Job — Chapter 32
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1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.
5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.
7I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.
10Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.
11Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.
12Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.
13Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:
14For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.
16And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?
17I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion.
18For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.
19Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
21Let me not, I pray you, respect any man`s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
22For I know not to give flattering titles; [Else] would my Maker soon take me away.
1So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.
3With Job’s three friends he was also angry because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.
4Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because the others were older than he was.
5But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry.
6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: “I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful and afraid to explain to you what I know.
7I said to myself, ‘Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.’
8But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand.
9It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.
10Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.’
11Look, I waited for you to speak; I listened closely to your wise thoughts, while you were searching for words.
12Now I was paying you close attention, yet there was no one proving Job wrong, not one of you was answering his statements.
13So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom. God will refute him, not man.’
14Job has not directed his words to me, and so I will not reply to him with your arguments.
15“They are dismayed and cannot answer anymore; they have nothing left to say.
16And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,
17I too will answer my part; I too will explain what I know.
18For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me.
19Inside I am like wine that has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst!
20I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.
21I will not show partiality to any person, nor will I confer a title on anyone.
22For I do not know how to give honorary titles; if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me.
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2Then 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.
3Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.
5When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6Elihu 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.
7I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.
10Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’
11“Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.
12Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.
13Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’
14for 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.
16Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?
17I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.
18For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
19Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
21Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
22For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.
Summary
Elihu's introduction — a young man angry at both Job and the three friends breaks his silence, claiming the Spirit of God (not age) gives understanding, and announces he will speak where the elders have failed.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that Elihu is a controversial figure: some see him as genuinely inspired, others as a pompous young man who adds nothing new. Guzik observes that God's silence about Elihu in chapter 42 (neither rebuking nor praising him) leaves his status ambiguous. His main contribution will be the idea of suffering as divine discipline — not punishment for past sin but training for future righteousness. This partially correct insight prepares for God's speeches.
- Charles Spurgeon: "Elihu arrives like a thunderstorm — much wind and noise before the rain. He is young, hot, and full of words. Whether he is full of wisdom remains to be seen. He is right that the friends failed: they condemned without convincing. He is right that Job erred: he defended himself at God's expense. But being right about others' failures does not make you right about everything. Elihu will say some true things and some proud things — and the reader must discern the difference."
Reflection
- 1. Youth is not a disqualification for speaking truth (vv.6-9). Elihu's initial deference to age was appropriate, but his recognition that age does not guarantee wisdom is equally appropriate. If God's Spirit gives understanding, it can come through anyone — young or old, credentialed or not.
- 2. The inability to contain truth is a mark of calling (vv.18-20). Elihu cannot keep silent because the word within him demands release. This parallels Jeremiah's experience (Jer 20:9). When God gives you something to say, silence becomes unbearable.
- 3. Correct diagnosis of others' failures does not guarantee correct solutions (vv.2-3). Elihu rightly identifies that the friends failed and that Job went too far. But seeing what went wrong is easier than providing what is right. Critique is cheap; wisdom is costly.
- 4. Claiming divine inspiration carries divine accountability (v.8). Elihu appeals to the Spirit as his authority. This is either genuinely courageous or dangerously presumptuous — the content of his speeches will determine which. Anyone who claims to speak for God must be prepared for God to evaluate the claim.