DIDN'T GOD ALLOW IT?

“HAST THOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB?”

Job 1:8

“Hast thou considered my servant Job…?”

We've traditionally heard this almost like God saying:

“Hey Satan! Have you ever noticed Job? Let me introduce you to somebody.”

That's not necessarily what the Hebrew requires.

The phrase is:

הֲשַׂמְתָּ לִבְּךָ עַל־עַבְדִּי אִיּוֹב

The expression is literally built around:

“Have you set your heart upon/toward my servant Job?”

The verb translated “considered” is a perfect form.

Nothing in the wording requires us to understand God as introducing Job to Satan.

And Satan's response proves he's already familiar with Job.