3 And he was angry with his three friends, because they had been unable to give him an answer, and had not made Job's sin clear.
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins. For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it. You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread. For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it. You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father. For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear. Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters. Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are! And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark? Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven. Will you keep the old way by which evil men went? Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters: Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us? Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me! The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them, Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire. Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings. Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart. If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents; And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys; Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver; For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God. You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths. Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways. For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit. He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
Rule and power are his; he makes peace in his high places. Is it possible for his armies to be numbered? and on whom is not his light shining? How then is it possible for man to be upright before God? or how may he be clean who is a son of woman? See, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not clean in his eyes: How much less man who is an insect, and the son of man who is a worm!
How have you given help to him who has no power! how have you been the salvation of the arm which has no strength! How have you given teaching to him who has no wisdom, and fully made clear true knowledge! To whom have your words been said? and whose spirit came out from you?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 32
Commentary on Job 32 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 32
Job 32:1-37:24. Speech of Elihu.
1-6. Prose (poetry begins with "I am young").
because, &c.—and because they could not prove to him that he was unrighteous.
2. Elihu—meaning "God is Jehovah." In his name and character as messenger between God and Job, he foreshadows Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26).
Barachel—meaning "God blesses." Both names indicate the piety of the family and their separation from idolaters.
Buzite—Buz was son of Nahor, brother of Abraham. Hence was named a region in Arabia-Deserta (Jer 25:23).
Ram—Aram, nephew of Buz. Job was probably of an older generation than Elihu. However, the identity of names does not necessarily prove the identity of persons. The particularity with which Elihu's descent is given, as contrasted with the others, led Lightfoot to infer Elihu was the author of the book. But the reason for particularity was, probably, that Elihu was less known than the three called "friends" of Job; and that it was right for the poet to mark especially him who was mainly to solve the problem of the book.
rather than God—that is, was more eager to vindicate himself than God. In Job 4:17, Job denies that man can be more just than God. Umbreit translates, "Before (in the presence of) God."
3. Though silenced in argument, they held their opinion still.
4. had spoken—Hebrew, "in words," referring rather to his own "words" of reply, which he had long ago ready, but kept back in deference to the seniority of the friends who spoke.
6. was afraid—The root meaning in Hebrew is "to crawl" (De 32:24).
7. Days—that is, the aged (Job 15:10).
8. Elihu claims inspiration, as a divinely commissioned messenger to Job (Job 33:6, 23); and that claim is not contradicted in Job 42:4, 5. Translate: "But the spirit (which God puts) in man, and the inspiration … is that which giveth," &c.; it is not mere "years" which give understanding (Pr 2:6; Joh 20:22).
9. Great—rather, "old" (Job 32:6). So Hebrew, in Ge 25:23. "Greater, less" for the older, the younger.
judgment—what is right.
10. Rather, "I say."
opinion—rather, "knowledge."
11. Therefore Elihu was present from the first.
reasons—literally, "understandings," that is, the meaning intended by words.
whilst—I waited until you should discover a suitable reply to Job.
13. This has been so ordered, "lest you should" pride yourselves on having overcome him by your "wisdom" (Jer 9:23, the great aim of the Book of Job); and that you may see, "God alone can thrust him down," that is, confute him, "not man." So Elihu grounds his confutation, not on the maxims of sages, as the friends did, but on his special commission from God (Job 32:8; 33:4, 6).
14. I am altogether unprejudiced. For it is not I, whom he addressed. "Your speeches" have been influenced by irritation.
15. Here Elihu turns from the friends to Job: and so passes from the second person to the third; a transition frequent in a rebuke (Job 18:3, 4).
they left off—Words were taken from them.
17. my part—for my part.
opinion—knowledge.
18. "I am full of words," whereas the friends have not a word more to say.
the spirit—(Job 32:8; 33:4; Jer 20:9; Ac 18:5).
19. belly—bosom: from which the words of Orientalists in speaking seem to come more than with us; they speak gutturally. "Like (new) wine (in fermentation) without a vent," to work itself off. New wine is kept in new goatskin bottles. This fittingly applies to the young Elihu, as contrasted with the old friends (Mt 9:7).
20. refreshed—literally, "that there may be air to me" (1Sa 16:23).
21. "May I never accept," &c. Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 13:8, 10), wherein he complains that the friends plead for God partially, "accepting His person." Elihu says he will not do so, but will act impartially between God and Job. "And I will not give flattery," &c. (Pr 24:23).
22. take me away—as a punishment (Ps 102:24).