Job 32:1-15

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

2 Then Eli'hu the son of Bar'achel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God;

3 he was angry also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.

4 Now Eli'hu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

5 And when Eli'hu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he became angry.

6 And Eli'hu the son of Bar'achel the Buzite answered: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

7 I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'

8 But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

9 It is not the old that are wise, nor the aged that understand what is right.

10 Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'

11 "Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.

12 I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none that confuted Job, or that answered his words, among you.

13 Beware lest you say, 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man.'

14 He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15 "They are discomfited, they answer no more; they have not a word to say.

Job 32:1-15 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.