Job 32 Study Notes

32:13-14 Elihu agreed with Job (12:20; 13:12-19; 17:10; 21:34) that the friends had failed to demonstrate their claim to represent godly instruction (4:12-16) or traditional wisdom (15:17-19). Job would find Elihu a tougher opponent who would not follow the friends’ line of argumentation.

32:15-17 Elihu noted the friends’ dismay at exhausting their arguments against Job without refuting him successfully. Since they no longer had anything to say, Elihu would take up the controversy.

32:18 Elihu is noted for being a man of many words.

32:19-20 Elihu’s heart (inner being; lit “belly”) was so full that it was about to burst. New wine was normally put into new wineskins, which would expand with the fermentation process (Mt 9:17). If the wineskin was closed off without proper ventilation, it could burst.

32:21-22 Elihu was under divine obligation to speak his mind impartially. The phrase be partial is literally “lift up the face.” This idiom is used of showing respect (Gn 32:21) or partiality (Pr 18:5). The Bible condemns showing favoritism (Pr 28:21), especially in rendering judicial decisions (Lv 19:15) or by giving special treatment to prominent individuals (Jms 2:1-4). Elihu would not use flattering speech (Ps 12:1-3; Pr 28:23) by making reference to anyone’s title.