ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף איוב 2:6

Then the Creator answered Satan: "Behold, he is in your hand; but spare his life" (Iyov 2:6). Satan then did as he said of afflicting Iyov's body, and Iyov beared it patiently and did not change in his faithfulness and good heart to G-d, in saying to his wife: "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we receive good at the hand of G-d, and shall we not receive the bad?" (Iyov 2:10).

It is also remarkable in this account that in the description of the adversary’s wandering about on the earth, and his performing certain actions, it is distinctly stated that he has no power over the soul: whilst power has been given to him over all earthly affairs, there is a partition between him and the soul; he has not received power over the soul. This is expressed in the words, “But keep away from his soul” (Job. 2:6). I have already shown you the homonymous use of the term “soul” (nefesh) in Hebrew (Part I., chap. xli.). It designates that element in man that survives him; it is this Portion over which the adversary has no power.