Job Chapter 36 — Elihu Proclaims God’s Justice
Elihu continues his speech to Job, arguing that God is a just judge who uses suffering as a means of instruction and discipline.
1Elihu also continued, and said,
2“Bear with me a little, and I will show you;
3I will get my knowledge from afar,
4For truly my words are not false.
5“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone.
6He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked,
7He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
8If they are bound in fetters,
9then he shows them their work,
10He also opens their ears to instruction,
11If they listen and serve him,
12But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword;
13“But those who are godless in heart lay up anger.
14They die in youth.
15He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,
16Yes, he would have allured you out of distress,
17“But you are full of the judgment of the wicked.
18Don’t let riches entice you to wrath,
19Would your wealth sustain you in distress,
20Don’t desire the night,
21Take heed, don’t regard iniquity;
22Behold, God is exalted in his power.
23Who has prescribed his way for him?
24“Remember that you magnify his work,
25All men have looked on it.
26Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.
27For he draws up the drops of water,
28which the skies pour down
29Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds
30Behold, he spreads his light around him.
31For by these he judges the people.
32He covers his hands with the lightning,
33Its noise tells about him,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Job 36:5
“Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone.”
This verse highlights Elihu's view that God's power is combined with a personal concern for all people.
Job 36:15
“He delivers the afflicted by their affliction,”
Elihu suggests that suffering is a divine tool used for communication and deliverance.
Job 36:26
“Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him.”
This verse underscores the infinite nature of God and the limitations of human knowledge.
Chapter Summary
In Job 36, Elihu continues his fourth and final discourse, defending God's character and justice. He asserts that God is all-powerful but does not despise anyone, maintaining the cause of the righteous while judging the wicked. Elihu explains that when people are in distress or bound in fetters, God uses their circumstances to point out their transgressions and open their ears to instruction. He warns Job not to be enticed by riches or to turn toward iniquity in his suffering. The latter half of the chapter transitions into a poem of praise regarding God's greatness and His incomprehensible work in nature. Elihu describes how God draws up water to form rain and clouds, uses lightning to judge and provide, and commands the elements in ways humans cannot fully grasp, emphasizing that God's power is beyond human understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elihu argues that God is a righteous judge who does not act arbitrarily. He contends that God uses suffering as a tool to correct the righteous and warn them against pride or sin.
According to Elihu, God does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous but exalts them. Even when they face hardship, God uses those moments to open their ears to instruction.
Elihu points to the cycle of rain, clouds, and lightning as evidence of God's greatness. He suggests that these natural phenomena serve God's purposes in both judging people and providing for them.
Study Note
The transition in verse 27 begins a section of nature poetry that mirrors the upcoming divine speech from the whirlwind in later chapters.
Related Chapters
Job Chapter 37
Elihu continues his description of God's power as seen through the wonders of the natural world.
Psalm 147
This psalm similarly praises God for His control over the weather and His care for the brokenhearted.
Hebrews 12
A New Testament perspective on how God uses discipline and hardship for the benefit of His children.
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