Job 32 is the 32nd chapter of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.[1] The book is anonymous; most scholars believe it was written around 6th century BCE. This chapter records the speech of Elihu, which belongs to the "Verdicts" section of the book, comprising Job 32:1–42:6.
The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 22 verses.
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008). Fragments containing parts of this chapter in Hebrew were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls including 4Q99 (4QJob; 175–60 BCE) with extant verses 3–4.[2] [3]
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B;
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The structure of the book is as follows:
Within the structure, chapter 32 is grouped into the Verdict section with the following outline:
The section containing Elihu's speeches serves as a bridge between the Dialogue (chapters 3–31) and the speeches of YHWH (chapters 38–41). There is an introduction in the prose form (Job 32:1–5), describing Elihu's identity and circumstances that cause him to speak (starting in Job 32:6). The whole speech section can be formally divided into four monologues, each starting with a similar formula (Job 32:6; 34:1; 35:1; 36:1). Elihu's first monologue is preceded by an apologia (justification) for speaking (Job 32:6–22) and a transitionary part which introduces Elihu's main arguments (Job 33:1–7) before the speech formally commences (Job 33:8–33). In the first three speeches Elihu cites and then disputes specific Job's charges in the preceding dialogue:
| Job's charges | Elihu's response | |
|---|---|---|
| Job 33:8–11 | Job 33:12–30 | |
| Job 34:5–9 | Job 34:10–33 | |
| Job 35:2–3 | Job 35:4–13 |
The section starts by stating the breakdown of the Dialogue, that Job's three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) cease to answer Job (verse 1) and this gives an opportunity for another person, Elihu, to come forward to speak (verse 2). Elihu is described as 'angry' (repeated four times in verses 2 (twice), 3 and 5), first to Job, because Job justified himself rather than God (verse 2), then to the three friends for not providing a (legal) "answer" to Job yet condemning Job (verse 3), and then while waiting for his turn to speak, Elihu is forced by this great anger to give responses to Job (verses 4–5).
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.[4]
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.[7]
This section records Elihu's speech in a form of apologia or justification for his boldness to speak out. At first, Elihu refrains from speaking in the presence of his elders, due to his timidity (verse 6) and his initial belief that wisdom is learned over time (verse 7). However, he is now compelled to speak after realizing that the source of wisdom is not old age but God alone ("the breath of the Almighty") and this gift can be given by God to anyone, including Elihu who is younger than Job and the three friends (verses 8–10, 18). Because of the "spirit" or "wind" (presumably from God) in him, Elihu 'needs' to speak (instead of 'ought' to speak) to find relief (verse 19–20), but he will be impartial (not 'giving any preferential treatment', literally "lift up the face of a person" in verse 21) as he believes that he is accountable before God (verse 22).
[Elihu said:] "But there is a spirit in man,
and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding."[10]
. Michael D. Coogan . The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 . Coogan . Michael David . Marc Zvi . Brettler . Carol Ann . Newsom . Pheme . Perkins . Augmented 3rd . Oxford University Press . 2007 . 9780195288810 .
. Henry Hampton Halley. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary . 24th (revised). Zondervan Publishing House . 1965 . 0-310-25720-4.