'Man' in the Bible

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God [with reverence] and abstained from and turned away from evil [because he honored God].

He also possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke (pairs) of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great number of servants, so that this man was the greatest [and wealthiest and most respected] of all the men of the east (northern Arabia).

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God]. And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.”

Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! Yes, a man will give all he has for his life.

“Why is the light of day given to a man whose way is hidden,And whom God has hedged in?

‘Can [mortal] man be just before God or be more righteous than He?Can a man be pure before his Maker or be more cleansed than He?

“For anger slays the foolish man,And jealousy kills the simple (naive).

“For man is born for trouble,[As naturally] as sparks fly upward.

“Behold, how happy and fortunate is the man whom God reproves,So do not despise or reject the discipline of the Almighty [subjecting you to trial and suffering].

“Is not man forced to labor on earth?And are not his days like the days of a hired man?

“What is man that You [should] magnify him [and think him important]?And that You are concerned about him?

“Behold, God will not reject a man of integrity,Nor will He strengthen or support evildoers.

“Yes, I know it is true.But how can a mortal man be right before God?

“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him,That we may go to court and judgment together.

‘Do You have eyes of flesh?Do You see as a man sees?

‘Are Your days as the days of a mortal,Are Your years as man’s years,

“Shall a multitude of words not be answered?And should a talkative man [making such a long-winded defense] be acquitted?

“Should your boasts and babble silence men?And shall you scoff and no one put you to shame?

“If God passes by or arrests,Or calls an assembly [of judgment], who can restrain Him?[If He is against a man, who can call Him to account for it?]

“But a hollow (empty-headed) man will become intelligent and wise[Only] when the colt of a wild donkey is born as a man.

“I am a joke to my friends;I, one whom God answered when he called upon Him—A just and blameless man is a joke [and laughed to scorn].

“Behold, He tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.

“They grope in darkness without light,And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”

“Will it be well for you when He investigates you [and your tactics against me]?Or will you deceive Him as one deceives a man?

“This also will be my salvation,For a godless man may not come before Him.

“Man, who is born of a woman,Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

“For there is hope for a tree,If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,And that the shoots of it will not cease nor fail, [but there is no such hope for man].

“But [the brave, strong] man must die and lie face down;Man breathes his last, and where is he?

So man lies down and does not rise [again].Until the heavens are no longer,The dead will not awake nor be raised from their sleep.

“If a man dies, will he live again?I will wait all the days of my struggleUntil my change and release will come.

Water wears away the stones,Its floods and torrents wash away the soil of the earth,So You [O Lord] destroy the hope of man.

“Should a wise man [such as you] utter such windy and vain knowledge [as we have just heard]And fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]?

“Were you the first man to be born [the original wise man],Or were you created before the hills?

“What is man, that he should be pure and clean,Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous and just?

How much less [pure and clean is] the one who is repulsive and corrupt,Man, who drinks unrighteousness and injustice like water!

“The wicked man writhes with pain all his days,And numbered are the years stored up for him, the ruthless one.

And he has lived in desolate [God-forsaken] cities,In houses which no one should inhabit,Which were destined to become heaps [of ruins];

“Oh, that a man would mediate and plead with God [for me]Just as a man [mediates and pleads] with his neighbor and friend.

“But as for all of you, come back again,Even though I do not find a wise man among you.

“Those in the west are astonished and appalled at his fate,And those in the east are seized with horror.

“Do you not know this from the old days,Since the time that man was placed on the earth,

Complete darkness (misfortune) is held in reserve for his treasures.An unfanned fire will devour him;It will consume the survivor in his tent.

“As for me, is my complaint to man or about him?And why should I not be impatient and my spirit troubled?

“You say, ‘God stores away [the punishment of] man’s wickedness for his children.’Let God repay him so that he may know and experience it.

“For what pleasure does he have in his house and family after he is dead,When the number of his months [of life] is cut off?

Whereas another dies with a bitter soul,Never even tasting pleasure or good fortune.

“That evil men are [now] reserved for the day of disaster and destruction,They will be led away on the day of [God’s] wrath?

“The [dirt] clods of the valley are sweet to him [and gently cover him],Moreover, all men will follow after him [to a grave],While countless ones go before him.

“Can a vigorous man be of use to God,Or a wise man be useful to himself?

“But the land is possessed by the man with power,And the favored and honorable man dwells in it.

“They harvest their fodder in a field [that is not their own],And glean the vineyard of the wicked.

“He preys on the barren (childless) womanAnd does no good for the widow.

“How then can man be justified and righteous with God?Or how can he who is born of a woman be pure and clean?

How much less man, that maggot,And the son of man, that worm!”

“I will teach you regarding the hand (power) of God;I will not conceal what is with the Almighty [God’s actual treatment of the wicked].

“This [which I am about to explain] is the portion of a wicked man from God,And the inheritance which tyrants and oppressors receive from the Almighty:

“Man puts an end to darkness [by bringing in a light],And to the farthest bounds he searches outThe rock buried in gloom and deep shadow.

“Man puts his hand on [and tears apart] the flinty rock;He overturns the mountains at the base [looking for treasure].

“Man dams up the streams from flowing [so that they do not trickle into the mine],And what is hidden he brings out to the light.

“Man does not know the value of it;Nor is it found in the land of the living.

“But to man He said, ‘Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord—that is wisdom;And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

“The stranger has not lodged in the street,Because I have opened my door to the traveler.

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes [and could not be persuaded otherwise by them].

“But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man,And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

“Beware if you say,‘We have found wisdom;God thrusts Job down [justly], not man [for God alone is dealing with him].’

“I will not [I warn you] be partial to any man [that is, let my respect for you mitigate what I say];Nor flatter any man.

“Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just;For God is greater and far superior to man.

That He may turn man aside from his conduct,And keep him from pride;

“Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed,And with unceasing complaint in his bones,

“If there is an angel as a mediator for him,One out of a thousand,To explain to a man what is right for him [that is, how to be in right standing with God],

[Elihu comments,] “Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man,

“What man is like Job,Who drinks up derision like water,

“For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothingWhen he takes delight and is pleased with God and obeys Him.’

“For God pays a man according to his work,And He will make every man find [appropriate] compensation according to his way.

“If God should determine to do so,If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,

All flesh would perish together,And man would return to dust.

“For God’s eyes are on the ways of a man,And He sees all his steps.

“For He sets no appointed time for a man,That he should appear before Him in judgment.

“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

So that godless men would not ruleNor be snares for the people.

“Men of understanding will tell me,Indeed, every wise man who hears me [will agree],

“Your wickedness affects only a man such as you,And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign].

“All men have seen God’s work;Man looks at it from a distance.

“God seals (brings to a standstill, stops) [by severe weather] the hand of every man,That all men [whom He has made] may know His work [that is, His sovereign power and their subjection to it].

“Tell us [Job] what words [of man] shall we say to such a Being;We cannot state our case because of darkness [that is, our ignorance in the presence of the unsearchable God].

“So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak?Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up [and destroyed by God]?

“Now gird up your loins like a man,And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

To bring rain on the uninhabited land,And on the desert where no man lives,

“Now gird up your loins (prepare yourself) like a man,And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold.

So Job died, an old man and full of days.