Hospitality: Job
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Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, the theme of hospitality is intricately woven into the life and character of Job, a man renowned for his righteousness and unwavering faith. The Book of Job, part of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament, provides a profound exploration of human suffering, divine sovereignty, and the moral and ethical conduct expected of God's people. Job's practice of hospitality is a reflection of his piety and adherence to God's commandments.

Job's Character and Hospitality

Job is introduced as a man of exemplary character, "blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil" (Job 1:1). His life is marked by integrity and a deep commitment to righteousness, which extends to his treatment of others. Hospitality, in the ancient Near Eastern context, was not merely a social nicety but a sacred duty, reflecting one's reverence for God and respect for fellow human beings.

Job's Testimony of Hospitality

In his defense against the accusations of his friends, Job provides a self-testimony of his ethical conduct, including his practice of hospitality. He declares, "The stranger has not lodged outside; I have opened my doors to the traveler" (Job 31:32). This statement underscores Job's commitment to welcoming and providing for those in need, a tangible expression of his faith and righteousness.

Cultural and Theological Significance

Hospitality in the biblical context is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's character and His commands to His people. The act of welcoming strangers and providing for their needs is seen as a reflection of God's own provision and care. Job's hospitality is thus an embodiment of his fear of God and his adherence to divine principles.

The cultural expectation of hospitality in Job's time was significant. Travelers and strangers were vulnerable, and the provision of shelter, food, and protection was a critical aspect of community life. Job's willingness to open his home to strangers highlights his compassion and his understanding of the communal and covenantal responsibilities of God's people.

Job's Hospitality as a Model

Job's example serves as a model for believers, illustrating the importance of hospitality as an expression of faith and obedience to God. His life challenges the faithful to consider how they might embody the principles of hospitality in their own lives, reflecting God's love and care to those around them.

In summary, Job's practice of hospitality is a testament to his righteousness and his understanding of God's expectations for His people. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of welcoming and caring for others, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 31:17,32
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Passages from Clement's Epistle to the Corinthians on Martyrdom.
... For hospitality and piety, Lot was saved from Sodom." "For faith and hospitality,
Rahab the ... but modestly said, I am dust and ashes.' [2835] And of Job it is ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvii passages from clements epistle.htm

Reference Table
... volumes The Proverbs Ecclesiasticus Ecclesiastes and The Wisdom of Solomon The Book
of Job. ... of Riches, Proverbs XXIII 4 Proverbs 109 Epigram: Hospitality of the ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/reference table.htm

After Saying what Return must be Made for the Service of the Above ...
... longer care to show the way to the stranger, to recall the wanderer, to show
hospitality (this latter is no small virtue, for on this point Job praised himself ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxxii after saying what.htm

New York to California
... due respect to my old teacher and gratefully acknowledging his hospitality for
entertaining me ... a suitable help for him and he offered me the job without asking ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter vii new york to.htm

Homilies on the Statues.
... light, [1314]450. Horse, inferior to man in the foot, [1315]416. Hospitality,
of Abraham, [1316]349; of Job, [1317]442. House not to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/homilies on the statues.htm

To Olympias. Do not be Anxious on My Behalf, nor Rack Yourself ...
... [933] Jeremiah 15.p>[934] Sc. Job. [935] Job 2:4. [936] Matthew 5:20. [937] Philippians
1:23, 24. [938] Luke 16.p>[939] Referring to the hospitality of Abraham ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/to olympias do not be.htm

Hebrews xii. 28, 29
... Be not forgetful" of the entertaining of strangers, [3466] but "of hospitality":
[3467] that is ... I out of my mother's womb, naked also shall I depart." ( Job 1:21 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxiii hebrews xii 28.htm

From Abraham to Egypt.
... There is great hospitality and the marriage relation was respected by such
heathen rulers as Pharaoh and Abimelech. ... The Book of Job. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iv from abraham to.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Hospitality, shown to poor and strangers is shown to Christ, [471]275 sq.; Abraham
a ... Job, his example of patience, [517]348, [518]363; his sufferings, [519]454 ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/index of subjects.htm

The Nations of the South-East
... Then they received with hospitality a political fugitive from Egypt; he married
one of their ... of the Kadmonites was the land of Uz, famous as the home of Job. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iii the nations of.htm

Resources
What does it mean that “as a man thinks, so is he” in Proverbs 23:7? | GotQuestions.org

Are there angels among us? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Diotrephes in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Hospitality: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Hospitality

Hospitality: A Test of Christian Character

Hospitality: Abimelech to Abraham

Hospitality: Abraham

Hospitality: Abraham to the Angels

Hospitality: Barzillai

Hospitality: Commanded

Hospitality: David

Hospitality: David to Mephibosheth

Hospitality: Elisha to the Syrian Spies

Hospitality: Encouragement To

Hospitality: Gaius

Hospitality: General Scriptures Concerning

Hospitality: Isaac to Abimelech

Hospitality: Jason

Hospitality: Jethro

Hospitality: Jethro to Moses

Hospitality: Job

Hospitality: Job to Strangers

Hospitality: Joseph to his Brothers

Hospitality: Laban

Hospitality: Laban to Abraham's Servant

Hospitality: Lot

Hospitality: Lot to the Angel

Hospitality: Lydia

Hospitality: Lydia to Paul and Silas

Hospitality: Man of Gibeah to the Levite

Hospitality: Manoah

Hospitality: Martha to Jesus

Hospitality: Melchizedek

Hospitality: Melchizedek to Abraham

Hospitality: Mnason

Hospitality: Nehemiah

Hospitality: Onesiphorus to Paul

Hospitality: People of Melita

Hospitality: Pharaoh to Abraham

Hospitality: Pharaoh to Hadad

Hospitality: Pharaoh to Jacob

Hospitality: Pharisees to Jesus

Hospitality: Phoebe to Paul

Hospitality: Publius

Hospitality: Publius to Paul

Hospitality: Rahab to the Spies

Hospitality: Required in Ministers

Hospitality: Rewarded: Rahab's

Hospitality: Rewarded: Widow of Zarephath's

Hospitality: Samaritans

Hospitality: Samuel

Hospitality: Shunammite

Hospitality: Simon the Tanner to Peter

Hospitality: Sons of Heth to Abraham

Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Enemies

Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to Strangers

Hospitality: Specially to be Shown to The Poor

Hospitality: The Shunammite Woman to Elisha

Hospitality: The Widow of Zarephath to Elijah

Hospitality: To Jacob

Hospitality: Zacchaeus

Hospitality: Zacchaeus to Jesus

Inhospitableness: Ammonites and Moabites

Inhospitableness: Edom

Inhospitableness: Men of Gibeah Toward a Levite

Inhospitableness: Nabal Toward David

Inhospitableness: Sihon

Inhospitableness: some Samaritans Toward Jesus

Related Terms

Jael (6 Occurrences)

Lover (55 Occurrences)

Guest (24 Occurrences)

Philemon (2 Occurrences)

Foot (193 Occurrences)

Anoint (59 Occurrences)

Sober (18 Occurrences)

Salt (45 Occurrences)

Bread (433 Occurrences)

Prophet (315 Occurrences)

Poverty (25 Occurrences)

Hospitality (9 Occurrences)

Elisha (70 Occurrences)

Host (261 Occurrences)

Vigilant (4 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Necessities (7 Occurrences)

Necessity (22 Occurrences)

Ungrudgingly (1 Occurrence)

Ungrudging (1 Occurrence)

Orderly (8 Occurrences)

Laban (52 Occurrences)

Lydia (5 Occurrences)

Grudging (3 Occurrences)

Gibeah (52 Occurrences)

Grudge (11 Occurrences)

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)

Gentiles (150 Occurrences)

Imparted (6 Occurrences)

Forget (77 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Friendly (17 Occurrences)

Receipt (3 Occurrences)

Relieve (14 Occurrences)

Enterprise (1 Occurrence)

Entertain (8 Occurrences)

Entertainment (2 Occurrences)

Earthen (19 Occurrences)

Exercised (20 Occurrences)

Entertained (5 Occurrences)

El-paran (1 Occurrence)

Elparan (1 Occurrence)

Extend (35 Occurrences)

Distributing (8 Occurrences)

Devout (13 Occurrences)

Diotrephes (1 Occurrence)

Dainty (7 Occurrences)

Dainties (14 Occurrences)

Disciplined (18 Occurrences)

Meats (9 Occurrences)

Martha (12 Occurrences)

Minded (36 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Murmuring (14 Occurrences)

Mean (93 Occurrences)

Promoting (2 Occurrences)

Practicing (6 Occurrences)

Phoebe (1 Occurrence)

Paran (11 Occurrences)

Profuse (1 Occurrence)

Pursuing (50 Occurrences)

Practise (52 Occurrences)

Purse (7 Occurrences)

Blameless (81 Occurrences)

Behavior (20 Occurrences)

Cook (17 Occurrences)

Communicating (4 Occurrences)

Contributing (4 Occurrences)

Contribute (4 Occurrences)

Apt (7 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Apostolic (2 Occurrences)

Surrounding (78 Occurrences)

Strangers (95 Occurrences)

Sensible (15 Occurrences)

Self-controlled (9 Occurrences)

Sisera (18 Occurrences)

Temperate (6 Occurrences)

Hospitality: Jethro to Moses
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