Job35
New International Version
1Then Elihu said:
2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’
3Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?’
4“I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.
5Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you.
6If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?
8Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.
9“People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.
10But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,
11who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’
12He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.
13Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it.
14How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him,
15and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.
16So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 35.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Elihu speaks of man's conduct. (1–8). Why those who cry out under afflictions are not regarded. (9–13). Elihu reproves Job's impatience. (14–16).
vv1-8
Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us, and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach, either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful that we have better than we deserve.
vv9-13
Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the oppressed against their oppressors. This he knew not how to reconcile the justice of God and his government. Elihu solves the difficulty. Men do not notice the mercies they enjoy in and under their afflictions, nor are thankful for them, therefore they cannot expect that God should deliver them out of affliction. He gives songs in the night; when our condition is dark and melancholy, there is that in God's providence and promise, which is sufficient to support us, and to enable us even to rejoice in tribulation. When we only pore upon our afflictions, and neglect the consolations of God which are treasured up for us, it is just in God to reject our prayers. Even the things that will kill the body, cannot hurt the soul. If we cry to God for the removal of an affliction, and it is not removed, the reason is, not because the Lord's hand is shortened, or his ear heavy; but because we are not sufficiently humbled.
vv14-16
As in prosperity we are ready to think our mountain will never be brought low; so when in adversity, we are ready to think our valley will never be filled up. But to conclude that to-morrow must be as this day, is as absurd as to think that the weather, when either fair or foul, will be always so. When Job looked up to God, he had no reason to speak despairingly. There is a day of judgment, when all that seems amiss will be found to be right, and all that seems dark and difficult will be cleared up and set straight. And if there is Divine wrath in our troubles, it is because we quarrel with God, are fretful, and distrust Divine Providence. This was Job's case. Elihu was directed by God to humble Job, for as to some things he had both opened his mouth in vain, and had multiplied words without knowledge. Let us be admonished, in our afflictions, not so much to set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of the mercy of God.
Key Words
אֱלִיהוּ: Elihu, the name of one of Job's friends, and of three Israelites
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
חָשַׁב: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
מִשְׁפָּט: properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style
צֶדֶק: the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֵל: strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Job 35Elihu refers back to Job's previous claim that there is no profit in pleasing God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Eliphaz's argument that man's righteousness does not benefit or obligate the Almighty.
Supported by JFB
Paul uses the same rhetorical principle: who has first given to God to be recompensed?
Supported by Matthew Poole
The supreme historical example of God literally giving 'songs in the night' during dark afflictions.
Supported by JFB
Anticipates Yahweh's opening rebuke that Job darkens counsel by words without knowledge.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms that human sins do not provoke or harm God, but hurt the sinners themselves.
Supported by JFB
Directly references Job's prior complaint that God ignores the groans of the oppressed.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Psalmist similarly rejoices in God's lovingkindness as a song in the night.
Supported by JFB
Parallels Job's own earlier admission that God will not hear the cry of the hypocrite.
Supported by JFB
Identifies Job's 'companions' as those who walk with wicked men in their complaints.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Like Eliphaz, Elihu uses the height of the stars and heavens to show God's transcendence.
Supported by JFB
Rebukes the oppressed for forgetting their Maker, the Creator of the heavens.
Supported by JFB
He who sins against divine wisdom wrongs his own soul, not God.
Supported by JFB
Christ teaches that even perfect obedience renders us unprofitable servants, giving nothing to God.
Supported by JFB
Addresses Job's complaint that he cries to God but God does not regard him.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the previous chapter's conclusion that Job speaks without knowledge and multiplies words.
Supported by Matthew Poole