Job 36:15

KJV

¶ He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

KJV (with Strong's)

He delivereth {H2502} the poor {H6041} in his affliction {H6040}, and openeth {H1540} their ears {H241} in oppression {H3906}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"God, with his affliction, delivers the afflicted; and he gets their attention by pressing on them.

Berean Standard Bible

God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.

American Standard Version

He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 36:15, a profound declaration by Elihu, deeply illuminates God's character and His redemptive engagement with humanity, particularly those enduring hardship. Elihu posits that the Almighty actively intervenes in the lives of the downtrodden, often leveraging their very afflictions and oppressive circumstances as divine instruments for communication, instruction, and ultimate liberation. This verse underscores God's compassionate attentiveness to the vulnerable and His sovereign capacity to transform suffering into a conduit for spiritual awakening and deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within Elihu's extensive and climactic discourse (chapters 32-37) in the Book of Job. Elihu, a younger man who has patiently listened to Job and his three friends, finally speaks, aiming to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced theological explanation for Job's suffering than the rigid retribution theology offered by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Unlike the friends who primarily attribute suffering to sin as punishment, Elihu introduces the concept of suffering as a pedagogical tool—a means for God to instruct, purify, and draw individuals closer to Himself. [Job 36](/job/36 "Job 36 - Elihu's Discourse on God's Justice and Power") specifically emphasizes God's majesty, justice, and His use of various means, including affliction, to achieve His righteous purposes. Elihu's argument here serves to defend God's character against Job's accusations of injustice and indifference, asserting God's active and benevolent involvement even in the midst of profound pain.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is a wisdom book, wrestling with the universal human problem of suffering in light of divine justice. In the ancient Near East, there was often a strong correlation drawn between prosperity and righteousness, and suffering and sin. Elihu, while not entirely departing from this, introduces a critical refinement: suffering is not always punitive but can be corrective, instructive, or revelatory. The term "poor" (עָנִי, `ani`) in this context extends beyond mere economic destitution to encompass the humble, the afflicted, the lowly, and those oppressed by circumstances or powerful individuals. This understanding highlights a pervasive biblical theme: God's special concern for the vulnerable and marginalized. The cultural understanding of divine communication often involved dreams, visions, or direct speech, but Elihu suggests that even life circumstances, particularly hardship, can serve as a profound form of divine communication, "opening ears" to truths otherwise ignored.
* **Key Themes:** Job 36:15 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it champions the theme of **Divine Deliverance**, asserting God's active and powerful intervention on behalf of the suffering, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to justice and compassion. Secondly, it highlights **God's Care for the Afflicted**, emphasizing His particular attentiveness to those who are humble, oppressed, or in distress, challenging any notion of divine indifference. This resonates with the recurring biblical motif of God as the defender of the weak, as seen in [Psalm 10:14](/psalms/10-14 "Psalm 10:14 - God Sees the Trouble and Grief"). Most profoundly, the verse introduces the theme of **Spiritual Enlightenment through Suffering**. The phrase "openeth their ears" suggests that God uses periods of difficulty as a means to make individuals more receptive to His voice, His warnings, or His instruction, leading to deeper spiritual understanding and repentance. This pedagogical aspect of suffering is a crucial counterpoint to the friends' punitive theology and finds echoes in other wisdom literature, such as [Psalm 119:71](/psalms/119-71 "Psalm 119:71 - Affliction Leads to Learning God's Statutes").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Poor (Hebrew, _ʻânîy'_):** This term (H6041) is rich in meaning, encompassing not only material poverty but also a state of humility, affliction, oppression, or lowliness. It describes one who is depressed, in mind or circumstances, needy, or humble. In the context of Job, it refers to Job himself, who, despite his former wealth, is now in a state of profound affliction and perceived lowliness. God's attention to the `ʻânîy` demonstrates His character as the defender of the vulnerable, irrespective of their social standing.
* **Delivereth (Hebrew, _châlats'_):** The Hebrew verb (H2502) signifies to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen. It implies a powerful and active intervention, a liberation from a difficult or dangerous situation. It is not a passive observation but a dynamic act of salvation. This word choice emphasizes God's agency and strength in bringing about relief and freedom for those who are suffering.
* **Openeth (Hebrew, _gâlâh'_):** The Hebrew root (H1540) means to denude, to exile, or figuratively, to reveal, disclose, or uncover. When combined with "ears" (`ʼôzen`, H241), this verb forms the idiom "openeth their ears," meaning to uncover or reveal to their ear, making them attentive and receptive to divine messages. It signifies a spiritual awakening, enabling the afflicted to perceive divine truths, warnings, or instructions that they might have ignored in times of ease or prosperity. Elihu uses similar imagery in [Job 33:16](/job/33-16 "Job 33:16 - God Opens the Ears of Men through Instruction"), underscoring suffering as a catalyst for spiritual receptivity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He delivereth the poor in his affliction,"**: This clause establishes God as the active agent ("He") who intervenes on behalf of "the poor" (the humble, afflicted, oppressed). The deliverance is not merely from their physical pain but from the entire state of "affliction" (H6040, `ʻŏnîy`), which denotes misery, depression, or trouble. It highlights God's compassionate nature and His commitment to rescuing those who are suffering, demonstrating His justice and care for the vulnerable.
* **"and openeth their ears in oppression."**: This second clause reveals the profound purpose behind God's allowance or use of suffering. The "oppression" (H3906, `lachats`) refers to pressure, distress, or hardship. In this state, God "opens their ears," meaning He makes them receptive to His voice, His wisdom, or His correction. It suggests that adversity can serve as a divine pedagogical tool, breaking through spiritual deafness and enabling individuals to hear and understand truths they might have previously disregarded, leading to repentance, deeper faith, or a clearer understanding of God's ways.

#### Literary Devices
Job 36:15 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause reiterates and expands upon the meaning of the first. "He delivereth the poor in his affliction" is paralleled by "and openeth their ears in oppression," linking physical deliverance with spiritual enlightenment, and affliction with oppression. This reinforces the idea that God's work is holistic, addressing both external circumstances and internal spiritual states. The phrase "openeth their ears" is a powerful **Imagery** and a form of **Metonymy**, where "ears" represent the capacity for understanding and receptivity. It vividly portrays a spiritual awakening, as if a covering is removed from the ear, allowing divine truth to penetrate. This imagery also implies a form of **Divine Pedagogy**, where God uses the crucible of suffering to teach, correct, and mature His people, transforming adversity into an opportunity for profound spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 36:15 offers a profound theological insight into God's character, revealing Him not as a distant or indifferent deity, but as one intimately involved in the lives of the suffering. It challenges simplistic views of retribution, proposing that God uses affliction not merely as punishment but as a means of communication and spiritual transformation. This verse underscores God's active compassion for the vulnerable, His sovereign control over circumstances, and His ultimate desire for humanity's spiritual well-being. It highlights the often-paradoxical truth that moments of greatest distress can become the very pathways through which God's voice is heard most clearly, leading to deliverance and deeper communion. This divine pedagogy through pain is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, inviting believers to seek God's purpose even in hardship.

* [Psalm 34:6](/psalms/34-6 "The Poor Cry Out to the Lord")
* [Psalm 119:71](/psalms/119-71 "Affliction Teaches God's Statutes")
* [Isaiah 61:1](/isaiah/61-1 "Preaching Good News to the Poor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 36:15 offers immense comfort and a profound challenge to those navigating the complexities of suffering. It reminds us that God is not absent or indifferent in our pain; rather, He is intimately present and actively working, often using trials as a means to draw us closer and reveal His purposes. For believers, this verse encourages a posture of trust in God's sovereign plan, even when it involves deep pain, recognizing that hardship can be a divinely appointed opportunity for profound spiritual growth and a heightened sensitivity to God's voice. It calls us to consider that our afflictions, while grievous, might be precisely the means through which God is seeking to "open our ears" to truths we have previously ignored or resisted. Furthermore, understanding God's special heart for the "poor" and "oppressed" compels us to extend similar compassion and active intervention to those suffering around us, reflecting His nature in our own lives and communities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How have past or present afflictions in your life served to "open your ears" to God's voice or a deeper understanding of His character?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or as a community, be spiritually deaf to God's warnings or instructions in times of ease, and how might hardship recalibrate our receptivity?**
* **Given God's heart for the "poor" and "oppressed" as described in this verse, how should this truth shape our practical response to those suffering in our world today?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that God causes suffering to teach people?**

Answer: Job 36:15, spoken by Elihu, suggests that God *uses* suffering, or allows it, as a means to achieve His purposes, including instruction and spiritual awakening. It doesn't necessarily state that God *causes* all suffering directly, but rather that He is sovereign over it and can redeem even the most painful experiences for good. Elihu's point is that suffering is not always punitive for sin but can be a pedagogical tool, a divine alarm clock to make people more receptive to God's voice and to turn from destructive paths. This perspective offers a more nuanced view than the simplistic retribution theology of Job's other friends, highlighting God's redemptive and instructional intent even within hardship.

**What does "openeth their ears" mean in a practical sense?**

Answer: "Openeth their ears" is a vivid metaphor for spiritual receptivity and understanding. Practically, it means that God enables individuals to truly hear, comprehend, and respond to His truth, warnings, or instructions, especially during times of affliction or oppression. It implies a breaking through of spiritual dullness or deafness that might exist during times of ease or prosperity. This can manifest as a newfound clarity about one's sin, a deeper conviction of God's presence, a fresh understanding of biblical truth, or a clear direction from the Lord. It's about a spiritual awakening that leads to repentance, trust, and a closer walk with God, as seen in passages like [Acts 16:14](/acts/16-14 "The Lord Opened Lydia's Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 36:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Elihu's declaration that God "delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression" is perfectly embodied by the Messiah. Jesus himself declared His mission in terms reminiscent of this verse, stating in [Luke 4:18](/luke/4-18 "Jesus' Mission to the Poor and Oppressed") that He was anointed "to preach the gospel to the poor... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." He consistently ministered to the marginalized, the sick, and the spiritually impoverished, demonstrating God's preferential care for the `ani`. Furthermore, Jesus is the one who truly "opens ears" and hearts. He taught with unparalleled authority, and His parables often served to reveal truth to those with "ears to hear" while concealing it from those who were spiritually deaf ([Matthew 13:13-16](/matthew/13-13-16 "Hearing and Seeing with Spiritual Ears")). His ultimate act of deliverance came through His own profound affliction and oppression on the cross, where He, the innocent Lamb of God, bore the sins of the world, thereby delivering humanity from the ultimate oppression of sin and death. Through His resurrection, He opened the ears of His disciples to understand the Scriptures ([Luke 24:45](/luke/24-45 "Jesus Opens Their Understanding of Scripture")), and through the Holy Spirit, He continues to open the spiritual ears of all who believe, enabling them to hear His voice and receive His eternal deliverance ([John 10:27](/john/10-27 "My Sheep Hear My Voice")). Thus, Jesus is the divine deliverer who transforms our deepest afflictions into pathways for profound spiritual revelation and ultimate salvation.

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 36:10

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

2 Chronicles 12:8

Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.