Job 33:1–33 Elihu opens and closes this section with a call for Job to listen to his words and answer if he is able (vv. 1–7, 31–33). He then presents a summary of Job’s contentions regarding himself, his circumstances, and God’s seeming silence (vv. 8–13) and then suggests ways in which God speaks in order to turn a person from the way that leads to death (vv. 14–30).
Job 33:2–4 Elihu appears to be remembering Job’s earlier statement where he declared that, as long as he had breath, he could not agree that his friends were right (see 27:2–6).
Job 33:9 Elihu summarizes Job’s statements as if Job had argued that he was pure and without transgression. However, it is clear from Job’s regular practice of making burnt offerings that this was not his claim (see 1:5). By mischaracterizing Job’s plea, Elihu ends up offering a similar argument to that of the three friends: God is greater than man (33:12) and thus he must have intended to warn or rebuke Job (vv. 14–30).
Job 33:11 puts my feet in the stocks. Elihu quotes Job (compare 13:27).
Job 33:14 For God speaks . . . though man does not perceive it. Elihu is suggesting that Job has not recognized, and maybe even has ignored, the ways in which God has spoken to him.
Job 33:18 Elihu repeatedly states that the purpose of God’s speaking to a person is to keep his soul from the pit (also vv. 22, 24, 28, 30). Thus he implies that Job’s suffering may serve to correct his overall path rather than simply to punish some hidden sin.
Job 33:19–22 pain on his bed . . . strife in his bones. Elihu uses vivid images, to make Job see his physical state as God’s warning to him.
Job 33:23–28 Elihu poses a hypothetical situation in which an angel or mediator might deliver a person (vv. 23–25). He suggests that the appropriate response would be repentance and rejoicing (vv. 26–28). He implies that the loss of all of Job’s possessions and family might be a ransom for his deliverance (v. 24).
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Used by permission.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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