Job 32:7-17

7 I said, Days shall speak, and the multitude of years shall declare wisdom.
8 Certainly there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will declare my knowledge.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your arguments, while ye searched out what to say.
12 Even so, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you to reprove Job or to answer his words.
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom; it is needful that God thrust him down, and not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your reasons.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more; they left off speaking.
16 And I waited, (for they did not speak, but stopped, and answered no more);
17 I said, I will also answer my part, I will also declare my opinion.

Job 32:7-17 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.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010