Job 33:1

KJV

¶ Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore {H199}, Job {H347}, I pray thee, hear {H8085} my speeches {H4405}, and hearken {H238} to all my words {H1697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"So, Iyov, please, hear my speech; listen to all my words.

Berean Standard Bible

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

American Standard Version

Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 33:1 marks the dramatic entrance of Elihu, the youngest of Job's companions, into the theological discourse. After patiently observing the prolonged and often circular arguments between Job and his three friends, Elihu, filled with youthful zeal and a conviction of divine inspiration, breaks his silence. This verse serves as his earnest and direct appeal to Job for an attentive and open-minded hearing, setting the stage for his extensive and distinct contribution to the unfolding drama of suffering and divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the conclusion of the protracted and ultimately unsatisfying dialogues between Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Elihu has been present throughout these exchanges, listening intently but remaining silent due to his respect for the elders. However, as detailed in [Elihu's anger and silence](/job/32-1-5 "Job 32:1-5 - Elihu's Anger and Silence"), his patience wears thin, and his anger flares against both Job, for justifying himself rather than God, and the friends, for failing to provide a conclusive answer. Elihu perceives a spiritual compulsion to speak, believing he possesses a fresh, divinely-inspired understanding, a conviction he articulates in [Job 32:8](/job/32-8 "Job 32:8 - The Spirit of God Gives Understanding"). Thus, [Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Plea to Job") functions as Elihu's formal and emphatic introduction, a direct address to Job before he launches into his multi-chapter discourse.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, likely during the patriarchal period, though its exact dating is debated. The cultural context emphasizes respect for elders and wisdom, which explains Elihu's initial silence ([Job 32:6](/job/32-6 "Job 32:6 - Elihu's Deference to Elders")). However, Elihu's subsequent intervention, despite his youth, is justified by his claim of divine inspiration, a concept understood in ancient Israel where God could speak through anyone, regardless of age or status. The wisdom tradition, prevalent in the ancient Near East, sought to understand the order of the world and the ways of God, often through proverbs, dialogues, and reflections on suffering. Elihu's approach, while rooted in this tradition, attempts to offer a more nuanced perspective on suffering, moving beyond the simplistic retribution theology espoused by Job's friends.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Call for Attention") introduces several crucial themes. Firstly, it signals **The Introduction of a New Voice**, distinct from the repetitive arguments of the three friends. Elihu offers a fresh, often more sophisticated, perspective on Job's suffering, positioning himself as a mediator of divine truth, seeking to correct both Job's self-righteousness and his friends' flawed theology. Secondly, Elihu's opening plea, "hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words," underscores a profound **Call to Listen**. This is not merely a polite request but an emphatic insistence, highlighting the importance Elihu places on the revelations he is about to share, suggesting that true understanding requires deep receptivity. Finally, Elihu's intervention sets the stage for an **Anticipation of Divine Insight**. While a human speaker, he claims to speak with wisdom and understanding granted by God's Spirit ([Job 32:8](/job/32-8 "Job 32:8 - The Spirit of God Gives Understanding")), thereby preparing Job for a deeper exploration of God's purposes in suffering, which ultimately culminates in God's own direct address from [the whirlwind](/job/38 "Job 38 - The Lord Answers Job from the Whirlwind").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **hear (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ_):** From the primitive root H8085, this word signifies to hear intelligently, often implying attention, obedience, or a response. It encompasses not just the physical act of perceiving sound but also the mental and spiritual process of discerning and internalizing. Elihu's use here is a plea for Job to truly comprehend and consider his words.
* **hearken (Hebrew, _ʼâzan_):** Derived from H238, this term literally means "to broaden out the ear (with the hand)" or "to incline the ear." By implication, it means to listen with focused, concentrated, and deliberate attention. Paired with _shâmaʻ_, it intensifies the request, demanding Job's complete and discerning receptivity, suggesting he should lean in and give full presence to Elihu's discourse.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches":** This opening phrase marks Elihu's direct and personal address to Job, signaling a shift from the previous, often indirect, exchanges. The "Wherefore" (Hebrew, H199, _ʼûwlâm_) indicates a conclusion drawn from his prior observations of the failed dialogue, implying, "Therefore, because of all that has transpired, I must speak." The polite but firm "I pray thee" is an earnest entreaty for Job's full attention to the substance of his forthcoming words, which he calls "my speeches" (Hebrew, H4405, _millâh_).
* **"and hearken to all my words":** This second clause reinforces and intensifies the initial plea. The use of "hearken" (Hebrew, H238, _ʼâzan_) alongside "hear" (Hebrew, H8085, _shâmaʻ_) creates a powerful parallelism, emphasizing the depth of attention Elihu demands. "All my words" (Hebrew, H1697, _dâbâr_) signifies the comprehensive nature of his impending discourse, suggesting that Job should not selectively listen but absorb the entirety of Elihu's message, which he believes to be crucial and divinely informed.

#### Literary Devices
Elihu's opening in [Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Plea for Attention") employs several effective literary devices. The most prominent is **Apostrophe**, a direct address to Job, who is present but has been largely unyielding in the preceding dialogues. This immediate and personal address ("Job, I pray thee") cuts through the previous circular arguments and establishes Elihu's intention to engage Job directly. Furthermore, Elihu utilizes **Repetition** and **Emphasis** through the use of two synonymous verbs for listening: "hear" (H8085, _shâmaʻ_) and "hearken" (H238, _ʼâzan_). This pleonastic construction is not redundant but serves to amplify the urgency and importance of his request for Job's full and undivided attention. It highlights Elihu's conviction that Job has not truly listened to the arguments presented thus far. Finally, the verse functions as a **Rhetorical Appeal**, designed to capture Job's full mental and spiritual receptivity before the weighty discourse that follows.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Elihu's passionate plea for Job's attention in [Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Call to Listen") resonates deeply with the broader biblical theme of divine revelation and the human responsibility to listen. Throughout Scripture, God's communication to humanity often requires an active, receptive posture, moving beyond mere auditory perception to a profound engagement of the heart and will. Elihu, believing himself to be a conduit of God's wisdom, implicitly calls Job to the same attentiveness God demands when He speaks. This sets a precedent for the ultimate divine encounter Job will experience, where God Himself will speak from the whirlwind, requiring Job's humble and attentive ear.

* [Deuteronomy 6:4](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema: Hear, O Israel")
* [Proverbs 1:5](/proverbs/1-5 "Proverbs 1:5 - Let the Wise Hear and Increase Learning")
* [Matthew 11:15](/matthew/11-15 "Matthew 11:15 - He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Call to Listen") offers profound insights into the nature of communication, wisdom, and spiritual receptivity. Elihu, though younger, models the courage to speak truth when he believes it is divinely inspired, while also demonstrating a respectful earnestness in seeking Job's attention. For us, this verse underscores the critical importance of attentive listening, not just hearing. In a world saturated with noise and quick judgments, Elihu's plea reminds us to cultivate a posture of deep receptivity, especially when engaging with perspectives that challenge our own or when seeking to discern divine truth. It encourages us to be open to wisdom from unexpected sources and to approach dialogue with humility, recognizing that true understanding often requires us to "incline our ear" and truly process the words of others, whether human or divine.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to truly "hearken" or listen deeply, rather than just hear?**
* **How might adopting Elihu's earnestness in seeking attention, coupled with humility, improve your own communication with others?**
* **When was a time you received wisdom from an unexpected source, perhaps someone younger or less experienced, and how did you respond?**
* **What does it mean to "hear God's speeches" and "hearken to all His words" in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**Why does Elihu emphasize listening so strongly, using two words for it?**

Answer: Elihu uses both "hear" (H8085, _shâmaʻ_) and "hearken" (H238, _ʼâzan_) to create a powerful rhetorical emphasis, underscoring the critical importance of Job's complete and discerning attention. "Hear" implies understanding and internalizing, while "hearken" suggests focused, concentrated, and receptive listening, even to the point of leaning in. Elihu believes Job has not truly listened to the previous arguments, nor has he properly heard God's message in his suffering. This double emphasis is a plea for Job to move beyond mere auditory perception to a deep, open-minded engagement with Elihu's words, which Elihu believes are divinely inspired and hold the key to Job's understanding.

**Is Elihu's intervention truly "divinely inspired," or is he just another human voice?**

Answer: The text of Job presents Elihu as a human speaker who *claims* to be filled with the Spirit of God ([Job 32:8](/job/32-8 "Job 32:8 - The Spirit of God Gives Understanding")). While his speeches contain elements of truth and offer a more nuanced perspective than Job's friends (e.g., suffering as discipline rather than solely punishment), the narrative does not explicitly endorse Elihu's claims as fully divine in the same way it does God's direct address from [the whirlwind](/job/38 "Job 38 - The Lord Answers Job from the Whirlwind")). However, Elihu serves a crucial literary and theological purpose: he prepares Job for the direct encounter with God by shifting the theological framework and challenging Job's self-righteousness, bridging the gap between the friends' flawed arguments and God's ultimate revelation. His words are a human attempt to articulate divine wisdom, setting the stage for the true divine voice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Elihu's earnest plea for Job to "hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words" in [Job 33:1](/job/33-1 "Job 33:1 - Elihu's Call to Listen") finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Elihu positions himself as a human mediator with a claim to divine insight, he foreshadows the perfect and ultimate Mediator, Jesus Christ, who is the very Word of God incarnate ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word was God") and [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). God, who "at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")). Jesus is the one through whom God's wisdom is fully revealed, the one who perfectly understands suffering, and the one who offers the true and final word on God's character and purposes. His repeated call, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" ([Matthew 11:15](/matthew/11-15 "Matthew 11:15 - He Who Has Ears to Hear")), echoes Elihu's plea but carries divine authority, inviting humanity to listen not merely to a human voice, but to the very voice of God in human form, offering salvation and eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 13:6

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Job 34:2

Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

Psalms 49:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:

Psalms 49:3

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding.

Mark 4:9

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.