Phrase guide

poor as Job

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Extremely poor, destitute.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Qualifier: simile

Examples

  • 1804, Maria Edgeworth, "The Will", Popular Tales, 1813, Paraclete Potter, page 101. Sir Plantagenet's son is as poor as Job; so she must have recourse to Marvel; and, if she gives him proper encouragement, he'll pay the money in a trice.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

The Book of Job depicts the eponymous wealthy and pious landowner as losing all his possessions and becoming afflicted with various ailments and misfortunes, as a test of his faith by God.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: arm als Job — Translations
  • Finnish: köyhä kuin kirkonrotta — Translations
  • French: pauvre comme Job — Translations
  • Polish: biedny jak Hiob — Translations
  • Portuguese: pobre como Jó — Translations