Job 32:6-16

6 And Elius the Buzite the son of Barachiel answered and said, I am younger in age, and ye are elder, wherefore I kept silence, fearing to declare to you my own knowledge.

7 And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years know wisdom:

8 but there is a spirit in mortals; and the inspiration of the Almighty is that which teaches.

9 The long-lived are not wise ; neither do the aged know judgment.

10 Wherefore I said, Hear me, and I will tell you what I know.

11 Hearken to my words; for I will speak in your hearing, until ye shall have tried with words:

12 and I shall understand as far as you; and, behold, there was no one of you that answered Job his words in argument,

13 lest ye should say, We have found that we have added wisdom to the Lord.

14 And ye have commissioned a man to speak such words.

15 They were afraid, they answered no longer; they gave up their speaking.

16 I waited, (for I had not spoken,) because they stood still, they answered not.

Job 32:6-16 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.