Job 1:21
New International Version
and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

New Living Translation
He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”

English Standard Version
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible
saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

King James Bible
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

New King James Version
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

New American Standard Bible
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

NASB 1995
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

NASB 1977
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh.”

Amplified Bible
He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Christian Standard Bible
saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh.

American Standard Version
and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
and said: "We bring nothing at birth; we take nothing with us at death. The LORD alone gives and takes. Praise the name of the LORD!"

English Revised Version
and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said, "Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away! May the name of the LORD be praised."

Good News Translation
He said, "I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The LORD gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!"

International Standard Version
and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

Majority Standard Bible
saying: ?Naked I came from my mother?s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.?

NET Bible
He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!"

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, Naked came I from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

World English Bible
He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be Yahweh’s name.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he says, “I came forth naked from the womb of my mother, "" And naked I return there. YHWH has given and YHWH has taken; Let the Name of YHWH be blessed.”

Young's Literal Translation
and he saith, 'Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I turn back thither: Jehovah hath given and Jehovah hath taken: let the name of Jehovah be blessed.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I turn back there: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah took; the name of Jehovah shall be blessed.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and he said, “Naked I departed from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Just as it pleased the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

New American Bible
He said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”

New Revised Standard Version
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said: “Naked I came out from the belly of my mother, and naked I shall return. LORD JEHOVAH has given and LORD JEHOVAH has taken away. Blessed shall be the name of LORD JEHOVAH!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he said; Naked came I out of my mother's womb, And naked shall I return thither; The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and said, I myself came forth naked from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, the Lord has taken away: as it seemed good to the Lord, so has it come to pass; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Loses His Children and Possessions
20Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” 22In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 5:15
As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.

1 Timothy 6:7
For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.

Psalm 49:17
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.

James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

1 Samuel 2:7
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.

1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Philippians 4:11-12
I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. / I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.

Psalm 113:7
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Psalm 103:14-16
For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. / As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.

Luke 12:20-21
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ / This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

2 Corinthians 6:10
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


Treasury of Scripture

And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Naked came.

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Psalm 49:17
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Ecclesiastes 5:15
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

the Lord gave.

Job 2:10
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.

Genesis 30:2
And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

taken away.

Genesis 45:5
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

2 Samuel 16:12
It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

1 Kings 12:15
Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

blessed.

Job 1:11
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

1 Samuel 3:18
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

2 Kings 20:19
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

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Blessed Body Depart Forth Lord's Mother Mother's Naked Praised Thither Turn Womb
Job 1
1. The holiness, riches, and reverent care of Job for his children.
6. Satan, appearing before God, obtains leave to afflict Job.
13. Understanding of the loss of his children and goods, in his mourning Job blesses God.














Naked I came from my mother’s womb
This phrase begins with a profound acknowledgment of human vulnerability and the transient nature of earthly possessions. The Hebrew word for "naked" (עָרוֹם, 'arom) signifies a state of complete exposure and dependency, reminding us that we enter the world without material possessions or status. Job's reference to his "mother’s womb" emphasizes the natural cycle of life and the humble beginnings of every human being. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this acknowledgment would resonate deeply, as it underscores the belief that all material wealth is temporary and ultimately belongs to God.

and naked I will depart
Here, Job continues to reflect on the inevitability of death and the futility of earthly attachments. The repetition of "naked" reinforces the idea that just as we enter the world with nothing, we leave it in the same state. This echoes the biblical theme found in Ecclesiastes 5:15, where it is stated that we cannot take our earthly gains with us. Job's acceptance of this truth demonstrates his wisdom and spiritual maturity, recognizing that life’s true value lies beyond material wealth.

The LORD gave
This phrase acknowledges God as the ultimate source of all blessings and possessions. The Hebrew name for God used here, "Yahweh" (יהוה), is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and faithfulness. By stating "The LORD gave," Job affirms that everything he had was a gift from God, entrusted to him for a time. This reflects a deep understanding of stewardship, where humans are caretakers of God’s creation, and it is God who determines the distribution of resources.

and the LORD has taken away
Job recognizes God's sovereign right to give and take according to His divine will. This acceptance of God’s authority is a testament to Job’s unwavering faith, even in the face of immense personal loss. The phrase "has taken away" does not imply capriciousness on God’s part but rather a divine prerogative that is beyond human understanding. This reflects the biblical principle that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and His purposes are ultimately for good, even when they are not immediately apparent.

Blessed be the name of the LORD
In this climactic declaration, Job chooses to worship and honor God despite his suffering. The word "blessed" (בָּרוּךְ, baruch) is a term of praise and adoration, signifying reverence and submission to God’s will. By blessing "the name of the LORD," Job acknowledges God’s character and attributes, which remain constant regardless of his circumstances. This act of worship in adversity is a powerful testament to Job’s faith and serves as an inspiration for believers to trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even in trials. It echoes the call in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in all circumstances, recognizing that God is worthy of praise at all times.

(21) Thither.--If taken literally, can only refer to the womb, which in that case must here mean the earth, with a probable allusion to Genesis 3:19. (Comp. Job 17:14.)

Blessed be the name of the Lord.--The very word used in a contrary sense (Job 1:11). Thus was Satan foiled for the first time.

Verse 21. - And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. There is some difficulty in the word "thither," since no man returns to his mother's womb (John 3:4), at death or otherwise. The expression must not be pressed. It arises out of the analogy, constantly felt and acknowledged, between "mother" earth and a man's actual mother (setup. Psalm 129:15). The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Job is here represented as knowing God by his name "Jehovah," though elsewhere the "great Name" appears once only in the words of Job (Job 12:9), and never in the words of his friends. The natural conclusion is that the name was known in the land of Uz at the time, but was very rarely used - scarcely, except in moments of excitement. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; literally, may the Name of Jehovah be blessed! The ermphatic word is kept for the last. According to Satan, Job was to have" cursed God to his face" (ver. 11). The event is that he openly and resolutely blesses God. That the same word is used in its two opposite senses rather accentuates the antithesis.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
saying:
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Naked
עָרֹ֨ם (‘ā·rōm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6174: Nude, either partially, totally

I came
יָצָ֜אתִי (yā·ṣā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from my mother’s
אִמִּ֗י (’im·mî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

womb,
מִבֶּ֣טֶן (mib·be·ṭen)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

and naked
וְעָרֹם֙ (wə·‘ā·rōm)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6174: Nude, either partially, totally

I shall return.
אָשׁ֣וּב (’ā·šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

The LORD
יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

gave,
נָתַ֔ן (nā·ṯan)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

and the LORD
וַיהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has taken away.
לָקָ֑ח (lā·qāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

Blessed
מְבֹרָֽךְ׃ (mə·ḇō·rāḵ)
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

be
יְהִ֛י (yə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the name
שֵׁ֥ם (šêm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of the LORD.”
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Poetry: Job 1:21 He said Naked I came out (Jb)
Job 1:20
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