Job 32
Big idea: A speaker who has been listening the whole time and never been mentioned announces himself, explains at length why he waited, and then explains at greater length why he can wait no longer. Six verses of the chapter are about being about to speak.
Elihu is the only person in the book with a full genealogy, and the only one God never mentions — at 42:7 the verdict addresses the three friends and says nothing about him.
32:1–10 — It is not the great who are wise
The narrator explains why the debate stopped, and the reason is not that anyone was convinced: these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu, with the longest introduction anyone in the book gets — son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram — and his anger is aimed in two directions. At Job, because he justified himself rather than God; and at the three friends, because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. That second charge is exactly right, and the book will confirm it at 42:7.
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 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 wrath was kindled. 6 Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion. 7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’ 8 But there is a spirit in man, and the Spirit of the Almighty gives them understanding. 9 It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice. 10 Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’
32:11–22 — My breast is like wine which has no vent
The first half of the section is a complaint about the quality of the debate, and it is fair: I waited for your words and listened for your reasoning while you searched out what to say. I gave you my full attention — and there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you. He also warns them against the escape they are reaching for: beware lest you say, we have found wisdom; God may refute him, not man. Handing the case to God is a way of not having one.
11 “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say. 12 Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you. 13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom. God may refute him, not man;’ 14 for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches. 15 “They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say. 16 Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more? 17 I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion. 18 For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me. 19 Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst. 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer. 21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man. 22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles, or else my Maker would soon take me away.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).