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Job 1:1 includes the statement that Job was 鈥渂lameless and upright.鈥� This cannot mean that Job was sinless (Romans 3:23), so what does it mean?

The Hebrew word translated 鈥渂lameless鈥� is tam and can be translated as 鈥渂lameless,鈥� 鈥減erfect,鈥� or 鈥渦pright.鈥� The same word is used in Proverbs 29:10, which states, 鈥淭he bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity / and seek to kill the upright.鈥� A blameless person is someone whose life exhibits integrity.

鈥淯pright鈥� in Job 1:1 is a translation of the Hebrew yashar, meaning 鈥渦pright鈥� or 鈥渏ust.鈥� This word is used in parallel in this verse with blameless. In Psalm 37:37 the same word is used in parallel with 鈥渢hose who seek peace鈥�: 鈥淐onsider the blameless, observe the upright; / a future awaits those who seek peace.鈥�

The fuller context in Job 1:1 is, 鈥淭his man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.鈥� So, the description of Job being 鈥渂lameless and upright鈥� is linked to the fear of God and the avoidance of evil. The parallelism can be seen like this:

Blameless/upright
God-fearer/one who turns from evil

In short, Job was 鈥渂lameless and upright鈥� in that he was a man of integrity who trusted in God as his redeemer (see Job 19:25), sincerely worshiped the Lord, loved his family, and was consistent in his walk with God.

Following a description of Job鈥檚 riches and his children, the text mentions the feasts held by Job鈥檚 sons. A specific example of Job鈥檚 blameless and upright nature is then given: 鈥淲hen a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them [his children] to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, 鈥楶erhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.鈥� This was Job鈥檚 regular custom.鈥� (Job 1:5).

Verse 5 contains some significant details: 1) Job offered sacrifices to God, 2) he was concerned for the spiritual welfare of his children, 3) he feared the Lord (since he was concerned about his sons鈥� cursing God), 4) he was sensitive even toward unknown sin, and 5) he lived with this attitude continually.

All of these factors serve as examples of Job鈥檚 blameless and upright life, and they set the stage for the challenge Satan brings before God (Job 1:6–12). Further, these character traits of Job stand out to the reader of the rest of the book of Job containing the details of Job鈥檚 suffering. According to conventional wisdom, those who live like Job should be blessed, not cursed. In fact, Job鈥檚 three friends thought he must have done something wrong, and they were adamant that Job somehow deserved his suffering.

God uses the example of Job to show that He will sometimes allow people to suffer even when they have done nothing specifically wrong to 鈥渄eserve鈥� the suffering. Sometimes, suffering is part of God鈥檚 plan to purify and mature us. James 5:11 uses Job鈥檚 life as an example of how to endure suffering patiently: 鈥淎s you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job鈥檚 perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.鈥�