Job 32:3-13

3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.[a]
4 Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.
5 But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit[b] in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9 It is not only the old[c] who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
10 “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.
11 I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words,
12 I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’

Job 32:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32

Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1-5; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6,7; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of every age, and old men are not always wise, he desires they would hearken to him while he delivered his sentiments on the subject in debate, Job 32:8-10; and hopes to be heard patiently, since he had waited until they had said all they had to say, and had closely attended to it, and which fell short of convincing Job; and this he was obliged to say, lest they should be wise in their own conceit, and attribute that to men which belongs to God, Job 32:11-13; he proposes to take a new method with Job, different from theirs; and now they hearing all this from a young man, they were filled with amazement, and struck with silence; and after he had waited a while to observe whether they would say anything or not, he determined to take his turn, and show his opinion also, Job 32:14-17; and the rather because he was full of arguments, he was desirous to propose them, and was uneasy until he had brought them out; and which he was resolved to do with all impartiality and integrity, Job 32:18-22.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Job 42:7
  • 2. ver 12-13
  • 3. S Job 15:13
  • 4. S Leviticus 19:32
  • 5. Job 15:10
  • 6. S 1 Chronicles 29:15; S 2 Chronicles 10:6
  • 7. ver 18
  • 8. S Job 27:3; Job 33:4
  • 9. S Job 12:13; S Psalms 119:34; James 1:5; Proverbs 2:6
  • 10. 1 Corinthians 1:26
  • 11. Psalms 119:100
  • 12. S Job 12:12,20; Luke 2:47; 1 Timothy 4:12
  • 13. Job 33:1,31,33; Job 34:2,16; Job 37:2,14; Psalms 34:11
  • 14. S Job 5:27
  • 15. ver 3
  • 16. S Job 4:12; S Ecclesiastes 9:11; Jeremiah 9:23
  • 17. S Job 11:5

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Masoretic Text; an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition "Job, and so had condemned God"
  • [b]. Or "Spirit" ; also in verse 18
  • [c]. Or "many" ; or "great"
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