King James Bible
"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,"
Job performs traditional ancient Near Eastern mourning rituals—tearing his outer garment and removing his hair—to express profound grief over losing his children and possessions. These physical acts externalize his internal anguish while following cultural customs that acknowledge the severity of his losses. Rather than cursing God, Job prostrates himself in humble submission and reverence, demonstrating remarkable faith amid catastrophe. This unexpected response of worship instead of rebellion establishes the central tension of the book: whether humans serve God only for material blessings or out of genuine devotion.