Job 2:6

So the Lord said to Satan, “All right, ¹  he is ²  in your power; ³  only preserve ⁴  his life.”

Job 1:12; Job 38:10,11; Ps 65:7; Lu 8:29-33; Lu 22:31,32; 1Co 10:13; Re 2:10; Re 20:1,2,7

¹ tn The particle הִנּוֹ (hinno) is literally, “here he is!” God presents Job to Satan, with the restriction on preserving Job’s life.

² tn The LXX has “I deliver him up to you.”

³ tn Heb “hand.”

⁴ sn The irony of the passage comes through with this choice of words. The verb שָׁמַר (shamar) means “to keep; to guard; to preserve.” The exceptive clause casts Satan in the role of a savior – he cannot destroy this life but must protect it.