Ἰώβ
Iṓb
G2492 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Job (Hebrew אִיּוֹב, Iyov); personal name identifying a prominent non-Israelite figure depicted as the central character in the biblical Book of Job. Used specifically for the individual characterized by exemplary endurance and piety in the face of suffering. In the Septuagint and New Testament, refers exclusively to this individual.
Semantic Range
personal name for the man from Uz featured in the Book of Job; used as a reference to an exemplar of endurance and piety in later interpretive contexts
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew personal name אִיּוֹב (Iyov); Greek transliteration Ἰώβ reflects direct borrowing, probably via the Septuagint. Hebrew etymology debated—proposals include connection to the verb אָיַב ('to be hostile, to be persecuted'), suggesting meaning such as 'the persecuted one' or 'object of enmity'; etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Ἰώβ appears in the Septuagint as the standard rendering of the Hebrew Iyov. The figure of Job is presented as a non-Israelite, originating from 'the land of Uz.' While later traditions regard him as a model of patience, Greek and early Jewish usage centers on his narrative as a paradigmatic sufferer and righteous individual. The name itself is not used generically or transferred to others in Koine Greek, remaining specific to this character. In early translations and commentaries, the name is typically transliterated rather than translated due to its status as a proper noun. English Bibles render it 'Job,' but the Greek Ἰώβ does not carry additional semantic nuance beyond personal identification. No evidence suggests Ἰώβ was commonly used as a title or byword outside reference to the biblical figure in Greek-speaking Jewish or early Christian circles.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (אִיּוֹב); Job (i.e. Ijob), a patriarch:--Job.
Root Family
Ἰώβ (Iōb) — personal name, Job
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2492-01 |
Ἰὼβ | iob | N GEN M SG |
of Job | of Job | Iob | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2492-01 |
James 5:11 | Ἰὼβ | iob | N GEN M SG |
of Job | of Job | Iob |