Job33
New Living Translation
1 “Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.
2 Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.
3 I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.
4 For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.
6 Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.
7 So you don’t need to be afraid of me. I won’t come down hard on you.
8 “You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.
9 You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.
10 God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.’
12 “But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.
13 So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?
14 For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.
15 He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.
16 He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.
17 He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.
18 He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.
19 “Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.
20 They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.
21 Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.
22 They are at death’s door; the angels of death wait for them.
23 “But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—
24 he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’
25 Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again.
26 When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.
27 He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.
28 God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.’
29 “Yes, God does these things again and again for people.
30 He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.
31 Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.
32 But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.
33 But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you 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.
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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.