Elihu’s speech
32
📚So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 32:1 Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar have nothing more to say, concluding that Job was self-righteous.⚜
2 📚Then the anger of Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job. His anger burned because Job justified himself rather than God.
32:2 Apparently Elihu had been present all the time the discussion had been going on. For all we know there may have been several (or many) others there also. Elihu was not an uncommon name and other Elihus are mentioned in the Bible (1 Sam 1:1; 1 Chron 12:20), but this is the one place that this particular Elihu appears. We know nothing of the Barakel or Ram mentioned here, but it is also said that Elihu was a Buzite. One person named Buz was a son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Gen 22:21). If Elihu was a descendent of that Buz then he was closely related to the forefathers of the Hebrew nation.
Elihu’s anger burned against Job because Job had justified himself rather than God. (See also God’s question to Job in Job 40:8.) Job had clearly said his cause was just (Job 10:7; 27:5-6; 31:35-37) and that God had wronged him (Job 19:6; 27:2; 30:25-26). Job said so because in his pain and perplexity and darkness no other explanation seemed to fit the circumstances. Job had also spoken in a way that showed he believed in the justice of God (Job 16:19; 19:23-27; 23:3-7. If Job had not been convinced of God’s just character he would not have wanted to appear before Him in judgment). As we have seen, very painful and conflicting thoughts possessed Job’s mind. See note on Job 16:19.⚜
3 📚Also his anger was aroused against his three friends, because they had found no answer, yet had condemned Job.
32:3 Elihu was a lover of justice. If Job speaks unjustly about God his anger burns; when the three friends speak unjustly about Job his anger burns. Elihu sees clearly the fault of the friends – they condemned Job without being able to answer his arguments (v 12).⚜
4 📚Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he.
5 📚When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his anger was aroused.
6 📚And Elihu the son of Barakel the Buzite answered and said, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I was afraid and dared not express my opinion.
7 📚I told myself that age 📖 should speak, and advanced 📖 years should teach wisdom.
8 📚But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding.
32:8 Understanding does not come by mere age or experience or education, but by God’s breath, God’s gift. So the young may have it as well as the old, Elihu says.⚜
9 📚Great men are not always wise; nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 📚Therefore I say, Listen to me. I also will express my opinion.
11 📚Look, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, while you searched for what to say.
12 📚Yes, I paid close attention to you, and, look, none of you convinced Job, or answered his words.
13 📚Do not say ‘We have found wisdom. God will bring him down, not man.’
14 Now he has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your words.
15 📚“They are dismayed and give no further answer; words have failed them.
16 📚I have been waiting, but they did not speak, but stood there and gave no further answer.
17 📚I too will take my part in answering, I too will express my opinion.
32:12-17 Though the friends have failed to defeat Job in argument they must not think, he says, that every man will fail. Elihu thinks he can succeed. At v 15 he stops speaking to Job’s friends and speaks about them.⚜
18 📚For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me to speak.
19 📚Indeed my inner being is like wine without a vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins.
20 📚I will speak, so that I may find relief. I will open my lips and answer.
32:18-20 Elihu is very excited and eager. As Job’s friends spoke he kept thinking of things he would like to say. He could hardly contain any longer the words that would rush from his mouth. He was not the last to feel so in time of argument and debate.⚜
21 📚Please, I will not show favoritism to anyone, or flatter any man.
22 📚For I do not know how to flatter; if I did, my Maker would soon take me away.
32:21-22 Elihu has some fear of God, so refuses to take either Job’s side or that of Job’s friends. And he resolves to speak very frankly.⚜