Friendship in the Book of Job

Friendship is an important aspect of human society and a virtue that lies at the heart of sub-Saharan African societies. This study explores the art of friendship in the book of Job and how it resonates in the sub-Saharan African setting. As a wisdom tradition the story offers a critique of friendship and of appropriate action with reference to particular circumstances institutions and persons showing how the speeches actions and inactions of the characters inform friendship identities. Readers are exposed to proverbs parables and sayings from African communities which show the richness of African culture and ethos. The similarities and differences between Western and African traditional worldviews and views of friendship come out clearly in the communal values of relatedness loyalty collaboration empowerment and goodwill.