BIBLE CHAPTER STUDY
Job 32 — Elihu Begins His Reply
Elihu, angry with both Job and his three friends, claims divine inspiration and announces a fresh response.
Scripture
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.
What this passage means
The chapter marks a turning point: the three older men have stopped speaking, and Elihu now enters the discussion. His anger is directed both at Job, whom he accuses of justifying himself rather than God, and at the friends, who could not answer Job and yet condemned him.
Elihu acknowledges that age can teach wisdom, but he rejects the idea that age or status guarantees understanding. He presents his own claim to speak as based on a spirit within and the breath of the Almighty, which gives people understanding.
His announced speech is marked by urgency and independence. He says that he will not flatter anyone, and that his words are driven by an inward pressure; therefore he will answer on his own behalf and present his own opinion.
Context
The chapter records the silence of the three friends and the moment Elihu finally speaks after waiting because of their greater age. No additional surrounding chapter context is provided, so this page confines itself to the events and claims stated in Job 32.
The chapter note identifies this as material backfilled from Job outside the P0/P1 sections; it does not add historical or interpretive claims beyond that description.
Key words in the original
- H2734 The Hebrew entry glosses the repeated verb as burned. In the chapter it describes wrath becoming kindled against Job and his friends.
- H6662 The Hebrew entry glosses the word as righteous. Here it appears in the claim that Job was righteous in his own eyes, the self-assessment Elihu criticizes.
- H6663 The Hebrew entry glosses the word as justified. It identifies Elihu’s complaint that Job justified himself rather than God.
Related verses
- Job 33:4 This reinforces the chapter’s language about the spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty giving understanding and life.
- Proverbs 2:6 The verse’s declaration that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding come from God supports Elihu’s insistence that true insight is not merely a matter of age.
- James 1:5 It offers a parallel to Elihu’s claim that wisdom and understanding come from God rather than from human status alone.
Common questions
Why is Elihu angry with Job?
Elihu is angry because he says Job justified himself rather than God and regarded himself as righteous in his own eyes.
Why is Elihu also angry with Job’s three friends?
He is angry because they found no answer to Job and yet condemned him.
What does Elihu claim gives people understanding?
He says that a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty give people understanding.