Job 32, A New Voice

After Job's final defense, a new voice appears. What follows is a six chapter monologue from an angry young man. After that, the book of Job will then end with one Final Voice that ends all dispute.

Job 32:1-5, Young Elihu

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

Now that Job has finished speaking, a young arrogant man, Elihu, wants to speak. He may fear that Job's demand for an answer -- and God's silence -- gives implies that Job has won the argument.

The name "Elihu" (says Hartley) means "He is my God" and is similar to "Elijah" which means "YHWH is my God." The name "Barakel" means "God has blessed." Hartley argues that these names imply that there is One God, consistent with descendants of Abraham.

Job 32:6-9, Yes, I am young

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: 

"I am young in years, 

and you are old; 

that is why I was fearful, 

not daring to tell you what I know. 

I thought, `Age should speak; 

advanced years should teach wisdom.'

But it is the spirit in a man, 

the breath of the Almighty, 

that gives him understanding.

 It is not only the old who are wise, 

not only the aged who understand what is right.

Elihu apologizes for being young ... yet insists he too is wise.

Job 32:10-14, Don't wait for God to speak!

"Therefore I say: Listen to me; 

I too will tell you what I know.

I waited while you spoke, 

I listened to your reasoning; 

while you were searching for words,

I gave you my full attention. 

But not one of you has proved Job wrong;

  none of you has answered his arguments.

Do not say, `We have found wisdom; 

let God refute him, not man.'

 But Job has not marshaled his words against me, 

and I will not answer him with your arguments.

Since God has not answered, Elihu will answer instead. Elihu intends to speak on God's behalf.

Job 32:15-22, Like bottled-up wine

"They are dismayed and have no more to say; 

words have failed them.

Must I wait, now that they are silent,

 now that they stand there with no reply?

I too will have my say; 

I too will tell what I know.

For I am full of words, 

and the spirit within me compels me;

inside I am like bottled-up wine, 

like new wineskins ready to burst.

I must speak and find relief; 

I must open my lips and reply.

I will show partiality to no one, 

nor will I flatter any man;

for if I were skilled in flattery, 

my Maker would soon take me away.

Elihu insists that the Spirit inside him is bursting out, compelling him to speak wisdom. Elihu uses a wine-making metaphor -- as the wine ferments, the wineskin stretches. In the New Testament, Jesus uses the same metaphor in Matthew 9: 17.  

Elihu's speech uses the pronoun "I" throughout. In verse 17, translated by the NIV as "I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know," is literally "I answer, even I -- my share, I shew my opinion -- even I" (Young's Literal Translation); note the occurrence of "I" four times and "my" twice. The author of Job is putting Elihu's arrogance on full display.