Job 33 Study Notes

33:18 By the Pit is meant the grave or the state of death (16:10; 17:14). Just as Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the promised land, so the image of the river of death portrays man’s passing from this life into the next. River is the preferred rendering of a Hebrew word that also can be translated as “sword.”

33:19-22 God may also communicate with a person through the discipline of pain. The distress may be so aggravating that a person loses all desire for food. In his severe pain, Job had expressed the fear that death was near (10:18-22; 16:16,22).

33:23-24 Elihu pointed out that the arbitrator Job had longed for between himself and God (9:33; 16:21) was available to bring a person to repentance. Angels often served in this capacity (Gn 48:15-16; Ps 34:6-7). God through his mediating angel supplies grace to ransom and deliver the repentant and surrendered person from death (Ex 14:19-20; Jb 17:3; Ps 49:7-9). In a deeper sense, such a work anticipates God’s full revelation in Christ (2Co 5:18-19; Heb 9:12). Alternatively, the word translated angel may also be rendered as “messenger” (Jdg 11:13; 1Kg 20:2-10; Mal 2:7). Elihu may have sensed that he was serving as God’s messenger to bring about Job’s reconciliation with God (Jb 33:6-7).

33:25-28 The result of the angel’s work is given here. There will be physical and spiritual restoration, including repentance.

33:29-30 God’s offer to reclaim the sinner may be extended several times, but his grace should not be spurned continually (Jl 2:14; Heb 6:4-6).

33:31-33 Elihu asked for Job’s further attention (vv. 1-5) while he developed his teaching. Job should interrupt only if he had something significant to add.