patience of Job

English

Etymology

A reference to the biblical figure of Job from the Book of Job, where he demonstrated faith and patience with God while suffering many severe trials. First used in the translations of James 5:11, from Koine Greek ὑπομονὴν Ἰὼβ (hupomonḕn Iṑb).

Noun

patience of Job (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) A great amount of patience.

   Synonyms: patience of an angel, patience of a saint

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, James 5:11:

     Beholde, wee count them happie which endure. Ye haue heard of the patience of Iob, and haue ſeene the end of the Loꝛd: that the Loꝛd is very pitifull and of tender mercie.

   • 2004 March 30, “Takes two to quango”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian‎^[1], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2014-09-13:

     The interference, some of it on a daily basis, that LSC staff have had to endure from the department's civil servants would have tried the patience of Job.

Translations

great amount of patience

• Estonian: Hiiobi kannatus
• Finnish: Jobin kärsivällisyys
• French: patience de Job f
• German: Engelsgeduld (de) f (“angel’s patience”, i.e. loving, caring patience); Lammsgeduld f (“lamb’s patience”, i.e. silent acceptance of hardships)
• Greek: ιώβεια υπομονή (el) f (ióveia ypomoní), ιώβειος υπομονή f (ióveios ypomoní)
• Italian: pazienza di Giobbe
• Persian: صبر ایوب (sabr-e ayyub)
• Polish: anielska cierpliwość f
• Spanish: tener más paciencia que el santo Job (es)
• Turkish: Hazreti Eyüp sabrı