NASB Text

Wicked

Righteous

32:

1

Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

The narrator of the book states that Job is self righteous at this point. God echoes this same condemnation in Job 40:8, "Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn me that you may be justified?"

2

But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned, because he justified himself before God.

Like the other three, Elihu claims Job is self righteous, a condemnation that is not echoed by God. Instead God declares Job righteous both at the beginning and at the end of his trial, an assessment that is reflected throughout the rest of Scripture. Note that Scripture is also empty of praise for Elihu.

Unlike the three friends Elihu sees the same character flaw that the narrator has declared.

3

And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Jewish opinion contemporary with NT says "Elihu, filled with Satan, spoke out against me [ie. Job] arrogant words" (Testament of Job 41:7). Similarly by Rabbi Akiba in Jerusalem Sotah 5:20.

God echoes Elihu’s assessment of the three friens and condemns their words, but he does not condemn Elihu.

4

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he.

Showing remarkable restraint and discipline for a young man, consistent with the wisdom he displays elsewhere.

5

And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.

6

So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said, "I am young in years and you are old; therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.

Elihu is forced to speak because the three friends condemned Job without knowing the truth of the matter.

7

"I thought age should speak, and increased years should teach wisdom.

8

"But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.

9

"The abundant {in years} may not be wise, nor may elders understand justice.

10

"So I say, 'Listen to me, I too will tell what I think.'

11

"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened to your reasonings, while you pondered what to say.

12

"I even paid close attention to you, indeed, there was no one who refuted Job, not one of you who answered his words.

13

"Do not say, 'We have found wisdom; God will rout him, not man.'

14

"For he has not arranged {his} words against me; nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

Elihu is not letting anyone despise his youth. Instead he brings fresh insights.

15

"They are dismayed, they answer no more; words have failed them.

16

"And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stop {and} answer no more?

17

"I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion.

18

"For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.

19

"Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, like new wineskins it is about to burst.

20

"Let me speak that I may get relief; let me open my lips and answer.

21

"Let me now be partial to no one; nor flatter {any} man.

Elihu is very aware of the need for absolute truth in what he says.

22

"For I do not know how to flatter, {else} my maker would soon take me away.

Elihu’s purpose is actually to prove that Job is a rebellious sinner and so does not serve God for naught, just as Satan claimed.

33:

1

"However now, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

2

"Behold now, I open my mouth, My tongue in my mouth speaks.

3

"My words are {from} the uprightness of my heart; and my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

4

"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

5

"Refute me if you can; array yourselves before me, take your stand.

6

"Behold, I belong to God like you; I too have been formed out of the clay.

KJV "I am … in God’s stead." Where’s the evidence that he spoke for God?

Job had asked for someone other than God to speak against, and Elihu offers himself:

7

"Behold, no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.

9:32-33 "For {He is} not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both."

8

"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of {your} words:

9

'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.

These are Zophar’s words, not Job’s: 11:4, For you have said, 'My teaching is pure, and I am innocent in your eyes.'

Elihu and Zophar are both paraphrasing words of Job, such as 9:20, "Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty."

10

'Behold, He invents pretexts against me; He counts me as His enemy.

This is a distortion, Elihu is ignoring the context of Job’s words.

13:24, "Why dost Thou hide Thy face, and consider me Thine enemy?"

11

'He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches all my paths.'

12

"Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, for God is greater than man.

13

"Why do you complain against Him, that He does not give an account of all His doings?

14

"Indeed God speaks once, or twice, {yet} no one notices it.

15

"In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds,

16

Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,

17

That He may turn man aside {from his} conduct, and keep man from pride;

Unlike the friends who see suffering as punishment, Elihu sees it as discipline.

18

He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol.

19

"Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, and with unceasing complaint in his bones;

20

So that his life loathes bread, and his soul favorite food.

21

"His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones which were not seen stick out.

22

"Then his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to those who bring death.

23

"If there is an angel {as} mediator for him, One out of a thousand, to remind a man what is right for him,

Elihu understands the role of a mediator, and are highly suggestive of Christ.

24

Then let him be gracious to him, and say, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom';

25

Let his flesh become fresher than in youth, let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;

26

Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, that he may see His face with joy, and He may restore His righteousness to man.

27

"He will sing to men and say, 'I have sinned and perverted what is right, and it is not proper for me.

28

'He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit, and my life shall see the light.'

29

"Behold, God does all these oftentimes with men,

30

To bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

31

"Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; keep silent and let me speak.

32

"{Then} if you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

Job is already righteous in God’s eyes. At the end he is ‘elevated’ or ‘raised up’ (Hebrew meaning for the word ‘accepted’ in 42:9).
Elihu is attempting to insert himself between Job and God, as a self-appointed mediator.

Elihu has Job’s interest at heart. He wants to guide Job to wisdom and salvation. And God does accept Job at the end (the word in 42:9 is often translated ‘forgive’) after his confession of unworthiness and repentance.

33

"If not, listen to me; keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

34:

1

Then Elihu continued and said,

2

"Hear my words, you wise men, and listen to me, you who know.

3

"For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food.

4

"Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.

5

"For Job has said, 'I am righteous, but God has taken away my right;

27:2, "As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,"

6

Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable, {though I am} without transgression.'

7

"What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water,

8

Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?

Elihu wrongly condemns Job of being sinful.

9

"For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing when he is pleased with God.'

9:29 "I am accounted wicked, why then should I toil in vain?"

10

"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong.

11

"For He pays a man according to his work, and makes him find it according to his way.

12

"Surely, God will not act wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.

13

"Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid {on Him} the whole world?

The point of this rhetorical question is driven home by God in 38:4, Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell {me,} if you have understanding,

14

"If He should determine to do so, if He should gather to himself His spirit and His breath,

15

All flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.

16

"But if {you have} understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words.

17

"Shall one who hates justice rule? And will you condemn a righteous mighty one,

18

Who says to a king, 'Worthless one,' to nobles, 'Wicked ones';

19

Who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich above the poor, for they all are the work of His hands?

20

"In a moment they die, and at midnight people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without a hand.

21

"For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.

22

"There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

23

"For He does not {need to} consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.

24

"He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and sets others in their place.

25

"Therefore He knows their works, and He overthrows {them} in the night, and they are crushed.

26

"He strikes them like the wicked in a public place,

27

Because they turned aside from following Him, and had no regard for any of His ways;

28

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him, and that He might hear the cry of the afflicted.

29

When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn? And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him, that is, in regard to both nation and man?--

30

So that godless men should not rule, nor be snares of the people.

31

"For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne {chastisement;} I will not offend {anymore;}

Elihu’s exhortation to Job is fulfilled in 40 and 42.

32

Teach Thou me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

33

"Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected {it?} For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.

34

"Men of understanding will say to me, and a wise man who hears me,

35

'Job speaks without knowledge, and his words are without wisdom.

36

'Job ought to be tried to the limit, because he answers like wicked men.

Like the three friends, Elihu believes that Job’s sufferings are deserved, and like Satan, believes they should be added to, even to the point of death.

Elihu desires Job be tested until his character is fully refined, as it is after Job endures the ordeal of meeting the Almighty.

37

'For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.'"

Elihu echoes the condemnation of the friends that Job is a sinner, stating that rebellion is added to his other sins. In fact, Job never utters rebellion. Furthermore, how could Job have offered atonement for the friends if he was rebellious? It is Job who is the type of Christ, not Elihu.

Later, and perhaps as the final part of his test, Job acts as intercessor for his companions (as Moses and Abraham also had occasion to do) and God restores him.

35:

1

Then Elihu continued and said,

2

"Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's'?

3

"For you say, 'What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?'

When Job says, "Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?" (21:15), he is paraphrasing the wicked.

Summarizing the whole thrust of Ch 24

4

"I will answer you, and your friends with you.

5

"Look at the heavens and see; and behold the clouds-- they are higher than you.

6

"If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are many, what do you do to Him?

7

"If you are righteous, what do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?

At the best we are unprofitable servants.

8

"Your wickedness is for a man like yourself, and your righteousness is for a son of man.

9

"Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.

10

"But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

11

Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'

12

"There they cry out, but He does not answer because of the pride of evil men.

13

"Surely God will not listen to an empty {cry,} nor will the Almighty regard it.

14

"How much less when you say you do not behold Him, the case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!

Elihu is counseling trust in God however long it takes.

15

"And now, because He has not visited {in} His anger, nor has He acknowledged transgression well,

16

So Job opens his mouth emptily; He multiplies words without knowledge. "

A masterful summary of Job’s one weakness; the very charge God brings (38:2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?").

36:

1

Then Elihu continued and said,

2

"Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there is yet more to be said in God's behalf.

3

"I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and I will ascribe righteousness to my maker.

4

"For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

Elihu’s arrogance makes his condemnation of Job hollow

Elihu, like the youthful Christ, would be seen as an upstart by those who cannot accept his words.

5

"Behold, God is mighty but does not despise {any;} {He is} mighty in strength of understanding.

6

"He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the afflicted.

7

"He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but with kings on the throne He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

8

"And if they are bound in fetters, and are caught in the cords of affliction,

9

Then He declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves.

10

"And He opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they return from evil.

11

"If they hear and serve {Him,} they shall end their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12

"But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

13

"But the godless in heart lay up anger; they do not cry for help when He binds them.

14

"They die in youth, and their life {perishes} among the cult prostitutes.

15

"He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, and opens their ear in {time of} oppression.

16

"Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; and that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

17

"But you were full of judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice take hold {of you.}

18

"{Beware} lest wrath entice you to scoffing; and do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.

19

"Will your riches keep {you} from distress, or all the forces of {your} strength?

20

"Do not long for the night, when people vanish in their place.

Do not long to die, Job, but learn from God (v22)

21

"Be careful, do not turn to evil; for you have preferred this to affliction.

22

"Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like Him?

23

"Who has appointed Him His way, and who has said, 'Thou hast done wrong'?

24

"Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sung.

25

"All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar.

26

"Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know {Him;} the number of His years is unsearchable.

27

"For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist,

28

Which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly.

29

"Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thundering of His pavilion?

God picks up and expands this theme when addressing Job. It is almost as if Elihu is preparing Job for God’s challenge.

30

"Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, and He covers the depths of the sea.

Elihu recognizes the coming of God in the storm, and over the rest of his discourse he prepares Job for the presence of the Almighty.

31

"For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance.

32

"He covers {His} hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

33

"Its noise declares His presence; the cattle also, concerning what is coming up.

37:

1

"At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place.

The thunder of the approaching storm (v2) is more than just nature at word. Elihu recognizes the approaching presence of God.

2

"Listen closely to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.

3

"Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.

4

"After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice; and He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.

5

"God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend.

6

"For to the snow He says, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the downpour and the rain, 'Be strong.'

7

"He seals the hand of every man, that all men may know His work.

8

"Then the beast goes into its lair, and remains in its den.

9

"Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold.

10

"From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen.

11

"Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning.

12

"And it changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth.

13

"Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

14

"Listen to this, O Job, stand and consider the wonders of God.

15

"Do you know how God establishes them, and makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?

16

"Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds, the wonders of one perfect in knowledge,

17

You whose garments are hot, when the land is still because of the south wind?

18

"Can you, with Him, spread out the skies, strong as a molten mirror?

19

"Teach us what we shall say to Him; we cannot arrange {our case} because of darkness.

20

"Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?

21

"And now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies; but the wind has passed and cleared them.

22

"Out of the north comes golden {splendor;} around God is awesome majesty.

23

"The Almighty-- we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power; and He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.

The final declaration before God himself speaks: "He is Righteous and He is Mighty, and so we revere him."

24

"Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart."

38:

1

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

Elihu’s voice is washed away by the coming of God

Now that Elihu has addressed Job’s complaints, God declares His mightiness and power, and makes it clear He cannot be called to account.

2

"Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

God interrupts and dismisses Elihu and his darkened counsel of the last six chapters, and then addresses Job in v3. Unlike the others, Job spoke what was right about God (42:7). Note also that Elihu is absent at the end of the story which is a type of the kingdom age.

Job understands this as a condemnation of himself, and repents of it in 42:3, "'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

3

"Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct me!

23:6, "Would He contend with me by the greatness of {His} power? No, surely He would pay attention to me."