Job 32 12

Job 32:12 kjv

Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:

Job 32:12 nkjv

I paid close attention to you; And surely not one of you convinced Job, Or answered his words?

Job 32:12 niv

I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments.

Job 32:12 esv

I gave you my attention, and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words.

Job 32:12 nlt

I have listened,
but not one of you has refuted Job
or answered his arguments.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 12 Meaning

Elihu, having attentively observed the preceding debate between Job and his three friends, concludes that none of them successfully proved Job's guilt or offered a compelling refutation to his arguments. He indicates their failure to offer a decisive response to Job's words and to truly silence him with a theological argument that connected his suffering to specific sin.

Job 32 12 Context

Job 32:12 appears as Elihu begins his extensive speeches after a long silence, observing the exhaustive debate between Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. For thirty-one chapters, Job and his friends have cycled through their arguments, with the friends consistently accusing Job of hidden sin based on their theology of divine retribution, and Job consistently asserting his innocence and challenging God. Elihu, a younger man, has patiently listened to their arguments, becoming increasingly indignant. His anger stems not only from the friends' failure to present compelling evidence against Job but also from Job's apparent self-righteousness, implicitly declaring God to be unjust (Job 32:2-3). This specific verse, therefore, establishes Elihu's credibility and authority to speak: he has been a careful observer and listener, witnessing the rhetorical impasse and the friends' theological failure to adequately address Job's plight or to truly uphold God's justice in their limited understanding.

Job 32 12 Word analysis

• Indeed (הִנֵּה - hinneh): This Hebrew particle functions as an interjection meaning "behold," "lo," "surely," or "indeed." It draws attention to what is about to be stated, emphasizing the certainty or significance of the observation. Here, it underscores Elihu's firm conviction regarding his conclusion.
• I paid close attention (קָשַׁבְתִּי - qashavti): This is the Qal perfect first common singular form of the verb qashav (קָשַׁב). It means "to listen carefully," "to attend," "to give heed." Unlike a casual hearing, it implies a deliberate, active, and focused effort to understand and process what was being said. Elihu is stressing the thoroughness of his observation.
• to you (אֲלֵיכֶם - ’aleykhem): The preposition "to" combined with the second person masculine plural pronoun "you." This directly addresses the three friends of Job, pinpointing the recipients of Elihu's diligent observation and his subsequent critique.
• And behold (וְהִנֵּה - w'hinneh): The conjunction "and" (waw) combined with the particle hinneh. It introduces a subsequent observation, often one that reveals something surprising or highlights the consequence of what preceded. It reinforces Elihu's point, leading to the outcome of his attentive listening.
• there was no one among you (אֵין בָּכֶם - ’ein bakhem): ’ein is a particle indicating non-existence or negation, meaning "there is no," "none." Bakhem is the preposition "in" or "among" with the second person masculine plural pronoun "you." This is a stark, absolute declaration of the friends' collective failure – none of them possessed the capacity or insight to achieve the stated outcome.
• who declared Job to be in the wrong (מַכְלִים אֶת־אִיּוֹב - makhlim et-iyyov): Makhlim is the Hiphil participle masculine singular of the verb kalam (כָּלַם), which means "to be shamed," "to put to shame," "to disgrace," or "to silence." In the Hiphil stem, it means "to cause shame," "to disgrace," or specifically, "to prove guilty" or "to make someone confounded and silent through argument." The friends, despite their long speeches, failed to decisively shame Job by proving him guilty of the sins they believed he had committed.
• Or who answered his words (אוֹ מֵשִׁיב אֲמָרָיו - ’o meshiyv ’amarav): ’o means "or." Meshiyv is the Hiphil participle masculine singular of the verb shuv (שׁוּב), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to reply," or "to answer." In the Hiphil, it means "to cause to return" or, in a polemical context, "to make a decisive response," "to refute," or "to turn back an argument." ’amarav means "his words" (referring to Job's speeches and claims). The friends could not adequately counter Job's defense, his assertions of innocence, or his challenging questions posed to God, thus leaving his words unrefuted.

Words-group analysis:

• "Indeed, I paid close attention to you": This phrase establishes Elihu's moral and intellectual high ground. He asserts his careful, diligent, and respectful engagement with their discussion, lending weight to his upcoming critique. It highlights his thorough investigation before offering a judgment.
• "And behold, there was no one among you who declared Job to be in the wrong": This is a direct indictment of the friends' theological and rhetorical failure. Despite their long efforts and accusations, they failed to effectively apply their retribution theology to Job's case or to bring forth arguments that would convincingly demonstrate Job's sin and thus shame him into confession. They could not provide the definitive answer to the core question of Job's guilt.
• "Or who answered his words": This phrase broadens the scope of their failure beyond just proving guilt. It points to their inability to intellectually or spiritually engage with and respond to Job's deeper challenges concerning divine justice, his unwavering integrity, or his expressions of human suffering and doubt. They lacked a sufficient counter-argument to silence Job's protestations or questions effectively.

Job 32 12 Bonus section

Elihu's critique of the friends’ failure highlights a profound theological impasse: human wisdom, even when applied with sincerity (as the friends genuinely tried to console and correct Job), is inherently limited when confronting divine mysteries like suffering and justice. This verse anticipates the need for a revelation that transcends human reasoning. Elihu effectively takes the baton from the failed debaters, suggesting that true understanding and vindication (both of God and of Job) will come from a higher source. His unique position as one who "waited" and "listened" suggests that proper understanding of God often begins with humble observation and quiet reception rather than assertive pronouncements based on predetermined conclusions. Elihu positions himself not merely as another voice in the debate, but as one who recognized the emptiness left by the previous arguments, thereby preparing the audience for the divine wisdom that would follow in his speeches and, more profoundly, in God's ultimate reply.

Job 32 12 Commentary

Job 32:12 encapsulates Elihu's fundamental critique of Job's three friends. After patiently enduring their long and repetitive discourses, Elihu pronounces judgment on their performance, revealing the inadequacy of their wisdom. He points to a twofold failure: firstly, they could not "declare Job to be in the wrong," meaning they failed to provide compelling evidence or argument for his guilt, specifically related to their strict doctrine of retribution theology. Their inability to bring shame or silence to Job stemmed from the disconnect between their traditional theological framework and the reality of Job's unprovoked suffering. Secondly, they could not "answer his words," implying a broader intellectual and spiritual deficit. They couldn't effectively refute Job's deep laments, his challenges to divine justice, or his steadfast claims of innocence. Their theological understanding proved insufficient to engage with the complex issues Job raised, leaving a vacuum where true understanding of God's ways should have been. This verse sets the stage for Elihu's intervention as a divinely inspired speaker, bridging the gap between fallible human wisdom and God's eventual authoritative voice, indicating that conventional wisdom has reached its limits.