Job 34:1–37 Elihu calls on “wise men” to hear Job’s contention that he is in the right (vv. 2–9) and “men of understanding” to hear Elihu’s argument against this claim (vv. 10–34). He presents both groups as those who will agree with Elihu against Job (vv. 35–37).
Job 34:3 palate tastes food. Truth is discerned through hearing, just as the quality of food is discerned through tasting. Job used this same proverb earlier to challenge his friends (12:11).
Job 34:8 Elihu describes Job as one who walks with evildoers and wicked men, a path that the wise are called to avoid (see Ps. 1:1).
Job 34:9 Although Job had stated that the wicked and the righteous seem to suffer the same fate, he did not say precisely what Elihu quotes him here as saying. Job had governed his own life by delight in God (see 23:10–12); he had argued that it was the wicked who live as if service to the Almighty profits a man nothing (see 21:15).
Job 34:10–12 Elihu’s argument against Job results in the same dilemma that the three friends had: either Job is in the right or God is in the right, but it cannot be both (see 8:2–7).
Job 34:23 God has no need to consider a man further. Job has been asking for an opportunity to present his case before either God or some human judge, but Elihu says that God has already acted and does not need to give further consideration to Job’s or any other person’s case.
Job 34:26–28 Elihu suggests that Job has been struck for all to see because he has turned aside from following the Lord’s ways by mistreating the poor and afflicted.
Job 34:34–37 Elihu says that any who are truly men of understanding or wise would agree with him, and that Job speaks like a fool who is without knowledge or insight. Furthermore, Elihu wishes that God’s supposed judgment against Job would be taken to its logical end, because Job’s words express rebellion and arrogance against God.
The ESV Global Study Bible
Copyright © 2012 by Crossway.
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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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