die
Hiobsbotschaft
📖 What exactly is a Hiobsbotschaft?
The German word Hiobsbotschaft (feminine, article: die) refers to very bad, devastating news, a message of misfortune, or disastrous tidings. It often arrives unexpectedly and conveys news of a severe blow of fate, loss, or disaster.
The term originates from the Bible, specifically from the Book of Job in the Old Testament. Job (Hiob in German) was a pious man tested by God, receiving several terrible pieces of news (Hiobsbotschaften) in quick succession about the loss of his children, property, and health. 🕊️➡️📉
There is only this one meaning and the article die. Confusion is unlikely.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ft/ -schaft → almost always feminine.
All -schaft nouns are feminine, but not all -ft nouns are.
🧐 Grammar under the microscope: die Hiobsbotschaft
The word "Hiobsbotschaft" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Hiobsbotschaft |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Hiobsbotschaft |
| Dative (To whom?) | der | Hiobsbotschaft |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Hiobsbotschaft |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Hiobsbotschaften |
| Genitive | der | Hiobsbotschaften |
| Dative | den | Hiobsbotschaften |
| Accusative | die | Hiobsbotschaften |
💡 Examples in Context
- Die Nachricht vom Unfall war eine echte Hiobsbotschaft für die Familie. (The news of the accident was real Job's news for the family.)
- Er erhielt eine Hiobsbotschaft nach der anderen. (He received one piece of bad news after another.)
- Wir müssen uns leider mit dieser Hiobsbotschaft auseinandersetzen. (Unfortunately, we have to deal with this devastating news.)
🗣️ How to use Hiobsbotschaft?
The term "Hiobsbotschaft" is used in German to describe particularly bad and often unexpected news. The tone is usually serious, concerned, or shocked. You can find the word in news articles, but also in everyday language when someone reports a serious accident or loss.
- Typical Contexts: Unexpected dismissal, serious illness, news of an accident, natural disaster, insolvency.
- Comparison: A "schlechte Nachricht" (bad news) can also be less severe (e.g., a bad grade). A "Hiobsbotschaft" always implies a serious event, similar to a "Katastrophenmeldung" (disaster report) or "Unglücksbotschaft" (message of misfortune).
- Intensity: The word expresses a high degree of negativity and often hopelessness or shock.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Remember it's about die Nachricht (the message), die Botschaft (the message) – therefore, it's die Hiobsbotschaft. The word ends in "-schaft", which often (but not always!) indicates feminine nouns (e.g., die Freundschaft - friendship, die Landschaft - landscape).
Meaning Mnemonic: Picture poor Job (Hiob) from the Bible receiving one terrible message (Botschaft) after another. Job = suffering, Botschaft = message -> Hiobsbotschaft = devastating news.
🔄 Similar and Different: Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Unglücksbotschaft: Very similar, emphasizes misfortune.
- Schreckensnachricht: Emphasizes shock and horror.
- Katastrophenmeldung: Often used for major accidents or natural events.
- Schlechte Nachricht: More general, can be less severe.
- Unheilsbotschaft: Somewhat archaic, emphasizes impending doom.
⚠️ Note: There are no common words that sound similar and could be easily confused.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum liest Hiob keine E-Mails mehr?
Weil er Angst hat, dass jede Betreffzeile mit "Eine weitere Hiobsbotschaft für Sie..." beginnt! 📧😱
Why doesn't Job read emails anymore?
Because he's afraid every subject line starts with "Another piece of Job's news for you..."!
📜 A Short Poem
Ein Brief kommt an, das Siegel bricht,
Kein Lächeln ziert das Angesicht.
Die Worte schwarz, die Zeilen schwer,
Eine Hiobsbotschaft, bitte sehr.
Das Herz wird kalt, der Atem stockt,
Vom Schicksalsschlag jäh aufgeschreckt.
A letter arrives, the seal does break,
No smile adorns the face, for goodness sake.
The words are black, the lines feel sore,
A Job's deliverance, asking for no more.
The heart turns cold, the breath does cease,
By fate's hard blow, startled from peace.
🧩 Who or What am I?
Ich komme oft unerwartet und bringe Kummer mit.
Mein Name erinnert an einen Mann, der schwer gelitten hat.
Man hört mich ungern, doch ich bin Teil vom Leben.
Welche Art von Botschaft wird hier beschrieben?
I often come unexpected and bring sorrow along.
My name recalls a man who suffered heavily and long.
People dislike hearing me, yet I am part of life's test.
What kind of message is described in this quest?
Solution: die Hiobsbotschaft
🌐 More Interesting Facts
Word Composition: The word is a compound noun, composed of:
- Hiob: Name of the biblical figure (in the genitive case: Hiobs = of Job / concerning Job)
- Botschaft: Message, news, tidings
Cultural Background: The story of Job is deeply embedded in Western culture and proverbially stands for great suffering and the question of 'why'. The term "Hiobsbotschaft" is therefore widely understood even outside a purely religious context.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Hiobsbotschaft?
The word "Hiobsbotschaft" is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Hiobsbotschaft.