Job 32:1-22

The Speeches of Ellhu

Elihu explains his reasons for intervening in the debate.

2. Elihu] Heb. ’He is my God.’ Buzite] In Genesis 22:21; Buz is closely connected with Uz (RV), which was Job’s country. To the Assyrians Huz and Buz (’Haza’ and ’Baza’) were known as places not far from Edom.

Ram] uncertain. It occurs again in Ruth 4:19; 1 Chronicles 2:9, 1 Chronicles 2:10. He justified himself rather than God] Job, in asserting his own innocence so warmly, had charged God with injustice in treating him, as he thought, as if he were guilty.

3. The friends had not succeeded in refuting Job’s arguments, and they only asserted that he was wicked without proving it.

8. A spirit] a divine impulse which moved him to speak.

13. RV ’Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man.’ The friends must not excuse themselves for their failure on the score that Job was too clever for man to debate with. Job had not yet contended with Elihu, and the latter intended to use different arguments. The author criticises the poet for letting God intervene in the debate.

15. Elihu describes the discomfiture of the friends.

19. Belly] We use ’heart’ in the same way, of the emotions. New bottles] i.e. new wine-skins. If wine was put into new skins before it had finished fermenting it might cause them to burst: cp. Matthew 9:17.

21, 22. Elihu will show no partiality to either side in the remarks he is about to make.

22b. RV ’Else would my Maker soon take me away.’