriage to Job was a Biblical one, as there are no other wives mentioned. The very fact that she even dared to speak to Job with such boldness, shows that her opinion was respected and that their marriage was a partnership—she being not merely a piece of property to Job.

The saying, “Behind every good man is a good women” is also certainly applicable here; as she was a woman that must have brought honor to her husband. Job was a man who had earned great respect in his community, and one of the reasons he did so was his wife. How can a man be a community leader if he cannot lead his home?  How can a man be admired if his family doesn’t respect and honor him?  Job was said to be “the greatest of all the men of the east”; which not only refers to his material wealth, but also his status and place of honor in the world. Of the virtuous woman, the book of Proverbs says, “her husband is known in the gates.” It is doubtful that Job would have commanded much respect in society if his house was not in order, and if he had not had in his home, a loving, respectful wife.

Job 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.

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

It may also be said that she must have been a good mother. There seems to be a loving harmony in the family as the children gathered regularly to feast and enjoy fellowship with each other. The woman is said to be the spirit of the home, and it is doubtful the children would have continued to enjoy their family ties, if their home had been a place where fighting and arguing, and the constant cloud of a mean-spirited, discontented woman had been the normal atmosphere. There is an old saying, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”; and that has, in part, a Biblical basis.

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

Pro 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Pro 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

Pro 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.

Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

She must also have been a morally pure woman and Job was also content to be true to her. Job had ample opportunities to be unfaithful to his wife, as he had a very great household of servants and was also a very rich man. However, he would not even “think upon a maid” in a lustful manner, as he treasured his wife, who also treasured him.

Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Job 31:9 If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
10 Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

She also must have been an industrious woman who toiled along with Job to become successful in the world. She did not, as many women do, bring her family to ruin by squandering her husbands wealth.

Pro 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Jobs own reply to his wife indicates that he did not regard her as a foolish woman. She had always been a wise and respectful wife and he could not understand why she would speak as she did. He was puzzled by what she said and wondered why she had spoken so irreverently. However, his reply to her was only superficial, as he did not contemplate what may have been a deeper meaning to what she said. This will be an important thing to consider when we look at the true inspiration of her words.

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.

At the end of Job’s trial, all of the characters in the book are rebuked by the Lord, except Job’s wife. This includes Job, his three friends, and even Elihu, who was God’s true spokesman. She certainly would have merited some rebuke if her attitude and words were indeed contemptuous. Take for example, Michal, the daughter of King Saul, who dishonored her husband David and was rebuked by him. She also was never given any children, either because of her estranged relationship with David, or because she had her womb closed by the Lord. However, Job’s wife was blessed with having ten more children.

Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? (the Lord speaking indirectly to Elihu)

2 Sam 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.

In summarizing our account of Job’s wife, we can see plenty of evidence that she indeed was a godly woman. She was a wife who cherished and loved her husband; and a wife who respected and honored him. Furthermore, she was a loving mother, and worked hard to make their home a joyful and comfortable place to live. Although this trial greatly affected her life as well as Job’s, and must have strained her to the limits of her endurance, we have no reason to assume it changed her character and caused her to turn upon her husband with venomous words. Therefore, in the light of seeing the kind of woman she must have been, we are compelled to reconsider the meaning of what she said and the forces that moved her to speak. After looking at the other characters in the account of Job’s trial, we will return to look deeper into these issues.