Job Chapter 32 — Elihu Breaks His Silence
After Job's friends stop answering him, a younger man named Elihu enters the conversation to express his frustration and offer his own perspective.
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 older 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,
7I said, ‘Days should speak,
8But there is a spirit in man,
9It is not the great who are wise,
10Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me;
11“Behold, I waited for your words,
12Yes, I gave you my full attention,
13Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom.
14for he has not directed his words against me;
15“They are amazed. They answer no more.
16Shall I wait, because they don’t speak,
17I also will answer my part,
18For I am full of words.
19Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent;
20I will speak, that I may be refreshed.
21Please don’t let me respect any man’s person,
22For I don’t know how to give flattering titles,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Job 32:8
“But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.”
This verse presents Elihu's core belief that true insight is a divine gift rather than a result of human experience alone.
Job 32:9
“It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.”
Elihu challenges the traditional view that wisdom is reserved only for those who have lived many years.
Chapter Summary
Job Chapter 32 marks a shift in the dialogue as a new character, Elihu the son of Barachel, is introduced. For much of the book, Elihu has remained silent out of respect for the seniority of Job and his three friends. However, after Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar cease their arguments because Job continues to view himself as righteous, Elihu becomes angry. He is upset with Job for justifying himself over God and frustrated with the friends for failing to provide a satisfactory answer while still condemning Job. Elihu argues that wisdom is not solely a product of old age but is granted by the spirit of the Almighty. Feeling an internal compulsion to speak, he declares that he will offer his own opinion impartially and without flattery, seeking to address the issues the older men could not resolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elihu is the son of Barachel the Buzite, from the family of Ram. He was a younger observer who had been listening to the debate between Job and his three friends before deciding to speak.
According to the text, Elihu waited because he was younger than Job and the other three friends. He believed that age should be given the first opportunity to speak and share wisdom.
Elihu was angry because the three friends had found no effective answer to Job's arguments, yet they still condemned him. He felt their silence in the face of Job's self-justification was a failure.
Study Note
Elihu is the only speaker in the book whose genealogy is provided in detail, identifying him as a Buzite, which may link him to the lineage mentioned in Genesis 22.
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