The Meaning of Job 2:4 Explained

Job 2:4

KJV: And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

YLT: And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'A skin for a skin, and all that a man hath he doth give for his life.

Darby: And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life;

ASV: And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Satan  answered  the LORD,  and said,  Skin  for skin,  yea, all that a man  hath will he give  for his life. 

What does Job 2:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 2:1-13 - "among The Ashes"
It gives God deep pleasure when He can point to one of His servants who has borne fiery trial with unwavering patience and faith. The adversary comes back from his restless, ceaseless rounds, 1 Peter 5:8; but there is one soul at least which has resisted his worst attacks. Observing Job, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places have learned that God can make a man love Him, not for His gifts, but for Himself, Ephesians 3:10.
The adversary suggests a severe test, and God permits it because he knows His child. A limit, however, is put upon the ordeal, 1 Corinthians 10:13, r.v. The story is very comforting, because we see that we are not the sport of chance, but in every detail our education is being carried out by our Father's hand. Our dearest friends may advise us to renounce God and die, but in Gethsemane our Lord taught us to take the Father's will at all costs-though it seem to spell death-sure that he will not leave us in the grave, Psalms 16:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 2

1  Satan, appearing again before God, obtains further leave to tempt Job
7  He afflicts him with sore boils
9  Job reproves his wife, who moved him to curse God
11  His three friends console with him in silence

What do the individual words in Job 2:4 mean?

So answered Satan - Yahweh and said Skin for skin and Yes all that has a man he will give for his life
וַיַּ֧עַן הַשָּׂטָ֛ן אֶת־ יְהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר ע֣וֹר בְּעַד־ ע֗וֹר וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָאִ֔ישׁ יִתֵּ֖ן בְּעַ֥ד נַפְשֽׁוֹ

וַיַּ֧עַן  So  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
הַשָּׂטָ֛ן  Satan 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂטָן  
Sense: adversary, one who withstands.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ע֣וֹר  Skin 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹור  
Sense: skin, hide.
ע֗וֹר  skin 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹור  
Sense: skin, hide.
וְכֹל֙  and  Yes  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לָאִ֔ישׁ  has  a  man 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִתֵּ֖ן  he  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
נַפְשֽׁוֹ  his  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.