Job 1:20 (Septuagint)
Οὕτως ἀναστὰς Ιωβ διέρρηξεν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκείρατο τὴν κόμην τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ πεσὼν χαμαὶ προσεκύνησεν καὶ εἶπεν·
1. The Scene Unfolds Slowly
This verse does not rush. Greek stretches the grief into visible actions. We watch Job move step by step:
ἀναστὰς → rising
διέρρηξεν → tearing his garments
ἐκείρατο → shaving his hair
πεσὼν → falling down
προσεκύνησεν → worshiping
The Greek sentence feels almost cinematic. The actions arrive one after another, allowing the reader to experience the emotional weight gradually.
2. Transliteration
útos anastás Iov dhiérrixen ta himátia aftú ke ekírato tin kómin tis kefalís aftú ke pesón hame prósekynisen ke ípen
3. Literal Translation
“Thus Job, rising, tore his garments and shaved the hair of his head, and falling to the ground, he worshiped and said.”
4. Grammar Focus: Participles That Carry Emotional Movement
The most important feature in this verse is the use of participles:
ἀναστὰς = “having risen”
πεσὼν = “having fallen”
These participles create movement around the main actions. Greek could simply say:
“Job tore his garments and worshiped.”
But instead, Greek slows the scene by surrounding the main verbs with physical motion.
First Job rises.
Then he tears his garments.
Then he shaves his head.
Then he falls to the ground.
Then he worships.
The participles make the grief visible before the worship arrives.
5. Vocabulary Builder: The Language of Mourning and Worship
| Greek Word | Meaning | Beginner Insight |
|---|---|---|
| ἀναστὰς | having risen | Greek often uses participles to prepare the next action. |
| διέρρηξεν | he tore | Tearing garments was a visible sign of mourning. |
| ἱμάτια | garments | The clothing becomes part of the emotional scene. |
| ἐκείρατο | he shaved | Another traditional act of grief and humiliation. |
| πεσὼν | having fallen | The body movement deepens the emotional weight. |
| προσεκύνησεν | he worshiped | The verse unexpectedly moves from grief into worship. |
6. Syntax Insight: Greek Delays the Final Speech
The sentence does not immediately arrive at Job’s words. Greek first guides us through his physical response.
Notice how long the action chain becomes before the final phrase:
rise → tear → shave → fall → worship → speak
This creates emotional pacing. The reader experiences silence, shock, and bodily grief before hearing Job speak.
The final words:
καὶ εἶπεν
“and he said”
feel heavy because the sentence has delayed them for so long.
Greek syntax often uses action chains like this to deepen emotional impact.
7. Beginner Practice Activity: Identify the Participles
Which TWO words in the verse are participles?
| Greek Word | Participle? |
|---|---|
| ἀναστὰς | ? |
| διέρρηξεν | ? |
| πεσὼν | ? |
Click to Reveal the Answer
Answer: ἀναστὰς and πεσὼν are participles.
Both participles describe movement surrounding the main actions. διέρρηξεν is a main verb meaning “he tore.”
How the Greek Turns Grief into Movement
This verse demonstrates how Greek can make emotion visible through physical action. The participles do more than provide grammar. They shape the emotional rhythm of the scene.
Job does not immediately speak. His body reacts first:
- he rises
- he tears
- he shaves
- he falls
- he worships
Only then does speech emerge.
The Greek sentence quietly teaches that grief is not described abstractly. It is embodied. The reader watches sorrow move through Job’s actions before hearing a single word from his mouth.
