How the Message Translation Can Be Beneficial in Reading the Book of Job

Click here to access The Message Bible.

A Perspective on the Clarity of Scripture

As believers, we hold dearly to the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture (perspicuity). The Bible, while deep and rich in meaning, is not intended to be incomprehensible to its readers. However, we also recognize that some portions of Scripture—due to their poetic nature, historical context, or literary complexity—can be difficult to grasp without guidance. One such book is Job.

Job is written in Hebrew poetry, filled with ancient idioms, metaphors, and rhetorical questions that can sometimes feel distant to modern readers. While faithful translations like the ESV, NASB, or KJV strive for word-for-word accuracy, they can sometimes obscure the emotional intensity and raw dialogue found in Job’s lament. This is where The Message, a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson, can serve as a helpful supplementary tool for reading and understanding Job.

Capturing the Emotional Weight of Job’s Suffering

The story of Job is not merely a theological discourse; it is a deeply human story of suffering, confusion, and perseverance. One of the greatest strengths of The Message is its ability to capture the emotional intensity of Job’s words.

For example, consider Job 3:11 in the ESV:
"Why did I not perish at birth, come out from the womb and expire?"

Now, The Message:
"Why didn’t I die at birth, my first breath out of the womb my last?"

Peterson's paraphrase is raw and immediate, bringing out the agony in Job’s words. While a formal translation retains a level of poetic formality, The Message allows the reader to feel the weight of Job’s despair in a more direct and visceral way.

Helping Modern Readers Follow the Argument

One of the challenges in reading Job is tracking the debate between Job and his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar). Their speeches are full of complex reasoning, making it easy to lose the flow of the argument.

For instance, Job 13:4 in the NASB reads:
"But you smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians."

The Message puts it bluntly:
"You graffiti over truth with your lies. You’re a bunch of quacks!"

This makes Job’s frustration clearer, helping readers grasp the force of his accusations. Peterson’s rendering simplifies the structure without distorting the meaning, making it easier to follow the ebb and flow of the dialogue.

Preserving the Theological Depth of Job

Some might be wary of The Message due to its paraphrastic nature, concerned that it might dilute the theological richness of Job. However, when used properly—as a companion rather than a replacement—it can actually deepen one’s appreciation of the text.

For example, Job 19:25-26 (ESV) states:
"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God."

The Message renders it as:
"Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life—and eventually he’ll take his stand on earth. And I’ll see him—even though I get skinned alive!

Though paraphrased, it retains the hope of Job’s declaration, pointing forward to the resurrection.

Using The Message Wisely

As believers, we affirm the sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture in its original languages. While The Message is not a formal translation, it can serve as a helpful tool for personal reflection, devotional reading, and making difficult passages more accessible. However, it should never replace the study of a more literal translation when doing doctrinal study or exegesis.

How to Use The Message Wisely in Job:

  1. Read a formal translation first (e.g., ESV, NASB).
  2. Use The Message for comparison—see how it renders difficult passages.
  3. Reflect on the emotional impact—does it help you better grasp the suffering, frustration, and hope in Job’s words?
  4. Go deeper with commentaries—use resources to understand Job’s theological themes.

Conclusion: A Tool, Not a Substitute

The Message, when used thoughtfully, can help us feel the book of Job in a way that more rigid translations sometimes do not. It helps bridge the gap between the ancient text and modern readers without compromising the fundamental truths of God’s Word. However, it should always be used alongside, not in place of, careful exegesis and study of Scripture.

The story of Job is one of suffering, mystery, and divine sovereignty. By engaging with different translations and paraphrases, we can better grasp both the depth of Job’s lament and the glory of God’s response—which ultimately points us to Christ, our true Redeemer.

No Comments


Recent

Archive

 2025
 January
The Bible's Missing Books?Why I Choose to Believe the Bible.....Lost Books?What is The Gospel of Peter?How to Find Gold in God's Word: Reading the Bible with Supernatural HelpDO BELIEVERS IMMEDIATELY GO TO HEAVEN?WILL CHRISTIANS BE JUDGED BY GOD?THE COSMOS KEEPS PREACHINGHOW GENESIS 1 COMMUNICATES WHAT THE WHOLE BIBLE IS ABOUTWHEN DID GOD CREATE ANGELS?HOW GREAT IS OUR GODWHY DID THE FIRST HUMAN LIVE SO LONG?NEVER TRUST A SNAKEWHY DID GOD FORBID ONE TREE IN EDEN?LIFE ON OTHER PLANETSONE SENTENCE SUMMARIES: GENESIS 1-3MIDDAY PRAISE: HOW GREAT IS THE GREATNESS OF GODLEGGED, TALKING SNAKEHOW, WHY, AND WHEN DID SATAN FALL FROM HEAVEN?BIBLE KNOWLEDGE: DON'T FLAUNT ITWHY DID GOD ACCEPT ABEL'S OFFERING BUT REJECT CAIN'S OFFERING?WAS CAIN'S WIFE HIS SISTER?MIDDAY PRAISE: RUN AND RUN (CHRIST IS ALL MY RIGHTEOUSNESS)GENESIS 4:16-26: PROGRESS WITHOUT GODTWO SEEDSTHE PROBLEM WITH THE WORLDWHO/WHAT WERE THE NEPHILIM?WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE LORD REGRETTED?IS GENESIS 1 A LITERAL 24 DAY?THE ARK: A BOAT FOR ALL ANIMALSWERE BUGS ON THE ARK?CARING FOR ANIMALS ON THE ARK?MIDDAY PRAISE: THE LORD ALMIGHTY REIGNSPLEASING AROMAMIDDAY PRAISE: COMPLETELY KNOWN, COMPLETELY LOVEDTHE FAITH OF NOAHWALKING WITH GODTHREE MINUTE THEOLOGY: GENESIS 6-7MIDDAY PRAISE: VICTORY IN JESUSTHREE MINUTE THEOLOGY: GENESIS 8-9INEBRIATED NOAHPELEG THE DIVIDER?SKIN COLOR?ONE BLOOD, ONE RACE, : THE ORIGIN OF RACESINTHREE MINUTE THEOLOGY: GENESIS 10-11RAW OR WELL DONE?HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO BUILD THE ARK?YOU'RE NOT THE EXCEPTIONWHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THE LAND OF UZ?I LOST MY CHILD. THEN THE BOOK OF JOB MADE SENSEWHO WROTE JOB?THE BIBLE EXPLAINED: JOBTHREE MINUTE THEOLOGY: JOB 1-2WHAT IS THEODICY?MIDDAY PRAISE: BLESSED BE YOUR NAMEWHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT JOB WAS UPRIGHT AND BLAMELESSWHY PRAY FOR PROTECTION WHEN SUFFERING KEEPS COMING?THE DARK SIDEDEPRESSIONCALLING A SPADE A SPADEELIPHAZTHE GOSPEL IN JOBRECKONING THE MESSAGE OF JOBTHREE MINUTE THEOLOGY: JOB 3-6MIDDAY PRAISE: CHRIST THE SURE AND STEAY ANCHORDEFIANT FAITH IN THE FACE OF SUFFERINGA PLAY FOR VOICESFAITH AND WORKSA LYING SPIRITINFERIORITY COMPLEXMIDDAY PRAISE: I ASKED THE LORD THAT I MIGHT GROW

Categories

Tags

1 john 4:9 ABEL ADAM ALL MY WAYS ARE KNOWN TO YOU ANDY DAVIS ANGELS ANIMALS ANIMIALS ARK AROMA ATONEMENT AUTHOR Advent Affections BIBLE TRANSLATION BILDAD BLAMELESS BLOOD BUGS Belief Bible C.S. Lewis CAIN CANAANITES CHILDREN CHILD CITYALIGHT COMFORT CORRECTION COUNSEL CREATION Canon Charlie Brown Christmas Community DATING DEVIL DISCIPLINE DOUBT DRUNKENNESS Decay Depravity ELIPHAZ ENOCH EVE EVIL Exodus FAITHFULNESS FALL FEAR OF THE LORD FLOOD FORGIVE FRIENDSHIP FRIENDS Faith False Teachers GENEROSITY GENESIS 10 GENESIS 11 GENESIS 1 GENESIS 2 GENESIS 3 GENESIS 4 GENESIS 6 GENESIS 7 GENESIS 8 GENESIS 9 GLORY OF GOD GOD GREATNESS OF GOD GUILT TRIPS Galatians Gay Marriage God's Plan God's Will Guilt HAM HELPING HONESTY HURTING PEOPLE Homosexuality IMAGO DEI INCEST IS HE WORTHY? JACKIE GIBSON JEREMIAH 32:40 JESUS JOB 10 JOB 11 JOB 12 JOB 13 JOB 14 JOB 15 JOB 16 JOB 17 JOB 19 JOB 3-6 JOB 3 JOB 4 JOB 5 JOB 6 JOB 7 JOB 8 JOB JOHN NEWTON JOHN PIPER JUDGMENT Joseph LAMENT LANGUAGES LGBTQ LGBTQ LORD FROM SORROWS DEEP I CALL LYING SPIRIT Lordship Salvation Love of God Luke 2:10 Lust MAN MEAT MIDDAY PRAISE MURDER Marriage NASA NEPHILIM NOAH'S DIET NOAH O GOD MERCY HEAR OUR PLEA PANHANDLERS PARDON PARENTING PATIENCE PELEG PRAISE PROTECTION PROVERBS 1:7 PSALM 119 PSALM 13 Persecuted Church Persecution Perseverance Pilgrim's Progress Pornography Prosperity Gospel Prov erbs Psalm 113 Psalm RACE RAIN REGRET REWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS ROMANS 3:18 Revelation 21:4 SATAN SEED SERMON SERPENT SETH SINS SKIN COLOR SLEEPLESSNESS SONGS OF LAMENT SOUL STEVE BROWN SUFFERING SUNDAY WORSHIP Sanctification Scripture Sexual Revolution Shame Sin Spurgeon THE CROSS THE GOSPEL THE MESSAGE THE PANCAKE PODCAST THE WALK THEODICY THREE MINUTE THEOLOGY TOWER OF BABEL Teachable The Spirit The Temple Tree Trials Trust UNANSWERABLE UNIVERSE UPRIGHT UZ VICTORY VIDEO VISITORS WELCOME WILLIAM CAREY WISDOM WORKS Worship ZOPHAR adam and eve aliens anxiety anxious atheism beloning bible reading bible study birth of Jesus christ chris chritmas church membership church covenant culture day death demons dem depression devils dev evangelism fasting first humans gal garden of eden genesis 12:1-3 genesis 12:7 genesis 5 genesis good gospel of peter grace happiness heaven hebrews 12 holy spirit hom humility intercession isaiah 35 isaiah 7:14 isaiah 9:6-7 john 3:16 johnn piper knowledge law leviticus life on other planets life span lost books love luke 2:1-7 luke 2:14 luke 2 matthew 11:2-10 matthew 1:18-25 matthew 1:23 membership mental health men missions nehemiah 8:10 neighbors neighbor new earth one another online post christian prayer pride psalm 20 psalm 36 psalm 85 psalm 92 romans 1:1-7 romans 5:8 romans 8:28-39 royal priesthood salvation screwtape scre sexuality singing sovereignty spiritual warfare spir tabernacle thanksgiving toxic women wrong church