Job 32

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Elihu, a younger man, becomes angry with Job for self-justification and with his three friends for failing to answer and yet condemning him. He explains that he waited to speak out of respect for their age, but now feels compelled to offer his own perspective, asserting that wisdom comes from God's spirit, not merely from years. He declares his intention to speak without partiality or flattery, as the others have ceased their arguments.

The Friends Cease Speaking 1–5

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.

Elihu Justifies His Intervention 6–14

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.

I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.

Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.

Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.

Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:

For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.

Elihu's Internal Compulsion to Speak 15–22

They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.

And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?

I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion.

For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.

Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.

For I know not to give flattering titles; Elsewould my Maker soon take me away.

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Job 32

Verse 1

righteous in his own eyes — The three speak no more, for Job will not give up his claim to be in the right (tsaddiq). The verse reports Job's own estimate of himself, which v.2 calls justifying himself 'rather than God'. The LORD's verdict on the debate comes at the end: 'ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath' (42:7).

Verse 2

Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite — The name Elihu means 'God of him' in the Hebrew, and Barachel 'God has blessed'. A Buzite descends from a man named Buz, likely Nahor's son (Gen 22:20–21); the verse adds 'of the kindred of Ram'. His wrath is 'kindled' (charah) at Job, 'because he justified himself rather than God', and the verb returns in vv.3 and 5.

Verse 4

because they were elder than he — Literally 'older in days'. The Law says 'Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man' (Lev 19:32). Eliphaz had urged his years on Job: 'With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father' (15:10). Elihu 'had waited' (chakah) till Job had spoken, and the three now give no answer (v.5).

Verse 6

I am young, and ye are very old — 'Young' is tsa'ir, small in days, the word of 'younger' in 30:1. 'Very old' is yashish, aged, the word of 'With the ancient is wisdom' (12:12) and of Eliphaz's 'very aged men' (15:10). 'Opinion' is de'ah, knowledge, the word Elihu repeats in vv.10 and 17 and again in 36:3.

Verse 7

Days should speak — The saying Elihu cites is the one the friends relied on. Bildad told Job to 'enquire… of the former age', for 'Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee' (8:8–10), and Job himself said 'With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding' (12:12). Elihu holds that view only to set it aside in v.8.

Verse 8

a spirit in man — Neshamah, here 'inspiration', is the breath of life, as in 'the breath of the Almighty hath given me life' (33:4) and 'my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils' (27:3). 'Giveth understanding' is bin, the verb of 28:23; and 'The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD' (Prov 20:27).

Verse 9

Great men are not always wise — 'Great' is rab, great or many, from the root of 'multitude' (rob) in v.7. 'Understand judgment' is bin mishpat, to discern what is right. Scripture says elsewhere that age is not the whole matter: 'Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king' (Eccl 4:13), and 'I understand more than the ancients' (Ps 119:100).

Verse 12

none of you that convinced Job — Yakach, to decide a case or reprove, the verb of Job's own wish for a 'daysman' (9:33) and of 'he that reproveth God' (40:2). Elihu says he 'attended' (bin) to all three speeches and that none of them settled the matter or 'answered his words'.

Verse 13

We have found out wisdom — The verb is matsa, to find, the word of 28:12, 'where shall wisdom be found?' Elihu will not let the three claim they have found it by saying 'God thrusteth him down, not man'. 'Thrusteth him down' is nadaph, to drive away, as of 'the chaff which the wind driveth away' (Ps 1:4).

Verse 15

they answered no more — 'Amazed' is chathath, to be broken down by fear, as in 'be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed' (Josh 1:9). 'Speaking' is millah, a word, the same word as 'my speech' in 29:22 and 'byword' in 30:9, and as the 'matter' Elihu is 'full of' in v.18.

Verse 18

full of matter — Millah, words, as in v.15: the three have run out of them and he is full. 'Within' is beten, belly, the word rendered 'womb' in 31:15 and 31:18. 'Constraineth' is tsarar, to press tight. Jeremiah's word 'was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing' (Jer 20:9).

Verse 19

new bottles — The 'bottles' are skins, which hold new wine only while they stretch. Wine 'which hath no vent' (pathach, to open) bursts them, as Christ says, 'Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out' (Matt 9:17). Elihu says that pressure is what he feels.

Verse 21

accept any man's person — Literally to 'lift' a man's face, to favour him. Job had warned the friends, 'He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons' (13:10). 'Flattering titles' is kanah, to address by a title, rendered 'surname' in Isa 45:4: Elihu will give no one a title in order to win him.

Verse 22

my maker — The verb of 'make' (asah), as in 'he that made me in the womb' (31:15). 'Take me away' is nasa, to lift, the verb of 'accept' in v.21: if he lifts any man's face, his Maker would lift him away. 'Soon' is mi'at, literally 'in a little'.

Job 32

The Friends Cease Speaking 1–5

Elihu Justifies His Intervention 6–14

Elihu's Internal Compulsion to Speak 15–22

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