Job 32: The Young Man Speaks
Elihu, who held back out of respect for his elders, can no longer keep silent, angry at Job's self-justification and at the friends' failure to answer.
Job 32 (WEB)
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then 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.
3 Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
7 I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 It is not the great who are wise, nor the aged who understand justice.
10 Therefore I said, ‘Listen to me; I also will show my opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words, and I listened for your reasoning, while you searched out what to say.
12 Yes, I gave you my full attention, but there was no one who convinced Job, or who answered his words, among you.
13 Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom, God may refute him, not man;’
14 for he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 “They are amazed. They answer no more. They don’t have a word to say.
16 Shall I wait, because they don’t speak, because they stand still, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer my part, and I also will show my opinion.
18 For I am full of words. The spirit within me constrains me.
19 Behold, my breast is as wine which has no vent; like new wineskins it is ready to burst.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed. I will open my lips and answer.
21 Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.
22 For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.
Job 32 (KJV)
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
Job 32 (ASV)
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then 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.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.
5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
6 And 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.
7 I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.
13 Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:
14 For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.
16 And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?
17 I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion.
18 For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; Elsewould my Maker soon take me away.
Summary
The three friends fall silent at last, because Job was righteous in his own eyes and they could no longer answer him. Then a new voice enters: Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, whose anger is kindled on two fronts. He is angry at Job for justifying himself rather than God, and angry at the three friends for condemning Job while finding no real answer. Elihu explains that he held back out of deference, assuming that age and length of days should speak wisdom. Yet he has come to see that it is the Spirit in a person and the breath of the Almighty that gives understanding, not mere years; the great are not always wise, nor the aged always just. Having waited and listened carefully, he found no one who truly refuted Job, and he warns the friends not to claim they have found wisdom that only God could supply. Now he says he is full of words, his spirit within him like new wineskins ready to burst, and he must speak to find relief. He promises to show no partiality and to flatter no one, for his Maker would soon take him away if he dealt in flattery. The chapter introduces a fresh perspective that prepares the way, however imperfectly, for the voice of God himself.
Voices
- Elihu — A younger man, son of Barachel the Buzite, whose anger at both Job and the friends finally moves him to speak.
- Job — The sufferer whom Elihu charges with justifying himself rather than God.
- The three friends — Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, now silenced, whom Elihu rebukes for condemning Job without a true answer.
Key Verse
Job 32:8 (WEB)
But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
Lessons Learned
- Wisdom is a gift of God's Spirit and breath, not the automatic possession of the old or powerful.
- There is a right time to defer to elders and a right time to speak the truth in love.
- Justifying ourselves rather than God turns suffering into a contest we cannot win.
- Honest speech that refuses flattery serves people better than comfortable agreement.
- Understanding comes from God, not merely from age. “There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding” (Job 32:8, WEB). True insight is a gift, not an entitlement of years.
- Self-justification provokes God. Elihu's wrath was kindled because Job “justified himself rather than God” (Job 32:2, WEB); defending our own innocence at God's expense is a dangerous turn.
- Truth refuses flattery. Elihu vows, “neither will I give flattering titles to any man” (Job 32:21, WEB); loving others well sometimes means telling them what they would rather not hear.
- Silence is not always wisdom. When the friends had “no answer” (Job 32:3, WEB), Elihu felt he had to speak; there are moments when keeping quiet abandons the truth.
- Why does Elihu wait so long before he speaks, and what finally moves him to break his silence?
- What are the two reasons Elihu's anger is kindled?
- How does Elihu's claim that understanding comes from the Spirit challenge the assumption that age equals wisdom?
- Why does Elihu insist that he will not flatter anyone?
- When have you wrestled between staying quiet out of deference and speaking up for the truth, and how did you discern the right course?
- Elihu held back because the others were older, assuming days should speak wisdom (32:4, 6-7). He finally speaks because no one has answered Job and he feels he will burst if he stays silent (32:18-20).
- He is angry at Job for justifying himself rather than God, and at the three friends for condemning Job while failing to refute him (32:2-3). Both errors trouble him deeply.
- Elihu insists that the Spirit and breath of the Almighty give understanding, so the great and aged are not automatically wise (32:8-9). This humbles every claim to authority based on status alone.
- Elihu fears that flattery would offend his Maker, who might soon take him away (32:21-22). He believes honest speech honors God more than smooth words that please people.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to weigh humility and courage together. As leader, affirm both the patience that listens first and the love that finally speaks needed truth without flattery.