3 and against his three friends hath his anger burned, because that they have not found an answer, and condemn Job.
If pure and upright thou `art', Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.
Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities. For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off. Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread. As to the man of arm -- he hath the earth, And the accepted of face -- he dwelleth in it. Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised. Therefore round about thee `are' snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly. Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee. Is not God high `in' heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high. And thou hast said, `What -- hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge? Thick clouds `are' a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually, The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden? Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation. Those saying to God, `Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them? And he hath filled their houses `with' good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.) See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them, `Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.' Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase `is' good. Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart. If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents. So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering. And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver `is' strength to thee. For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face, Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest. And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone. For they have made low, And thou sayest, `Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth. He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.
And if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?
The rule and fear `are' with Him, Making peace in His high places. Is their `any' number to His troops? And on whom ariseth not His light? And what? is man righteous with God? And what? is he pure -- born of a woman? Lo -- unto the moon, and it shineth not, And stars have not been pure in His eyes. How much less man -- a grub, And the son of man -- a worm!
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).