The Verses

“Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God.
And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job.

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he.
But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of the three men, his anger burned.
So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,

“I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.
I thought age should speak,
And increased years should teach wisdom.
But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
The abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.

So I say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell what I think.’
Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you pondered what to say.
I also paid close attention to you;
But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.

So do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God will defeat him, not man.’
But he has not directed his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have failed them.
And I have waited, because they did not speak,
Because they stopped and did not respond any longer.

So I too will give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.

Let me be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.”

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Context and Meaning

In Job 32, a new character, Elihu, enters the discussion. He has been silent until now, waiting for Job’s older friends to refute him. However, when they fail, Elihu becomes angry—at both Job (for justifying himself before God) and his three friends (for condemning Job without proving him wrong).

Key Themes:

1. Frustration with Job and His Friends: Elihu is angry at Job for claiming innocence before God and angry at Job’s friends for failing to give a convincing response (v. 1-5).
2. Youth vs. Wisdom: Elihu initially hesitated to speak because he was younger, believing that age should bring wisdom—but he now sees that true wisdom comes from God (v. 6-10).
3. Elihu’s Justification for Speaking: He claims he is full of words, like a wineskin about to burst, and must now offer his own perspective (v. 18-20).
4. A Commitment to Truth: Elihu insists that he will not flatter or show partiality—he is determined to speak what he believes is right (v. 21-22).

Unlike Job’s other friends, Elihu claims to offer a different perspective—one that neither condemns Job outright nor fails to answer him.

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Reflection and Impact

Elihu’s speech introduces a new and intriguing dynamic:

• Wisdom Comes from God, Not Age: Elihu recognizes that experience alone does not equal wisdom—true understanding comes from God (James 1:5).
• A Passion for Justice Can Be Good, But Dangerous: While Elihu’s zeal for truth is admirable, his passion may also cloud his judgment.
• There is a Place for Righteous Anger: Elihu is frustrated because he sees mistakes on both sides—Job’s self-defense and his friends’ weak arguments. This reminds us that anger at injustice can be appropriate, but must be handled wisely (Ephesians 4:26).

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Application

• Seek Wisdom from God, Not Just Experience: While learning from elders is valuable, true wisdom comes from God’s Spirit (Proverbs 2:6).
• Be Careful with Righteous Anger: It is good to stand for truth, but anger must be directed with humility and patience (James 1:19-20).
• Avoid Empty Arguments: Like Elihu, we should not speak just to argue, but should seek to understand and answer wisely (Colossians 4:6).

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Closing Thought

Elihu enters the conversation with passion and boldness, claiming to offer a fresh perspective. His words remind us that wisdom is from God, not just age, and that zeal for truth must be guided by humility and discernment. As we move forward, we will see whether Elihu truly brings wisdom—or simply adds to the debate.