Job33
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1 Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.
2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 If thou canst, answer thou me; Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
6 Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy;
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
14 For God speaketh once, Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, And hide pride from man;
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;
24 Then God is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s; He returneth to the days of his youth.
26 He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27 He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:
28 He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
29 Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, yea thrice, with a man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
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Job 33Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 33. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Elihu offers to reason with Job. (1–7). Elihu blames Job for reflecting upon God. (8–13). God calls men to repentance. (14–18). God sends afflictions for good. (19–28). Elihu entreats Job's attention. (29–33).
vv1-7
Job had desired a judge to decide his appeal. Elihu was one according to his wish, a man like himself. If we would rightly convince men, it must be by reason, not by terror; by fair argument, not by a heavy hand.
vv8-13
Elihu charges Job with reflecting upon the justice and goodness of God. When we hear any thing said to God's dishonour, we ought to bear our testimony against it. Job had represented God as severe in marking what he did amiss. Elihu urges that he had spoken wrong, and that he ought to humble himself before God, and by repentance to unsay it. God is not accountable to us. It is unreasonable for weak, sinful creatures, to strive with a God of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness. He acts with perfect justice, wisdom, and goodness, where we cannot perceive it.
vv14-18
God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers; of all these Elihu discourses. There was not then, that we know of, any Divine revelation in writing, though now it is our principal guide. When God designs men's good, by the convictions and dictates of their own consciences, he opens the heart, as Lydia's, and opens the ears, so that conviction finds or forces its way in. The end and design of these admonitions are to keep men from sin, particularly the sin of pride. While sinners are pursuing evil purposes, and indulging their pride, their souls are hastening to destruction. That which turns men from sin, saves them from hell. What a mercy it is to be under the restraints of an awakened conscience!
Key Words
אוּלָם: however or on the contrary
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
מִלָּה: a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic
אִיּוֹב: Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience
אָזַן: to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
פָּתַח: to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
פֶּה: the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to
לָשׁוֹן: the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)
Cross References
Job 33Elihu acts as the mediator/umpire in God's stead that Job repeatedly wished for.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Elihu promises his hand will not be heavy on Job, answering Job's specific plea.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Alludes directly to the creation of man by God's Spirit and breath of life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elihu quotes Job's complaint that God counts him for His enemy.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elihu quotes Job's exact complaint about putting his feet in stocks and marking paths.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Job's dread of God's rod and terror is answered by Elihu's non-threatening human approach.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Rebukes striving against God, echoing the clay disputing with the one who forms it.
Supported by JFB
Parallel description of a sick man's soul abhorring all manner of dainty meat.
Supported by JFB
Reflects Job's protestations that God knows he is not wicked.
Supported by JFB
Reflects the principle of God speaking 'once, yea twice' to communicate His truths.
Supported by JFB
Echoes Eliphaz's description of night visions when deep sleep falls on men.
Supported by JFB
An ancient historical example of God warning a man in a dream of the night.
Supported by JFB
Elihu repeats his theme of God opening the ear to instruction through discipline.
Supported by JFB
Elihu contrasts God's preventative purpose with Job's broken earthly purposes.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Elihu's reliance on the inspiration of the Almighty rather than mere age.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Job's desire for his adversary to write a book and plead directly.
Supported by JFB
Connects to Job's desire to speak directly to the Almighty and reason with God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the description of severe chastening and lack of rest in the bones.
Supported by JFB
Typological parallel to the 'interpreter' or messenger representing God to man.
Connects the physical palate/mouth to the spiritual discernment of words.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Job's distress of God treating him with hostility and enmity.
Supported by JFB
Directly links to Job's complaint that God numbers and narrowly watches his steps.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates a man's flesh returning fresher than a child's upon recovery.