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Job 32

Elihu

1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.
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.’
14 But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
16 Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply?
17 I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
19 inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
21 I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
22 for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.

Job 32 Commentary

Chapter 32

Elihu is displeased at the dispute between Job and his friends. (1-5) He reproves them. (6-14) He speaks without partiality. (15-22)

Verses 1-5 Job's friends were silenced, but not convinced. Others had been present. Elihu was justly displeased with Job, as more anxious to clear his own character than the justice and goodness of God. Elihu was displeased with Job's friends because they had not been candid to Job. Seldom is a quarrel begun, more seldom is a quarrel carried on, in which there are not faults on both sides. Those that seek for truth, must not reject what is true and good on either side, nor approve or defend what is wrong.

Verses 6-14 Elihu professes to speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and corrects both parties. He allowed that those who had the longest experience should speak first. But God gives wisdom as he pleases; this encouraged him to state his opinion. By attention to the word of God, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, young men may become wiser than the aged; but this wisdom will render them swift to hear, slow to speak, and disposed to give others a patient hearing.

Verses 15-22 If we are sure that the Spirit of God suggested what we are about to say, still we ought to refrain, till it comes to our turn to speak. God is the God of order, not of confusion. It is great refreshment to a good man, to speak for the glory of the Lord, and to edify others. And the more we consider the majesty of God, as our Maker, and the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less shall we sinfully fear or flatter men. Could we set the wrath Lord always before us, in his mercies and his terrors, we should not be moved from doing our duty in whatever we are called to do.

Cross References 34

  • 1. ver 15
  • 2. S Job 2:3; S Job 10:7; Job 33:9
  • 3. S Genesis 22:21
  • 4. ver 1
  • 5. S Job 13:19; Job 27:5; Job 30:21; Job 35:2
  • 6. Job 42:7
  • 7. ver 12-13
  • 8. S Job 15:13
  • 9. S Leviticus 19:32
  • 10. Job 15:10
  • 11. S 1 Chronicles 29:15; S 2 Chronicles 10:6
  • 12. ver 18
  • 13. S Job 27:3; Job 33:4
  • 14. S Job 12:13; S Psalms 119:34; James 1:5; Proverbs 2:6
  • 15. 1 Corinthians 1:26
  • 16. Psalms 119:100
  • 17. S Job 12:12,20; Luke 2:47; 1 Timothy 4:12
  • 18. Job 33:1,31,33; Job 34:2,16; Job 37:2,14; Psalms 34:11
  • 19. S Job 5:27
  • 20. ver 3
  • 21. S Job 4:12; S Ecclesiastes 9:11; Jeremiah 9:23
  • 22. S Job 11:5
  • 23. Job 23:4
  • 24. ver 1
  • 25. S Job 5:27; Job 33:3; Job 36:4
  • 26. ver 8
  • 27. Acts 4:20; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 2 Corinthians 5:14
  • 28. Jeremiah 20:9; Amos 3:8; Matthew 9:17
  • 29. S Job 4:2; S Jeremiah 6:11
  • 30. S Leviticus 19:15; S 2 Chronicles 19:7; S Job 13:10
  • 31. Matthew 22:16
  • 32. Proverbs 29:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:5
  • 33. S Job 4:17; S Job 9:9
  • 34. Psalms 12:2-4

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"

Chapter Summary

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.

Job 32 Commentaries

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