(KJV) Job 321

<< Job 31 Job 33 >>

⥃Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

[1] So these three men ceased to answer2 Job, because he [was] righteous3 in his own eyes. [2] Then was kindled4 the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite5, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because6 he justified himself7 rather than God. [3] Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because8 they had found no answer, and [yet9] had condemned Job. [4] Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken10, because they [were] elder11 than he. [5] When Elihu saw that [there was] no answer in the mouth of [these] three men, then his wrath12 was kindled. [6] And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I [am13] young14, and ye [are15] very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not16 shew you mine opinion. [7] I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.17 [8] But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration18 of the Almighty giveth them understanding. [9] Great19 men are not [always] wise: neither20 do the aged understand judgment. [10] Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.21 [11] Behold, I waited for22 your words; I gave ear to your reasons23, whilst24 ye searched out what to say25. [12] Yea, I attended unto you26, and, behold27, [there was] none of you that convinced Job, [or] that answered his words: [13] Lest28 ye should say, We29 have found out wisdom: God30 thrusteth him down, not man. [14] Now he hath not directed31 [his] words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. [15] They were amazed32, they answered no more: they left off speaking33. [16] When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, [and] answered no more;)34 [17] [I said], I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.35 [18] For I am full of matter36, the spirit37 within me38 constraineth me. [19] Behold, my belly [is] as wine [which] hath no vent39; it is ready to burst like new40 bottles. [20] I will speak41, that I may be refreshed42: I will open43 my lips and answer. [21] Let me not, I pray you, accept44 any man’s person, neither let me give flattering45 titles unto man. [22] For I know not46 to give flattering titles; [in so doing] my maker would soon take me away.

<< Job 31 Job 33 >>


  1. Job 32:1, Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends; Job 32:6, Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth; Job 32:11, He reproves them for not satisfying Job; Job 32:16, His zeal to speak. ↩

  2. Heb. from answering ↩

  3. Job 6:29, Job 10:2, Job 10:7, Job 13:15, Job 23:7, Job 27:4-6, Job 29:11-17, Job 31:1-40, Job 33:9 ↩

  4. Ps 69:9; Mark 3:5; Eph 4:26 ↩

  5. Gen 22:21 ↩

  6. Job 10:3, Job 27:2, Job 34:5-6, Job 34:17-18, Job 35:2, Job 40:8; Luke 10:29 ↩

  7. Heb. his soul ↩

  8. Job 32:1, Job 24:25, Job 25:2-6, Job 26:2-4 ↩

  9. Job 8:6, Job 15:34, Job 22:5-30; Acts 24:5, Acts 24:13 ↩

  10. Heb. expected Job in words, Job 32:11-12; Prov 18:13 ↩

  11. Heb. elder for days ↩

  12. Job 32:2; Exod 32:19 ↩

  13. Lev 19:32; Rom 13:7; 1Tim 5:1; Titus 2:6; 1Pet 5:5 ↩

  14. Heb. few of days ↩

  15. Job 15:10 ↩

  16. Heb. feared, Job 15:7; 1Sam 17:28-30 ↩

  17. Job 8:8-10, Job 12:12; 1Kgs 12:6-8; Ps 34:11-12; Prov 1:1-4, Prov 16:31; Heb 5:12 ↩

  18. Job 4:12-21, Job 33:16, Job 35:11, Job 38:36; Gen 41:39; 1Kgs 3:12, 1Kgs 3:28, 1Kgs 4:29; Prov 2:6; Eccl 2:26; Dan 1:17, Dan 2:21; 1Cor 2:10-12, 1Cor 12:8; 2Tim 3:16; Jas 1:5 ↩

  19. Jer 5:5; Matt 11:25; John 7:48; 1Cor 1:26-27, 1Cor 2:7-8; Jas 2:6-7 ↩

  20. Job 12:20; Eccl 4:13 ↩

  21. 1Cor 7:25, 1Cor 7:40 ↩

  22. Job 32:4, Job 29:21, Job 29:23 ↩

  23. Heb. understandings, Instead of tevoonotheychem, nine manuscripts read techoonotheychem, "your arguments;" but the sense is nearly the same. ↩

  24. Ad tachkeroon millin, "whilst ye were searching for words;" a fine irony, which they must have felt. Job 5:27; Prov 18:17, Prov 28:11; Eccl 12:9-10 ↩

  25. Heb. words ↩

  26. Weadeychem is rendered "and your testimonies," by the Syriac, Arabic, and LXX, and one of De Rossi's manuscripts (874) is so pointed as to require this reading. ↩

  27. Job 32:3; 1Tim 1:7 ↩

  28. Gen 14:23; Judg 7:2; Isa 48:5, Isa 48:7; Zech 12:7 ↩

  29. Job 12:2, Job 15:8-10; Isa 5:21; Jer 9:23; Ezek 28:3; 1Cor 1:19-21, 1Cor 1:27-29; 1Cor 3:18 ↩

  30. Job 1:21, Job 2:10, Job 4:9, Job 6:4, Job 19:6, Job 19:21; John 19:11 ↩

  31. Heb. ordered ↩

  32. Job 6:24-25, Job 29:22; Matt 7:23, Matt 22:22, Matt 22:26, Matt 22:34, Matt 22:46 ↩

  33. Heb. removed speeches from themselves ↩

  34. Job 13:5; Prov 17:28; Amos 5:13; Jas 1:19 ↩

  35. Job 32:10, Job 33:12, Job 35:3-4 ↩

  36. Heb. words ↩

  37. Ps 39:3; Jer 20:9; Ezek 3:14-27; Acts 4:20; 2Cor 5:13-14 ↩

  38. Heb. of my belly ↩

  39. Heb. is not opened ↩

  40. Matt 9:17 ↩

  41. Job 13:13, Job 13:19, Job 20:2, Job 21:3 ↩

  42. Heb. breathe ↩

  43. Prov 8:6-7 ↩

  44. Job 13:8, Job 34:19; Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17, Deut 16:19; Prov 24:23; Matt 22:16 ↩

  45. 2Sam 14:17, 2Sam 14:20; Acts 12:22-23, Acts 24:2-3 ↩

  46. That is, I cannot, Job 17:5; Ps 12:2-3; Prov 29:5; 1Thess 2:5; Gal 1:10 ↩