At a recent pastor’s conference on the book of Job, a leader asked the attendees whether the speeches of Elihu (Job 32-37) should be trusted, like God’s (Job 38-41), or discarded, like those of Job’s three friends (Job 4-5, 8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25). The show of hands was evenly divided. I couldn’t believe my eyes; every attendee was fully committed to studying and explaining God’s word carefully, and yet there was a widespread and fundamental disagreement on how to read a significant part of the book of Job.
Have you wondered how to read Elihu? Can we get to the bottom of the mystery?
Let Me Introduce Elihu
Anirban Ray (2013), Creative Commons
He pops on the scene out of nowhere: “Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger” (Job 32:2). He speaks a few times and then vanishes. God clearly vindicates Job and condemns Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (Job 42:7-8), but he says nothing about Elihu.
Casual readers of Job barely notice Elihu. If they have the guts not to skip from chapter 2 to chapter 38, their eyes glaze over long before they meet Elihu in chapter 32. They sink in a bog of poetry; words swirl together into an indistinguishable mire, and Elihu comes and goes while readers are still gasping for air. Some don’t realize he’s not one of the “three friends.”
In addition, we’re clearly told that Elihu is young (Job 32:4, 6), raving mad (Job 32:2, 3, 5 – four times!), and full of criticism for Job (Job 33:12, 34:7-8, 34:35-37, etc.). Yet God clearly claims that Job has “spoken of me what is right” (Job 42:7-8). What’s all the fuss? This case should be closed.
Why Elihu is Just Like the Other Three
Here is the main challenge: Elihu draws the same conclusion as Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. That’s why many interpreters think Elihu is just like them.
Eliphaz: “Job has sinned” (Job 4:7, 15:4-6, 22:5).
Bildad: “Job has sinned” (Job 8:5-6, 18:4).
Zophar: “Job has sinned” (Job 11:6, 20:29).
Elihu: “Job has sinned” (Job 34:7, 37; 35:16).
Of course, the reader knows Job has not sinned: “There is none like [Job] on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8, 2:3). But Elihu charges him with sin, just as the other three do. What’s all the fuss? This case should be closed.
Why Elihu is Just Like God
Though God clears Job of all charges (Job 42:7-8), notice that his declaration comes after Job repents in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Before this repentance, God calls Job a faultfinder (Job 40:2) who speaks without knowledge (Job 38:2) and puts God in the wrong (Job 40:8).
Elihu also desires to justify Job of all charges (Job 33:32). He accuses Job of finding fault with God (Job 33:9-11), speaking without knowledge (Job 34:35), and putting God in the wrong (Job 34:5-6, 36:23).
Why Elihu is Not Like the Other Three
Though their conclusion is the same, their arguments are completely different. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar perpetually argue: “Before you began suffering, you must have sinned.” Elihu’s case is different: “Since you began suffering, you have sinned.” The three concern themselves with Job’s hidden conduct; Elihu concerns himself with Job’s present speech.
We can see the difference in the evidence they bring. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have no evidence, only presumption, though Job begs them for the merest shred (Job 6:28-30). Elihu, however, constantly brings specific evidence to support his charges: “You say…You say…You say…You say…” (Job 33:8-11, 33:13, 34:5-6, 35:2-3, 36:23).
The poet signals a difference in the number of speeches and responses he gives to each character. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar get no more than three speeches apiece, with the speeches growing shorter as the book progresses. Elihu gets four speeches. Job refutes every speech of the three with eight speeches of his own; Job never responds to Elihu’s speeches, though Elihu asks for a response (Job 33:32-33).
Elihu himself distances himself from the other three. Furious at the stalemate and their inability to answer Job, Elihu promises he has something new to say: “[Job] has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches” (Job 32:14). The poet likewise distances Elihu from the other three. In one of the few narrative and evaluative statements of the book, he declares that Elihu “burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong” (Job 32:3).
Conclusion
Confusion abounds over Elihu because he sounds like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, drawing the same conclusion: Job has sinned. But as we penetrate the poetry, we see that what Elihu means by his conclusion is not what they mean by it. His four speeches ring with incredible truth desperately needed by any innocent sufferer:
- God has not been silent; he speaks through your pain (Job 32-33).
- God is not unjust; he will eventually strike the wicked (Job 34).
- Righteous living is not pointless, though we are insignificant next to God (Job 35).
- You’re in no place to criticize God; remember to fear him (Job 36-37).
And God reinforces Elihu’s fourth point with some of his most aggressive and fear-inducing words in all the Bible (Job 38-41). May we all repent of justifying ourselves and remember to fear him.
Elihu was the mouth piece of God an oracle of Heaven. Yet he was overlooked and associated with the “three friends of Job”, who by the way were clearly jealous of job and always wanted to find an accusation against him. On there way to see Job they had already made up in their minds and hearts judgment against him. They were not compassionate whatsoever and couldn’t wait to crush a man already in pain and agony. Now that I got that out, lets refocus on Elihu the youngest in the group (I call my Brother in Christ Elihu). As a custom the youngest always went last an the eldest go first out of respect. But isn’t it amazing how everyone else elder to him spoke against Job because of the true evil in themselves. He spoke more wisely than the three put together because he depended on God for the Word Job needed not from a place of freshly feelings emotions and accusations. God always has a ram in the bush and Elihu my Brothers and Sisters was that R.A.M(Righteousness Always Manisfest). God will always have someone that will pray for you against the nay sayers. Job “three friends” were joined together in tag teaming Job because misery needs freshly company. But Truth walks alone because of Love Honesty and Integrity. Truth never needs back up, it’s a solid foundation all on its own. Jesus says on this Rock(Himself) I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Where two or three are gathered in His Name, God is in the midst. He was always there looking at the heart of all five of the men. Coming toward the later part of the chapter Elihu spoke and Job could not answer him because he recognized the voice of God in Him and through him. Finally when God Himself spoke to Job, Job Repented and turned away from all that he had said. He came to his senses quickly and realized that God is Almighty and Powerful and he was a mere mortal that got besides himself. God was his Everything and Creator of All things Natural and Spiritual. Men can never be God so we need to humble ourselves and Honor God as God. As for the three so called friends of Job they ended up in so much trouble with God that Job had to make a sacrifice for them so God’s anger would be turned away. Job had became their intercessor and showed them more Love and Mercy that they didn’t show him. The Moral is when you see your Brother or Sister in a fault before we go flesh like the three friends of Job lets go Spirit like Elihu. Let God use us to Pray Intercede and show the Love of Christ because we never know if we are caught in a situation and need an Elihu a Ram in the Bush.
Jesus Loves you
Sister Roslyn Joseph
God ignored Elihu in the final analysis, as God was making clear what he thought of everybody else, major, in this book. We should do as God did, and ignore Elihu.
God does not ignore anyone. He creates them, knitting them together in their mothers womb and making them for a purpose. He sovereignly placed Elihu at the scene just like he did everyone else present and allowed his words to be recorded in divinely inspired scripture. He was not ignored in the “final analysis”, he was simply not condemned when God makes his judgement call in the end.
Excellent points which mirrored my own thoughts on the topic of Elihu. If only were more like him, not rushing to judgement, but rather, sit back observe and with measured words which factually reflect a given situation. Holding back opinion, which is never a constructive way forward, just stating facts, and letting the hearer reflect in their own heart and Spirit.
To: Rachel . THANKS much for your post here. Elihu was made in God’s Likeness (sonship because Love breathed into that earthen vessel which Love sustains for His Praise). Elihu LIVING IN THAT CONSCIOUSNESS was then able to correct Iyov, and by that same SPIRIT from Elihu, Iyov came to that same consciousness (repentance, internal realization and acknowledgment).
We need to be aware of HOW FAR WE ARE from what God has called us to in 1Cor 11. Church Leaders should be repentant, child-like and with a life that “trembles” at God’s Word (Isaiah 66v1-2). AMONG MANY OTHER EVILS, Majority of Church Leaders began rejecting 1Cor 11 (HEADCOVERING INSTRUCTIONS) only in the last 100 yrs in Church History . I encourage you to visit the home page of my website where i have some historical documentation and images concerning Early Church and 1Cor 11 . GraceTruth7,org
I agree. Elihu was the mouthpiece of God. He prepared the way for God to speak in chapter 38. I like this article so much. Well explained. Case closed.
The author does not ignore Elihu. He speaks for six chapters. Is so much written for no purpose.
Nothing in The Bible should be ignored.
This is deep
Agreed.
A lot to pray about in your words here. The thing I noticed as well, is that the Lord only told the three friends and not Elihu to make a sacrifice and have Job pray for them.
So true! God never ignores anyone and Elihu is the ram. Thanks for your perspective!
I believe You missed the point. The reason Elihu is not mentioned is the principle of the younger not speaking to an elder. In the 21st Century lack of submission is why we end up with such analytical writings like this. God will not tolerate disrespect and it’s obvious that Elihu’s perspective of God is without experience of longevity.
That’s why there is no reference of him later. God does not honor anyone who will not submit.
That’s a clear principle throughout the whole Bible.
God help this younger generation to find the path of humility and submission as we reach to you for eternity.
That’s my prayer after 60 years of life in more than 59 countries and 30 years of dealing with churches and people across the world.
God help us all.
In Jesus name
I agree with you 🙏🏼
Then why mention Elihu at all?
If that were true, why didn’t God rebuke along with the other three?
If that is your logic, Thomas, then why doesn’t God affirm Elihu either? Two sides of the same coin, man. This question proves nothing about Elihu.
Agreed. It’s funny how some people are convinced Job is prideful when it is abundantly clear that Elihu is prideful. Why do some people get it completely backwards? Job submits to God repeatedly in this story, even in the midst of his questions (you find this other places in Scripture, for example, in Psalms). Yet Elihu claims that none of his words are false and the someone who is perfect in knowledge is with them (Job 36:4). And the argument that Elihu is right simply because God does not rebuke him like the 3 friends is a weak argument at best. Someone else could argue that Elihu is wrong because God does not affirm him either.
Right on, Rose!
And God does mention Elihu afterwards. All of Job‘s relatives came and comforted him-of which Elihu was one. Job did repent, because he had spoke wrongly about Himself – he was self-righteous (pride) Chp31. God was angrier with his 3 friends, though, since they claimed God was punishing Job. That was a lie. Job spoke falsely about himself, God says he is a righteous man, but not without sin. And he repented 40:4, 42:6
Elihu was not called to repent, because he said nothing wrong.
We can embrace Elihu as he clearly points Job back to God.
How do you know that Elihu is included in the group that visited Job after the suffering was over? Is Job of the family of Ram? How do you know that Elihu ever had eaten bread in the house of Job before?
Interesting that Elihu is only mentioned at the end of these discourses, but he had witnessed Job’s conversations with his 3 friends. He gets a lot of space toward the end of Job.
His family line is probably as follows:
Abraham’s brother was Nahor. Nahor had Uz, Buz, Kemuel the father of Aram (Ram) and others. Elihu was the son of Barachel, who was descended from Buz. Hence of the family of Ram.
Gen 22:21
Awesome Rose!! Thank you so much for breaking this down!
Rosalyn,
You inspired me to go back and read Elihu’s chapters again. I have a new respect for him. Thank you.
Linda
At first place..i thought elihu was jus like the other..i hated him
Rose! Wow, assessment well done. I love your “God always has a Ram in the Bush” metaphor. I need to keep that close to my heart till that Glorious day.
Hi Rose.
I can’t agree that Job’s 3 friends were without sympathy and out to crush the poor man.
Job 2:11-13 describes their distress at his suffering, and they sat with Job 7 days and 7 nights without speaking. Sounds like a ton a compassion to me.
Friends who sit with you in silence for that long are true friends indeed.
They of course later got very out of line in their analysis of why Job was suffering, and later on God rebuked them sternly.
But I believe their motive was compassion and despair at his degree of suffering. They were trying to make human logic of it and coming up without answers.
Agreed, David. They began with good intentions, but grew increasingly frustrated when their logic of why Job was suffering did not work. Their anger grows as Job does not capitulate with their reasoning – because, of course, Job was right. He was correct in not agreeing with them.
Thank you for your thoughts. Always wondered about Elihu. Thought maybe he was an angel. So many of us blame God for not stopping our messes in time or fixing them. Going deeper into the Father’s arms rather than fighting the hordes alone is the key maybe?
Elihu was the prophet of God. the Spirit of God was upon him. He spoke the words of God to Job. Even in the whirlwind Elihu was probably speaking the words of God to Job.
Hey Seth – did you notice that Elihu is the only one who affirms Elihu? He testifies to himself with nobody else overtly affirming him. Do you see that? God affirms Job TWICE in chapters 1 & 2, and then God affirms Job TWICE again at the end of the story in chapter 42. Where is God’s affirmation of Elihu? Where does God say Elihu has spoken correctly about Him (God) as God says about Job (chapter 42:7,8)?
wow! beautiful.
Rose says: On there way to see Job they had already made up in their minds and hearts judgment against him. They were not compassionate whatsoever and couldn’t wait to crush a man already in pain and agony.
Rose: where do you read this in the text? We only know of their arrival on the scene. It says nothing about their journey to Job. Also, when they arrive, we read that they lamented with Job in dust and ashes for a week. They began with sympathy. You seem to be inventing things out of your own imagination.
Yes, the 3 friends are hostile adversaries to Job. This is clear. But they do not begin to question Job until AFTER they lament with him, and it is after Job delivers his speech cursing the day of his birth (chapter 3). Your analysis seems to be rushed and skips over important details.
Very good article. Enjoyed it, and fully agree.
I love how he was angry because Job didn’t justify God. Nor did Job give God glory. Him being angry because the older weren’t able to help Job. It reminds me of how people hold God so responsible for everything that happens and they even try to use the boom of Job to justify themselves. But in the book of Job, God never rebuked Elihu, no sacrifice was commanded by God to be offered because of Gods anger being kindled, only against Jobs three friends. However, a lot of people who try and use the book of Job to justify their accusation of God haven’t really read through it.
The thing that stood out to me most was that Alihu argued that Job’s works did not have the power to justify Him but that only God’s love did. While the other 3 kept saying that it was his works that condemned him therefore giving the power to justify him as well.
This is an excellent point you are making.
I feel like a piece is missing. I personally think Elihu was God manifesting as a man. Job says he has seen god now. But to look on God in his glory is to die so he couldn’t be seeing God as the spiritual entity he is. Also Elihu is no longer mentioned after God is finished speaking. I think this book is missing a vital piece. If God only spoke through the whirlwind then Job would have said “I hear you now”. Job saw something and Elihu made an argument that was right to God which leads me to believe he must’ve been God for man cannot understand the mind of God. I may be grasping at straws but the most likely scenario is that a few verses are lost in the annals of the oral tradition which gave us the book. If Elihu was wrong then he would’ve needed to make a sacrifice as well. Since he wasn’t made to do so that means Elihu was right. In those days Job was the most upright man in creation so to think that Job would be wrong and a younger man named Elihu was right means Elihu was not an ordinary man. Whether angel or God masquerading as man there is more to this than what we have.
I thought the same, that Elihu is either an angel or God himself. I was surprised in reading this book again, waiting for the wisdom of God’s speaking starting in chapter 38. But what I see was not God explaining himself to Job or rationalizing his suffering, but rather very forceful demonstrations of God’s omnipotence. The edification regarding God’s nature comes from Elihu who’s words about God’s power are expanded upon by God. But upon reading Elihu’s words I now believe he was just a man prophesying.
Thank you Charles. After reading and studying with prayer several times over the years. I agree. I think Elihu may be a Old Testament appearance of Jesus, as in Joshua 5:14 as the Commander of the Lords army and also in Genesis 18:1-15 where He appears with two angels on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. I also lean to the opinion that Elihu may have written Job, but that is only an insecure opinion.
I actually think there is possibility that Elihu may be sent of the devil. Which is why is is able to speak so boldly about the nature of God. The Devil knows God and would be able to pervert that knowledge while sounding righteous. Elihu wrongly calls Job a sinner contradicting what God says.
The others three friends may have been rebuked so that they could repent. While Elihu never has that opportunity.
I’m definitely open to correction just another prospective.
Maurice, Elihu acknowledged Job a sinner just as God did, but his heart was to see him justified . Job was a sinner, but he repented at God’s words, but his three friends stubbornly did not. We are all sinners even though saved by grace and righteous in Christ.
All of us are flawed human beings. And we can usually see faults in others before we see them in us. Nonetheless a Christian acting in love as an accountability partner can be of help as long as both parties are not going to judge one another – only God can judge. But we would not be acting in love if we failed to voice our observation of something that may not be right.
I totally agree with J Worcester, Elihu comes and disappears mysteriously. He must have been one of God’s Angels(Raphael??). He corrected Job and dissapeared then Job repented.
What makes you think that Elihu if an angel were younger than Eliphaz? And Elihu’s family is mentioned at the start of his oration. I think the family references there exclude an angel interpretation.
Years of deep study has left me with fearful questions regarding the “enigma”named,’Elihu’.Even so far as thoughts of manifestation of ……{dare I say},, The Lord. Thank you for the thoughts shared,was so fearful of blasphemy.
The simple fact that Elihu is presented as the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, leads me to the conclusion that he is a simple man.
Alain is on the right track here. Good exegesis first reads the original text and relies on the information there, before trying to posit supernatural images. There are many theologians offering guesses.
Genesis 22:21 is probably the best connection between Ram [Aram] and Buz, the second son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham.. At least the record in Job 32:2 has those details.
Exactly what I was thinking. No angels are presented with human lineage. This was a MAN, known to the other men there. He is mysterious, but he is not God.
Jesus came from the line of David. Human descendants.
Except that His Father was/is God.
Perhaps he was as Melchizedek, a king and priest of righteousness and peace, as a man.
But Elihu explained that age does not necessarily bring wisdom but it is the spirit of a man that the breath of the Almighty breathes on which gives the man understanding.
Job 32:7-8
All humans have spirit of man in them. So that would give Elihu no advantage in wisdom over Eliphaz.
I agree..I too think Elihu speaking in chapters 32-37 was a type of Christ. The name in Hebrew means..my God is He.
Look at 32:18&19..then 33:3 & 4..’My words come from an upright heart; My lips utter pure knowledge. The Spirit of God has made me..’ & vs 6..’Truely I am your spokesman before God..’ Only Jesus could say such things..& the test of the chapter..who can talk such things of God but Him.
Verse 32 & 33-‘…speak for I desire to justify you. …Hold your peace & I will teach you wisdom’. Jesus is our justified.. He is wisdom. Only He can speak such things..look at 36: 3& 4-‘I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to My maker. For truely my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you’. Then to speak such knowledge of God Only One who knows Him or who is of Him could know. Chapter 37 ends with Elihu speaking & goes straight into 38 with..’Then the Lord answered Job..’
How could any man be “prefect in knowledge”? Isn’t that a phony boast?
To me , the three friends represent Satan ; the accuser of the brethren . Elihu in the other hand , a form of Christ came to mend our relationship with God , by pointing out where we haven fallen short and lead us (Job) to repentance . The three friends accused Job of sinning before the suffering . Elihu pointed out Job’s sins in the suffering by all the wrong statements he made against God .
To those who are like the three friends in the world , when people are hurting , they need comfort and not sermons . Show love and compassion . 🙏🏽
You’re making a LOT of leaps here. Elihu was presented as ” Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram” He was a man with human lineage. Further, your error seems to have affirmed other people’s misguided assessments. You should pray on that.
I went looking for the last thing Job said before the Lord responds to him (basically “What have I done?”) but I found Elihu speaking for several chapters before the Lord responds to Job.
Interesting: Elihu points out being a human., ch 33, vs 6, “I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.” As with everything else in scripture, Elihu likely points to Jesus.
On the other hand ,I believe Elihu attended that council meeting too(if you have stood in my council,you would have known my counsel) .I strongly believe Elihu authored the book of Job.He sounded more like someone who knows the true narrative of the events .
YHWH speaking through the whirlwind is a merkabah revelation in disguised language. See Ezekiel 1 for the clearest depiction of this. It’s the same reason why Paul is only clearly described as hearing a voice and seeing a light yet is credited with having seen Yeshua resurrected. The “light” is the glory of YHWH (Ezekiel 1) whom Yeshua revealed himself to be during the Transfiguration.
Yes, maybe . Even I thought about it.
mmmhh!!!!?
The Hebrew meaning of the name Elihu = my GOD is HE.
BUT I thing there is more about ELIHU!
Although the Bible CLEARLY states his genealogy twice (Job 32:2 & 6) as if the Holy Spirit through the author wants to make sure we do nót associate Elihu with God or a spiritual being (as is the case with Melgisédek (Gen 14:18> Hebrews 7:1-28)
Elihu was furious after he listened to Job and his friends and GOD spoke out of a storm! (Job 38:1 / 40:1)
Also the “would that Job were tried to the end, for he speaks like wicked men” it literally shows an intimate knowledge of what is going on spiritually. Only God and his adversary knew that Job was being tried. The rest believed he was being punished. Even Job believed that. So how does Elihu know that it is a trial.
Good point!
Hello.
Those lines made my flesh crawl. (Not yours, friend. Elihu’s.) It made me bristle.
There was only one person in the mix who desired Job continue in his severe afflictions, and it wasn’t JEHOVAH. If it were, JEHOVAH wouldn’t have spoken to him, would HE?
The one person? The one who caused the trouble from the get-go, who knew about the trials, and who forced GOD’s Hand with legalisms: Satan.
Job wasn’t perfect. He also lost everything, including his wife. Oh, she was alive, all right. But when she encouraged him to “curse God and die,” Job lost her. So he lost his whole family, servants, animals. And his health. The boils were “sore.” Pain all over his body. No antibiotics back then.
No. Job didn’t say everything right. He needed correcting. He needed PERSPECTIVE. But he didn’t need flogging; he was already there. Friends don’t kick you when you’re down. They don’t beat you up if you speak out of distress and oppression. Elihu could have driven home the point without calling down evil on him. Did GOD wish that on him? Therefore, it wasn’t from GOD.
And if you read on, GOD’s reproof was far gentler than some make it out to be. HE didn’t once make Job feel bad about himself: only bad about his speaking wrong and without understanding. Not once did he say Job was wicked. Only that he failed to see the whole picture before opening his mouth before his CREATOR. If that isn’t cool, I don’t know what is. HE drove home the point without kicking the man when he was down.
GREAT example for us, isn’t it?
I do agree that God’s reproof was gentle. In fact I see no reproof, only a strong statement pointing to Job’s ignorance. Job was not on the same plane as God when it came to understanding and knowledge. That is what God’s whole speech is about, not that Job was necessarily wrong. But that he was too ignorant and uninformed to say anything in God’s presence.
very true.
As Job already had so many children when the was attacked by satan, & since he had so many after the suffering, & since his wife really looks bad; it is my guess that Job lost the old battleaxe & got a new young woman wife for his new batch of children. So it is my guess that his wife died.
Job’s wife was not kind at all. She pressed him when he was down and needed her strength for support, but again we are told to forgive right?
Therefore Job as a just man must have forgiven the woman and carried on with her as his wife.
I think that is the only logical outcome given the context of marriage in the bible.
I don’t recall Elihu saying it was a trial. Elihu claims Job is being chastised. That seems doubtful. Even if Job in his misery expressed the thought that God was being unfair to him, due to the extreme suffering of Job, I doubt that the Lord would chastise him for saying that. Do we really believe with Elihu that if Job had not said such things, the Lord would have stopped his suffering sooner?
Very Good Article!
To draw any conclusions would be presumptuous. All we know is that the three were completely wrong and in their small minds who thought of themselves as to be wise, should teach us all something. God ways are way beyond ours. I think it’s best for us not to think we are wise in our on eyes and not to judge anyone that is going through trials. If anyone thinks they know the answers, then why did God allow Satan to test Job and put him through all of the incredible hardships?
I think Job is a shadow of the Jesus Christ in the ascent time. What he suffered shows us something about Jesus christ. On the anther hand, Elihu is just like the devil who trials Jesus Christ.
Yes Alucod! I agree immensely that Job and his trials are showing us about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, specifically with His suffering and going to the Cross. There are a lot of parallels as well to the suffering servant in Isaiah 53.
I think you should reconsider that statement that you made as to Elihu being involved with Satan 😇😇😇
I like your comment here. I find it very interesting that in a lot of the analysis on Job, many of the comments seem to criticize Job just like everyone else does. It becomes a kind of dog-pile on Job! What I continue to find fascinating is that God Almighty Himself at BOTH the beginning AND the end of the book affirms Job as righteous. So who has the right to criticize Job? Yet, a lot of contemporary comments about Job are just like the ancient ones from his friends!
Thank you for this article!
I had reached a similar point of view even though in my church all four men are condemned. It seemed to me that Job was harsh. And Elihu was able to use Job’s own statements as evidence against him. To me it seems as if Job is saying he’s owed his due for being faithful and good. But we know from reading all of scripture that are due is not guaranteed until we leaver this earth.
I think that the real test that Job failed can be found in (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT) 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
See my blog on the same topic https://www.sonsofsimon.org/2018/05/25/job-and-elihu/
God twice validated that what Job said about Him “was right.” Twice. God ignored Elihu. Elihu said what Job said was wrong.
That’s true, Edmund. But keep in mind that God also leveled at Job four chapters’ worth of what is probably the harshest rebuke in all of Scripture (Job 38-41). We must do justice to both of these evaluations of Job.
And, like God, Elihu both corrects Job where he is wrong and praises Job where he is right.
Jobs three friends came together as a mission of mercy to their friend. They got it wrong, the motivation was right. Elihu self-elevated to be Jobs judge while parroting words without those words being ingested into soul and spirit. In his self inflated state he could not hear the voice of God and, indeed, he did not. The Lord God Almighty provided a way of redemption for Job and forgiveness for Jobs three friends. To the puffed up and pious Elihu God was silent and he went on to be little more than a currosity with a mouthful.
37:2-5. Obviously, Elihu hears God’s voice.
Most of what YHWH says, is not saying that Job is wrong, but that Job lacks the knowledge to understand God’s plans. & Job never found out those plans in this story. Job was chosen to show up satan. The point is that Job must trust the Lord when one’s life seems absurd.
Great point.
Since the endorsement of Job by the Lord contains the word AS, I think it is relative to the error of the 3 friends. I think that God’s endorsement of Job’s statements is in general, not covering every specific.
Why did God ignore Elihu?
I can think of a few possible answers to this question:
1. So as to distinguish him from the other 3 who were so wrong.
2. He didn’t. His Spirit chose to give Elihu more lines than anyone else in the play besides Job.
3. He didn’t. He gave Elihu much attention by repeating many of Elihu’s points in his own speeches.
Keep in mind, though, that the question, framed in this way, makes a few assumptions, which could be true but might not be. It is not necessarily true that God “ignored” Elihu. A less assuming question might be, “Why does God not say anything about Elihu when he condemns the other three?”
C I Scofield thought that God commented on Elihu & brushed him off at the get go: Who is this who darkens council . . . . But this is doubtful exegesis.
Wow….this was amazing…I have just finished reading the book of Job and had questions about the differences between Job’s three friends and Elihu…The fact that God never commented on what Elihu had said by instructing him along with the three friends to have Job pray for him. I recognized that his speeches were different from the three friends as they truly reflected the character and attributes of God, but thank you for breaking up the study into chewable sizes.Your study of Job has taken my love for the book to an entirely new level….thank you and keep you the great work
I knew there is something different about Ellihu, you made it clear to me, why? Thanks!
Elihu is the only Hebrew name guys…! It is said to mean “ God is Lord”.
My first learned verse was Job 28:28
“ The fear of the Lord is wisdom and to depart from evil is understanding”.
Wisdom is the key to the book of Job.
It is not found in the land of the living, why? Because if you are saved you are dead. We have died with Christ, we have been buried with Christ, we have been raised with Christ and we are seated in heavenly places with Christ. It’s all over guys. To depart from evil is to reckon yourself dead to this evil world. The whole world has become Babel… confusion. Look at the book of revelation and pay attention to “those that dwell on the earth compared to those that dwell in heaven. As a saved Christian we are dead. Our life is hid with God in Christ and when he comes back we will be revealed with Him in glory. The judgement at the end of the world is not for those se who have been saved. We are dead… to depart from evil is to understand we have died to this world. I know it’s hard to understand this in the flesh but we are one in the Spirit. Therefore recognize no one according to the flesh any longer… including yourselves. This is the Gospel, the good news is that IT IS FINISHED. I have much more if anyone is interested. The Holy Spirit reveals the Word of God. God desires to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth, once you have the Holy Spirit in you He will reveal the truth, He will reveal Jesus, He will open up the Bible and it will always lead back to Jesus. The author and finisher of our faith.
Chapter 38:4
God asks Job a question which He then Himself gives the answer:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me if you have understanding…
Verse 21 is the answer:
“You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
We who are saved were saved before the foundation of the world.
See Jeremiah chapter 1
See Galatians chapter 1:15
See Revelation 13:8
Jesus is the lamb that was slain from/before the foundation of the world.
That’s the ONLY way everyone in the Old Testament was saved, before the Cross which was a demonstration of what was already accomplished in the heavenlies. There is no other way to heaven except by/through the blood of Jesus.
When Adam and Eve sinned they hid from God and made fig leaves to cover themselves, but God made for them skins… so God made the 1st sacrifice in the beginning. Could it be the Lamb that was slain? Jesus is our covering. That’s what the blood in the door post is all about. Top and both sides had to have the blood. The cross has the blood the opposite direction bottom (feet nailed) and both side (hands)… it makes the Star of David when you put this together. Trinity going up and the trinity coming down. There was an “us” and “we” in Genesis when God came down and confused their language… why? Because unless “they” come down and scatter them nothing they (people) purpose to do shall be impossible for them.
That’s why Jesus is coming back soon… man is desperately trying to figure out how to live forever and have eternal life on mans terms not Gods. God says that they will achieve it unless “they” the trinity step in just like at the Tower of Babel. It’s the same thing now, one world, one people trying to build a tower to heaven.
Never forget the onlynrpomise God gives us is eternal life… that’s why He answers job and says that Jod was born when God laid the foundation of the world/earth… and that why God says Jobs number of days is great… because He saved Job before the foundation of the world and gave him eternal life!… that why the number (eternal life) of his days is great!
Ain’t that awesome? It sure Is for me 🙂
You have misprinted and misinterpreted verse 21. It ends with a question mark not an explanation mark. God is being sarcastic.😃
Job is loaded with sarcasm. Rhetorical questions (RQ) is a poetic device that is used not only as sarcasm but also a polite correction or an emphatic form etc. Thank’s Cat….
And in the end, the Lord told the three friends to offer a sacrifice and Job would pray for them. So where was Elihu???
Alain is on the right track here. Good exegesis first reads the original text and relies on the information there, before trying to posit supernatural images. There are many theologians offering guesses.
Genesis 22:21 is probably the best connection between Ram [Aram] and Buz, the second son of Nahor, the brother of Abraham.. At least the record in Job 32:2 has those details.
Extremely good analysis of the scriptures! Thank you for sharing, I am in agreement.
Don’t forget how this book begins. “Job is perfect and upright” GOD said to satan “hast thou considered my servant Job” a perfect and upright man. Satan said he (Job) would curse GOD if he were not watching over him. GOD said satan could test Job, to see if he would curse GOD. That satan could do anything to Job, except kill him. I believe that Elihu is really satan raging mad because the first three, and all the bad that satan put on Job could not make Job curse GOD. As for elihu’s rituous talk, there is know bible scholar like satan. This puts me in mind of JESUS verse satan on the mountain after John had baptized JESUS.
You are onto something here Matt.
The entire book of Job was about proving that Job would curse God in the midst of suffering.
Job obviously did not curse God but instead demanded an explanation from him. In fact, Job turned to God even more than the opposite. Hence God justified him in the end.
Elihu seems to me that he was a double agent. whilst he picks up the fault of the three friends. he also picks fault in Jobs” responses which are exactly what Leviathan wanted.
Job unlike Jesus failed the test. Job could not stand the cunningness of Leviathan as he found a mouthpiece through Elihu.
Because God is good gave Job a second chance at life restoring back all that he had lost even double after he had repented.
No man on earth not even angels in heaven could withstand the coiling nature of the serpent. This whole book proves that fact.
My position on Elihu is straight forward. Elihu is certainly god in the flesh! Study the scriptures & all he speaks it lines up so perfectly with Gods word..no fault in anything he says. Pray for revelation knowledge concerning his advice and see what the spirit reveals. Just take this one verse from Elihu “One perfect in knowledge is with you” Think about this logically, anyone other than God making this statement would be blaspheming – yet God never rebukes Elihu in his response!!!! Seriously a no brainier. I could go on and on about Elihu & his advice verse after verse is specific and accurate with respect to Gods word. The book of Job & specifically Elihu helped me through a major trial. Holy Spirit made it so clear to me this advice from Elihu was doctrinally sound and exactly what I was to meditate on…nuff said!
Steve, after re-reading carefully the book, I have to concur with you. The spirit of God was in Elihu and spoke the things which Elihu spoke, they are so measured and so in line with every truth found in the Bible.
We must thank God that he always makes an arrangement to lead his people in the way of truth and light. He provided that to Job through this young man whose name is Elihu.
Thank you, Steve for your strong emphasis on this point.
God doesn’t mention Elihu because He didn’t need to. He rebukes the three “friends” because they spoke falsely, Elihu did not. God manifests right after Elihu finishes speaking; Elihu’s argument is literally backed up by the power of God. Elihu doesn’t need the credit. He was a mouthpiece for God and Job’s life was changed forever because of that young man’s obedience.
You stated Elihu was a “mouthpiece” for God. Who said God needed a mouthpiece here? Does not God speak for Himself in this story?
Bravo.
In Job 36:4 Elihu states that “one perfect in knowledge is with you”. Elihu is speaking about himself. Does this raise a red flag for anyone else? Elihu is commending himself as one perfect in knowledge, and yet it is established in the text that he is a young man with a particular human lineage, so he is not a divine being of some kind. We also know Elihu is younger than everyone in the story. Oftentimes it is younger people who think they know everything, which seems like it could be the case here. That does not mean Elihu does not have any truth, but perhaps not as much knowledge as he presumes. If he was “perfect in knowledge” would he not know that God was allowing Satan to test Job in the first place?
Secondly, Elihu is dead wrong at times. For example, in Job 36:17, Elihu states, “But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.” Here Elihu is implying that Job is suffering because he is being punished for wrongdoing. That is blatantly wrong as anyone who reads the story will know.
Elihu is not implying that Job is suffering because he is being punished. Elihu is stating that judgement is upon Job because of his response to the suffering. In Job’s defense to his three friend’s he declared that he is righteous and does not deserve this trial. Elihu is merely pointing out Job’s self righteousness that he acquired in his attempt to shut down his friend’s accusations. The three friend’s charges were about accusing Job of unrighteousness prior to his suffering. Elihu’s charges were about Job’s conduct during his suffering.
I don’t know who you are, but this is absolutely the best explanation I have ever heard on this subject! Wow— I’m impressed! After years of reading & wondering about this, I now get it! Thanks so much! I will have to eagerly check out some of your other writings.
You did a phenomenal job on setting the record straight. Thank You
God is love and love can only build upon itself. If one try to build upon any other foundation it is not love. It is corruption and is good for nothing. This is the message in the book of Job. To be a messiah or to walk in christ one must speak for themselves like Elihu did building upon the foundation of christ. Therefore because God is love. Job saw God in Elihu and repented. Jesus said he did not come to condemn instead he came to save. Unlike the three friends that condemn Job, Elihu spoke as a messiah with the goal to save.
I am very ignorant of the lineage for all of the people mentioned in the book of Job and if their lineage can be historically and archeologically traced. I do not know whether they actually existed or not, but could we suppose the book of Job to be a Hebrew myth or legend? Using this lens, could Elihu represent a Christ-like Messiah that the ancient Israelites were expecting or even desiring to come and relieve them of their suffering?
They were real people who actually existed. However, often in scripture, the stories or the characters may also be representative or symbolic. Job, like Joseph in Genesis 37-50, can be a representative of the suffering Christ. The representations are not exact, but they foreshadow Jesus. Job, like Jacob of Genesis 25-50, also represent Everyman. Elihu, who speaks God’s truth, may represent prophets of God.
Wait then why is he in the bible if we should ignore him? God wouldn’t have put him in the bible just so we can ignore him. He put Elihu in the bible for a reason.
P.S: My name is Elihu too 🙂
This is my understanding of the book of Job after reading the book and perusing through each person argument.
The book is poetic, prophetic and symbolic in nature.
The words spoken by each person is aligned with deep emotions. Job’s affliction with indignation entangled him in self-righteousness prevents him from seeing the need for a saviour which could justify him.And Job’s three friends are annoyed at Job’s denials of his sins and therefore cast judgment upon him. They didn’t see the need for saviour either because they believed works is sufficient to save the righteous so they concluded Job must have done something wrong to bring this predicament upon himself.
Though, Ellihu was not a priest he spoke like one. He was a type of priest before God and man. He was not Christ but a shadow. In other words, he was a man and juror. He was their to listen and make conclusions. There is nothing supernatural about him. In a law the jury does not speak until all sides are heard, that’s what Elliehu did. Therfore, he held is peace until all utter thier discourse. At the end of the debate he convicted both Job and Job’s friends of their interpretation of Job’s suffering.He declared, just like a jury would, that they were all wrong about Job’s suffering. His conclusion was that Job needs a saviour and his three friends fabricated arguments are feebly.
Job was righteous because God said it, not because Job declared himself to be righteous. However, the scripture als declared that there’s not a righteous man on earth who does good and not sin(Ecclesiastes 7:20). This was no exception to Job. Nevertheless, God chose Job to be righteous the same way Abraham believe God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. Therefore, Job’s righteousness was of God(Isaiah 54:1) not his own doing. This was where Job got it wrong, he thought his sacrifice to God and giving to the less fortunate is sufficient for God to exempt from further suffering. Therefore he plead with God,but there was no one to save him. After several attempts to jusfied himself He eventually ,pride himself into sinning against God(Proverbs 16:18). Therefore, he repented (Job 35) when he realised his own error. (Romans 10:10).
Job represents the helpless state of man and the need for a saviour. Not even we are at our best we can declare to God that we a righteous, we all have faults in our stars and only God can search it out. He judged based on the inward part of a man and his judgment is true. Therefore, in Joh 3:16 God send his begotten son to save us and give us a mind like His.
To sum it up Only God alone is righteous therefore our righteousness comes from him through his son who became sin for us. Romans 3:22. to redeem us from our mistakes.
Ecclesiastes says a lot of things, which I’ll bet you think are wrong. IMHO Ecclesiastes is mostly Solomon reasoning UNDER THE SUN. This is the way things look from an earthly perspective. All is not Vanity for the man who trusts in YHWH.
Denroy, I find your analysis profound and inclusive of the whole of Scripture, which is for salvation through Yeshua. Thank you for sharing.
Does not Elihu agree with Job’s 3 Friends that Job is being chastised? If Elihu is only addressing Job’s alleged sins after Job’s satan-imposed suffering begins, then that means that for Elihu, after satan did such extreme punishment to Job, YHWH added to that punishment with chastising; then per Elihu, had Job not sinned during his suffering, God would have ended his suffering sooner. But YHWH, so far as I know, never says that Job was being chastised. Also, at the end the Lord implies that Job said what was right about YHWH! at least relatively so compared with the 3 friends.
Good one.
Thank you for the exposition
Happy to be called that ❤️❤️❤️
I respectfully disagree. This is just my thought. You clearly and correctly make the following points:. “Here is the main challenge: Elihu draws the same conclusion as Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. That’s why many interpreters think Elihu is just like them.
Eliphaz: “Job has sinned” (Job 4:7, 15:4-6, 22:5).
Bildad: “Job has sinned” (Job 8:5-6, 18:4).
Zophar: “Job has sinned” (Job 11:6, 20:29).
Elihu: “Job has sinned” (Job 34:7, 37; 35:16).
Now if they all had to ask Job to make a sacrifice for their sins of false accusations, etc. Why didn’t Elihu?
“Of course, the reader knows Job has not sinned: “There is none like [Job] on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8, 2:3). But Elihu charges him with sin, just as the other three do. What’s all the fuss? This case should be closed.”…. You continue. “But as we penetrate the poetry, we see that what Elihu means by his conclusion is not what they mean by it. His four speeches ring with incredible truth desperately needed by any innocent sufferer (if Job is an innocent sufferer, then he hasn’t sinned as God proclaims and Elihu has falsely charged him.):
God has not been silent; he speaks through your pain (Job 32-33).
God is not unjust; he will eventually strike the wicked (Job 34).
Righteous living is not pointless, though we are insignificant next to God (Job 35).
You’re in no place to criticize God; remember to fear him (Job 36-37).
Why would these proclamations clear Elihu of guilt from his prior ones? Satan is the Father of Lies and a lie, preceded or followed by a truth is just a “hidden” lie. Elihu’s accusations of Job’s sin were false. The others were forced to make a sacrifice for the same accusation. Job repented of his ignorance, not of any sin. If had sinned, he was not exempted from needing a sacrifice of atonement. The fact that God didn’t require one of Job was proof that there was no sin on his part. -I believe that Elihu “disappears from view” and didn’t require a sacrifice, because he was a created (bara) spiritual being in human form (think of the one who can appear as an angel of light) and for fallen angels, there is no atonement.
My current understanding, but still studying: Elihu is Satan (or possessed by Satan much like the serpent) Satan was all over it with God’s permissions. He would not give up so easy. He is a master liar and mixes truth with falsehoods. Have you ever tried to comfort someone in their moment of pain with how majestic and righteous God is? It makes them want to curse God. This was the plan. God did not address Elihu because there was no need. God stepped in and spoke to Job when Satan had failed. There was no sacrifice to be made by Elihu, his punishment was already decided. In fact, that was one of Satan’s complaints as voiced Eliphaz in chapter 4.
Why Elihu is So Mysterious, this article is good.
But the attached picture is weird. Why is a man seeming evil is attached?
Why in Job 35:1 the name Elihu appears written as Elijah the Tishbite. Where is the missing Aleph of Elihu in this appearance?
Some rabbis identify Elijah the Tiahbite as Phinehas. May Elihu be also Phinehas-Elijah? By omitting the Aleph of the name Elihu Ben Barachel we get the same Ofanim value as Phinehas Ben Elezier. It’s also interesting that Kabbalist say that Phinehas occupied the place of the Sephirah Yesod at the moment of the end of the plague. This Sephirah is represented by Joseph HaTzadik and in Job 36:1 the name of Joseph appears by a simple permutation of 2 letters.
I’ve also read the book of Job. Without claiming to fully understand so profound a book or seeking to multiply words or presumptions, this is my submission:
Elihu was a man (32:2), a youth (32:6) who was with Job and his three friends. He was fearful of voicing his concerns after hearing Job and his friends because he respected them as elders (32:6-7). However it seems that while listening God endowed him with courage and understanding so he could speak (32:8, 18). A lot of what he said wasn’t really him but the Spirit in him (Compare him in 32:6 to Jeremiah, in Jer. 1:6 & in 32:19-22 to Jeremiah, in Jer. 20:9). He was used like a prophet who prepared Job’s heart ahead, for God’s eventual visit. He was quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to become angry (Jam. 1:19). He showed more understanding than Job’s friends and was able to answer Job (33:8; 35:2-3 etc.) and in the end, God was not angry with him unlike Job’s three friends (42:7). If he had been mistaken or used by the devil as implied by some, I believe God wouldn’t have spared him after rebuking Job (38:2) and his friends (42:8), as God didn’t spare the serpent after rebuking Adam and Eve (Gen. 3).
We needn’t create too much mystery around him. He occupies his unique place in the story of Job – all a part of God’s grand design. And the four incredible truths from his speeches submitted by the writer of this article in his conclusion are priceless nuggets, many thanks.
Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Job 37:14
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39
It’s always bewildering to me when people give credit to Elihu which belongs to Job and criticism to Job that belongs to Elihu. Totally backwards. According to God in the text, Job is blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. Even still, Job suffers horrible tragedies even though he is innocent. For a time during this story, he was abandoned by God and his connection with God was broken. Job’s ordeal is a clear parallel of Jesus as the suffering servant – an innocent man whom God allows to suffer. Jesus also prays on the Cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” If anyone is a type of Jesus in this story, it is Job, not Elihu.
Peter, your takeaways for understanding the entire book of Job are all based on Elihu’s words. Your 4 bullet points in your conclusion are all from his speeches in chapters 32 – 37. Question: did you notice Elihu is angry at Job’s 3 friends for different reasons than God? So for that reason alone, Elihu is not “just like God” as you claim. Also, we read that Elihu is angry at Job and angry at his 3 friends. We also read that God is angry at the 3 friends, too. This is all very clear in the text. Question: Does it say anywhere that God is angry at Job? If so, can you please tell us? I don’t see it. So if God is not angry at Job, but Elihu is angry at Job, then that is a big difference between Elihu and God, isn’t it? There are many more points to rebut in your article, but I will leave it at that. I like your first assessment in the introduction before you started defending Elihu. He is a deceptive character, and I would urge anyone not to be deceived by him. I welcome any discussion about him.
Thank you for taking the time to engage with the post through your comments. I appreciate your insights and would like to respond to a few things.
First, in this post, I’m covering only Elihu’s appearance and speeches. I’m not offering any takeaways for the entire book. For my take on the entire book, you may want to see this post: https://www.knowableword.com/2021/07/02/job-how-to-fear-the-lord-when-everything-falls-apart/
Second, the Lord delivers the longest and perhaps harshest rebuke in all of Scripture to Job, the one who “darkens counsel by words without knowledge” (Job 38-41). Job responds to both of God’s speeches with humble repentance for his words, choosing to stop talking about the Lord the way he has been (Job 40:3-5, 42:1-6). Though the text never says outright that God was angry with Job, it certainly shows through both tone and sheer volume that the Lord is angry with at least some of what Job has said. “Dress for action like a man” (Job 38:3, 40:7). He calls Job a “faultfinder” who “argues with God” (Job 40:2). “Will you even put me in the wrong?” (Job 40:8). God describes himself as far fiercer than Leviathan (Job 41:10), one with whom Job would not dare to mess. These are not words of patient comfort and calm approval but of fierce rebuke and fiery anger.
So, even though God declares that Job has “spoken rightly” of him (Job 42:7), we must hold that right next to the fact that God *also* thinks that Job has fought with him and tried to find fault with him. I have written other articles about the book of Job that explain the flow of the book. Job is right about how God did not punish him with the present suffering because of any prior sin. But he is wrong about how God is his enemy, capricious in judgment, and arbitrary in rewarding the wicked while allowing the righteous to suffer.
Job’s daring of God to show up so that Job can justify himself and put God in his place (Job 31:35-37) does not pay off. And Elihu is God’s forerunner, anticipating the judgment of whirlwind (Job 37:1-5, 21-24) which the Lord then brings in reality (Job 38:1).