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.
Elihu comes forward, and empresses his disapprobation both of Job and his three friends - with the one for justifying himself; and with the others for taking up the subject in a wrong point of view, and not answering satisfactorily - and makes a becoming apology for himself, vv. 1-22.
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32
Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1; he makes an apology for engaging in this controversy, by reason of his youth, and they being advanced in years, Job 32:6; but since there is a spirit in man, that gives understanding to men of every age, and old men are not always wise, he desires they would hearken to him while he delivered his sentiments on the subject in debate, Job 32:8; and hopes to be heard patiently, since he had waited until they had said all they had to say, and had closely attended to it, and which fell short of convincing Job; and this he was obliged to say, lest they should be wise in their own conceit, and attribute that to men which belongs to God, Job 32:11; he proposes to take a new method with Job, different from theirs; and now they hearing all this from a young man, they were filled with amazement, and struck with silence; and after he had waited a while to observe whether they would say anything or not, he determined to take his turn, and show his opinion also, Job 32:14; and the rather because he was full of arguments, he was desirous to propose them, and was uneasy until he had brought them out; and which he was resolved to do with all impartiality and integrity, Job 32:18.
Fourth Part - The Unravelment - Job 32-42
The Speeches of Elihu which Prepare the Way for the Unravelment - Job 32-37
Historical Introduction to the Section - Job 32:1-6
A short introduction in historical prose, which introduces the speaker and justifies his appearance, opens the section. It is not, like the prologue and epilogue, accented as prose; but, like the introductions to the speeches and the clause, Job 31:40 extra, is taken up in the network of the poetical mode of accentuation, because a change of the mode of accentuation in the middle of the book, and especially in a piece of such small compass, appeared awkward. The opposition of the three has exhausted itself, so that in that respect Job seems to have come forth out the controversy as conqueror.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.