Job 32 10

Job 32:10 kjv

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.

Job 32:10 nkjv

"Therefore I say, 'Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.'

Job 32:10 niv

"Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know.

Job 32:10 esv

Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'

Job 32:10 nlt

So listen to me,
and let me tell you what I think.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 10 Meaning

This verse is Elihu’s resolute declaration that he is now prepared to speak after a prolonged silence, having intently listened to the arguments of Job and his three friends. Recognizing their failure to resolve the deep theological questions concerning suffering and divine justice, Elihu, despite his youth, asserts his right to contribute his own divinely informed understanding to the discussion, thereby challenging the conventional wisdom that only the elderly should articulate such weighty matters.

Job 32 10 Context

Job 32:10 marks Elihu's pivotal entry into the dramatic and protracted debate between Job and his three counselors. Elihu, the youngest participant, had observed for a considerable duration (likely throughout chapters 3-31) as the older men wrestled with Job's plight. His silence was initially out of deference and respect for his elders' wisdom and position (Job 32:4, 6-7). However, as the discussion stalled, characterized by Job maintaining his innocence and his friends failing to provide compelling or accurate answers, Elihu's frustration mounted. He expresses anger for two main reasons: Job justified himself over God (Job 32:2) and the friends, despite their age, could not adequately refute Job (Job 32:3, 7). In this verse, Elihu breaks his silence, asserting his right and intention to speak. He introduces his contribution by declaring that true wisdom stems from the Spirit of God, not merely from the accumulation of years (Job 32:8-9), thereby validating his younger voice in this profound theological discourse. This declaration sets the stage for Elihu's extensive discourse, which provides a bridge between the flawed human arguments and God's eventual, ultimate response.

Job 32 10 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This robust conjunction serves as a consequential link, indicating that what follows is a logical conclusion or outcome. Elihu uses it to underscore that his impending speech is not arbitrary but arises from his observation of the previous speakers' inability to resolve the matter and his own firm conviction concerning the source of true wisdom (Job 32:8-9). It powerfully signifies a critical turning point in the dialogue.

• I say (אָמַרְתִּי, 'amarətî): This is a direct, emphatic, first-person singular declaration. Elihu’s use of "I" immediately draws attention to his personal resolve and direct ownership of the insights he is about to impart. It conveys a sense of decisiveness and authority, not hesitancy, asserting his personal involvement in the resolution of the theological conundrum.

• Listen to me (אֶשְׁמָעָה, 'ešmâʿah): Although literally translating as "I will listen" or "Let me listen" (a first-person cohortative), its functional meaning in this context, after Elihu's prolonged listening, is an earnest command or strong invitation: "Let me cause you to hear" or "Pay attention to what I am about to say." Having given respectful attention, Elihu now demands reciprocal hearing from his audience, indicating the grave importance of his forthcoming words.

• I also (גַּם אֲנִי, gam 'ani): The word gam ("also," "even," "indeed") coupled with ani ("I") is highly emphatic. It highlights Elihu’s inclusion in the ranks of those who will speak, challenging the presumption that only the elders possessed the authority or wisdom to speak. It asserts his legitimate right and unique perspective to contribute, suggesting his voice is equally, if not more, valid in discerning divine truth.

• will declare (אֲחַוֶּה, 'aḥavveh): This verb means "to make known," "to show," "to explain," or "to reveal." It signifies more than a casual remark; it suggests an unveiling or presentation of something profound, systematic, or previously unarticulated. Elihu intends to lay out an insightful explanation, distinguishing his speech from the mere opinions or pronouncements.

• my opinion (דֵּעִי, deʿî): Derived from the root yada' ("to know"), deʿî means "my knowledge," "my understanding," "my insight," or "my perception." It is not a subjective whim but a deeply considered conviction, informed by Elihu's stated belief that true understanding comes from the Spirit of God. This term underscores that his forthcoming discourse will be based on reasoned, divinely informed theological insight rather than human traditionalism.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Therefore I say: This powerful opening serves as Elihu’s decisive breaking of silence. It frames his speech as a necessary, reasoned intervention, grounded in his careful observation of the previous failed arguments. This phrase functions as a transition, pivoting the debate from stagnation towards a new, hopefully illuminating, perspective.

• ‘Listen to me; I also’: This striking combination captures Elihu’s reversal of roles. Having been the attentive listener, he now demands reciprocal attention, asserting his rightful place among the speakers. The phrase I also particularly undermines the implied age-based hierarchy, claiming equal standing and authority through the conviction of divine wisdom rather than mere seniority.

• will declare my opinion: This phrase highlights Elihu's confident assertion that he possesses a profound and necessary understanding. His use of "declare" indicates a deliberate and thorough exposition, while "my opinion" (rooted in spiritual knowledge) contrasts sharply with the insufficient arguments of the friends and Job's self-justification, signaling a higher, divinely inspired insight.

Job 32 10 Bonus section

Elihu's entire address is distinct in that he functions as a transitional figure. His words in Job 32:10 and onward implicitly prepare both Job and the reader for God's direct intervention in Job 38. By demanding, "Listen to me; I also will declare my opinion," Elihu not only asserts his right to speak but also models a receptive heart for truth, even from an unexpected source (himself). His approach suggests a mediatorial stance, as he aims to correct both Job's self-righteousness and the friends' flawed theology by elevating a deeper, divinely inspired perspective, which foreshadows the direct revelation from God that alone brings clarity to suffering and divine sovereignty. Elihu's statement of intent lays the groundwork for challenging all previous human assumptions.

Job 32 10 Commentary

Job 32:10 marks a pivotal moment in the book of Job, as Elihu, the silent, patient observer, interjects into the protracted theological stalemate. His words convey both his indignation at the previous speakers' inability to adequately address Job's suffering or God's character and his firm conviction that he possesses a crucial perspective. Elihu's bold declaration to "speak" and "declare my opinion" is not a sign of youthful arrogance but stems from a deeply held belief in a Spirit-led understanding, which he sees as superior to age-dependent wisdom. He presents his contribution not as another human argument but as divinely inspired knowledge (de'i), poised to illuminate where human logic has faltered. This verse initiates a new phase of the dialogue, preparing the reader for Elihu’s unique insights, which subtly bridge the human discussions to the climactic arrival of God’s own voice.