Table of Contents
Job 32
Job 32
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.
Notes
Cross Reference
Concordance
Commentary
Rashi
Verse 2
<html><b>Elihu’s Address</b><br><b>of the family of Ram</b> Abraham, as it is stated (Josh. 14:15): “the greatest man among the Anakim.” This is Abraham. <b>than God</b> More than the Omnipresent.</html>
Verse 3
<html><b>and condemned Job</b> This is one of the verses wherein the Scribes rectified the language of the Scripture. “And they condemned,” as directed against the Omnipresent, by remaining silent, should have been written, but Scripture euphemized. Similarly (Num. 11:15), “and do not let me see my misfortune.” It should have been written: “and do not let me see their misfortune,” but Scripture euphemized, and so many [other] instances, in Sifrei (ad loc.) and in the Great Masorah.</html>
Verse 4
<html> <b>because they were older than he in days</b> [i.e.,] the others [were older than he]. Therefore, he refrained until they were still.</html>
Verse 8
<html><b>Indeed, it is a spirit in man</b> Wisdom [is a spirit in man] and [comes] not through days or old age, but it is the spirit of the Omnipresent.</html>
Verse 12
<html><b>Yea, I attended to you</b> I attended to you, and I saw that there is no one to convince Job.</html>
Verse 13
<html><b>Lest you say</b> You shall not say <b>We have found wisdom</b> by remaining silent in order not to provoke him anymore. <b>for God will crush him and not a man</b> You should not have belittled the honor of the Omnipresent thereby.</html>
Verse 14
<html><b>He did not set up words against me</b> This is a plaint: Woe that he did not set up words against me. <b>I would not reply to him with your sayings</b> I would not reply to him with those sayings with which you replied to him.</html>
Verse 15
<html><b>have removed themselves</b> Words have turned away from them.</html>
Verse 19
<html><b>Behold my belly</b> is full of wind, words to answer eagerly. <b>like wine that is not opened</b> Like new wine that is not opened, and which blows up, and even [if it is] within new wineskins, it bursts them. <b>like…wineskins</b> Wineskins made as tall as a man’s height.</html>
Verse 21
<html><b>neither will I euphemize</b> I will not change my words to replace them [with milder expressions] in deference to his [Job’s] honor, as I said above, “And they condemned Job.” This is a euphemism, which changes the expression because of His honor. I will not even do this, but I will reprove him explicitly.</html>
Verse 22
<html><b>or else…would carry me away</b> He would take me away from the world. Others interpret יִשָׂאֵנִי like (Nahum 1:5), “and the land raised up (ותשא) from before me [a pillar of smoke].”</html>