13 Lest ye should say, H559 We have found out H4672 wisdom: H2451 God H410 thrusteth him down, H5086 not man. H376
Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Let not the wise H2450 man glory H1984 in his wisdom, H2451 neither let the mighty H1368 man glory H1984 in his might, H1369 let not the rich H6223 man glory H1984 in his riches: H6239
But G235 God G2316 hath chosen G1586 the foolish things G3474 of the world G2889 to G2443 confound G2617 the wise; G4680 and G2532 God G2316 hath chosen G1586 the weak things G772 of the world G2889 to G2443 confound G2617 the things which are mighty; G2478 And G2532 base things G36 of the world, G2889 and G2532 things which are despised, G1848 hath G1586 God G2316 chosen, G1586 yea, and G2532 things which G3588 are G5607 not, G3361 to G2443 bring to nought G2673 things that are: G5607 That G3704 no G3361 G3956 flesh G4561 should glory G2744 in his presence. G1799 G846
For G1063 it is written, G1125 I will destroy G622 the wisdom G4678 of the wise, G4680 and G2532 will bring to nothing G114 the understanding G4907 of the prudent. G4908 Where G4226 is the wise? G4680 where G4226 is the scribe? G1122 where G4226 is the disputer G4804 of this G5127 world? G165 hath G3471 not G3780 God G2316 made foolish G3471 the wisdom G4678 of this G5127 world? G2889 For G1063 after G1894 that in G1722 the wisdom G4678 of God G2316 the world G2889 by G1223 wisdom G4678 knew G1097 not G3756 God, G2316 it pleased G2106 God G2316 by G1223 the foolishness G3472 of preaching G2782 to save G4982 them that believe. G4100
Jesus G2424 answered, G611 Thou couldest have G2192 no G3756 power G1849 at all against G3762 G2596 me, G1700 except G1508 it were G2258 given G1325 thee G4671 from above: G509 therefore G5124 G1223 he that delivered G3860 me G3165 unto thee G4671 hath G2192 the greater G3187 sin. G266
The LORD H3068 also shall save H3467 the tents H168 of Judah H3063 first, H7223 that the glory H8597 of the house H1004 of David H1732 and the glory H8597 of the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 do not magnify H1431 themselves against Judah. H3063
Behold, thou art wiser H2450 than Daniel; H1840 there is no secret H5640 that they can hide H6004 from thee:
I have even from the beginning H227 declared H5046 it to thee; before it came to pass H935 I shewed H8085 it thee: lest thou shouldest say, H559 Mine idol H6090 hath done H6213 them, and my graven image, H6459 and my molten image, H5262 hath commanded H6680 them.
Know H3045 now H645 that God H433 hath overthrown H5791 me, and hath compassed H5362 me with his net. H4686
Hast thou heard H8085 the secret H5475 of God? H433 and dost thou restrain H1639 wisdom H2451 to thyself? What knowest H3045 thou, that we know H3045 not? what understandest H995 thou, which is not in us? With us are both the grayheaded H7867 and very aged H3453 men, much H3524 elder H3117 than thy father. H1
For the arrows H2671 of the Almighty H7706 are within H5978 me, the poison H2534 whereof drinketh up H8354 my spirit: H7307 the terrors H1161 of God H433 do set themselves in array H6186 against me.
By the blast H5397 of God H433 they perish, H6 and by the breath H7307 of his nostrils H639 are they consumed. H3615
And said, H559 Naked H6174 came I out H3318 of my mother's H517 womb, H990 and naked H6174 shall I return H7725 thither: the LORD H3068 gave, H5414 and the LORD H3068 hath taken away; H3947 blessed H1288 be the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 32
Commentary on Job 32 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 32
Job 32:1-37:24. Speech of Elihu.
1-6. Prose (poetry begins with "I am young").
because, &c.—and because they could not prove to him that he was unrighteous.
2. Elihu—meaning "God is Jehovah." In his name and character as messenger between God and Job, he foreshadows Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26).
Barachel—meaning "God blesses." Both names indicate the piety of the family and their separation from idolaters.
Buzite—Buz was son of Nahor, brother of Abraham. Hence was named a region in Arabia-Deserta (Jer 25:23).
Ram—Aram, nephew of Buz. Job was probably of an older generation than Elihu. However, the identity of names does not necessarily prove the identity of persons. The particularity with which Elihu's descent is given, as contrasted with the others, led Lightfoot to infer Elihu was the author of the book. But the reason for particularity was, probably, that Elihu was less known than the three called "friends" of Job; and that it was right for the poet to mark especially him who was mainly to solve the problem of the book.
rather than God—that is, was more eager to vindicate himself than God. In Job 4:17, Job denies that man can be more just than God. Umbreit translates, "Before (in the presence of) God."
3. Though silenced in argument, they held their opinion still.
4. had spoken—Hebrew, "in words," referring rather to his own "words" of reply, which he had long ago ready, but kept back in deference to the seniority of the friends who spoke.
6. was afraid—The root meaning in Hebrew is "to crawl" (De 32:24).
7. Days—that is, the aged (Job 15:10).
8. Elihu claims inspiration, as a divinely commissioned messenger to Job (Job 33:6, 23); and that claim is not contradicted in Job 42:4, 5. Translate: "But the spirit (which God puts) in man, and the inspiration … is that which giveth," &c.; it is not mere "years" which give understanding (Pr 2:6; Joh 20:22).
9. Great—rather, "old" (Job 32:6). So Hebrew, in Ge 25:23. "Greater, less" for the older, the younger.
judgment—what is right.
10. Rather, "I say."
opinion—rather, "knowledge."
11. Therefore Elihu was present from the first.
reasons—literally, "understandings," that is, the meaning intended by words.
whilst—I waited until you should discover a suitable reply to Job.
13. This has been so ordered, "lest you should" pride yourselves on having overcome him by your "wisdom" (Jer 9:23, the great aim of the Book of Job); and that you may see, "God alone can thrust him down," that is, confute him, "not man." So Elihu grounds his confutation, not on the maxims of sages, as the friends did, but on his special commission from God (Job 32:8; 33:4, 6).
14. I am altogether unprejudiced. For it is not I, whom he addressed. "Your speeches" have been influenced by irritation.
15. Here Elihu turns from the friends to Job: and so passes from the second person to the third; a transition frequent in a rebuke (Job 18:3, 4).
they left off—Words were taken from them.
17. my part—for my part.
opinion—knowledge.
18. "I am full of words," whereas the friends have not a word more to say.
the spirit—(Job 32:8; 33:4; Jer 20:9; Ac 18:5).
19. belly—bosom: from which the words of Orientalists in speaking seem to come more than with us; they speak gutturally. "Like (new) wine (in fermentation) without a vent," to work itself off. New wine is kept in new goatskin bottles. This fittingly applies to the young Elihu, as contrasted with the old friends (Mt 9:7).
20. refreshed—literally, "that there may be air to me" (1Sa 16:23).
21. "May I never accept," &c. Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 13:8, 10), wherein he complains that the friends plead for God partially, "accepting His person." Elihu says he will not do so, but will act impartially between God and Job. "And I will not give flattery," &c. (Pr 24:23).
22. take me away—as a punishment (Ps 102:24).