Commentary on Job

Ephrem the Syrian (306–373)

Even though many others lived in Uz, no one was comparable to Job with regard to piety and innocence. He was of high reputation and was celebrated in everybody's words. And so that no one might think these things had been granted to Job thanks to his human ability, God never allowed a single possession of Job's to perish. [God] said, "My desire is that even a single hair, a loss that would be the very slightest, may be returned and increased for Job."

The text means that Job was not covered with crimes and evil deeds and would have returned "naked," that is, pure and innocent to "his mother's womb." He was so firm in his holy frankness that you may easily imagine he had never turned aside from righteousness nor would have ever passed from virtue to vice in the future.

See also

• More works by Ephrem the Syrian

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