Did Job’s wife say in Job 2:9: “Curse God and die” or “Bless God and die”?
The word ‘barak’ in Hebrew is one of those that can have an opposite meaning. This is called antiphrasis, which simply means saying the opposite of what is meant. So while Hebrew uses the word ‘bless’ in Job 2:9, many commentators saw it as a figure of antiphrasis and translated this word as ‘curse’.
But is it fair to attribute such anger to an individual enough to replace the word bless with curse? Not all agree on this among different Bible translators: The Targum on Job maintains the literal meaning; “bless the memra (word) of the Lord and die.” (בריך מימרא דייי ומית).
Other versions that also translate similarly include the Latin Vulgate (Jerome, 4th century), the Douay-Rheims Bible (1609, based on the Vulgate), the Coverdale Bible (1535), and some other early English versions. So, which is it? Bless or curse?
There is another mention of his wife in Job 18:17 where he says, “My breath is offensive to my wife.” Job’s wife must have stayed with him during his sickness to care for him.
While nothing is mentioned about his wife afterward, giving the benefit of the doubt, she must have stayed with him his entire life and received the blessings listed at the end (Job 42:12-17). Additionally, with 1 Corinthians 13:7 stating, “Love believes all things,” the word “bless” would be more fitting. After all, was Job not called a righteous man who worshipped God?