Biblical Job in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel and in the Epistle of the Apostle James
https://doi.org/10.31802/BCA.2026.8.1.007
Abstract
The article examines two “external” biblical references to Job outside the book named after him: in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 14:12–20) and in the Epistle of the Apostle James (Jas. 5:10–11). The main goal is to test the hypothesis that both authors, despite the significant time gap between them, relied to a greater extent not on the canonical Book of Job, but on an independent or earlier oral tradition, the so-called “legend of Job”, which formed the basis for its prologue and epilogue. The research methodology includes a comparative analysis of biblical texts, an intertextual approach, and a critical examination of existing scholarly interpretations, particularly the arguments of K. A. Richardson. The results demonstrate that Ezekiel provides the earliest evidence of the existence of the Job legend during the Babylonian exile, while James appeals to the image of the patient Job from folk tradition, not the rebellious hero of the biblical book’s poetic section. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of possible textual parallels and to proving the absence of the authors’ direct dependence on the canonical text of the Book of Job. The conclusion highlights the value of these references for reconstructing the pre-literary history of the figure of Job and points to the relative independence of the reception of Job in the analyzed texts from the canonical Book of Job, which opens new perspectives for studying the formation of the biblical canon.
About the Author
R. A. Shafikov
RUDN University named after Patrice Lumumba
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Rodion A. Shafikov, MA student
10, Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117198
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Review
For citations:
Shafikov R.A. Biblical Job in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel and in the Epistle of the Apostle James. Bible and Christian Antiquity. 2026;8(1):244–262. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31802/BCA.2026.8.1.007
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