Job 32 18

Job 32:18 kjv

For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.

Job 32:18 nkjv

For I am full of words; The spirit within me compels me.

Job 32:18 niv

For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;

Job 32:18 esv

For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.

Job 32:18 nlt

For I am full of pent-up words,
and the spirit within me urges me on.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 18 Meaning

Elihu declares that he cannot remain silent because he is overwhelmed with thoughts and words, feeling an intense inner pressure and compulsion to speak. He portrays his forthcoming address as an involuntary overflow, driven by a deep spiritual urgency within him that must find expression.

Job 32 18 Context

Job chapter 32 introduces Elihu, a younger man who has been present throughout the discussions between Job and his three friends. He listened in silence, but his patience has run out. He is angry with Job for asserting his righteousness and with the friends for failing to answer Job convincingly while condemning him. This verse, 32:18, is part of Elihu's opening statement where he explains why he, a younger person, is now presuming to speak after his elders have exhausted their arguments. He frames his outburst not as arrogance but as an unavoidable inner compulsion, a divine burden that he must release, comparing it to the fermentation of new wine that requires a vent.

Job 32 18 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This particle often serves as an explanatory conjunction, meaning "because," "for," "surely," or "indeed." Here, it introduces the reason for Elihu's eagerness to speak, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship between his internal state and his impending utterance.
• I am full (מָלֵתִי - maleti): This is a perfect form of the verb מָלֵא (male), meaning "to be full, to fill, to be complete." It conveys a state of being completely filled or overflowing, suggesting a bursting capacity. Elihu is not just somewhat full, but thoroughly saturated.
• of words (מִלִּים - millim): The plural noun for "words, utterances." In biblical context, millim often signifies weighty or important pronouncements, not mere chatter. It implies that what Elihu has to say is substantial and meaningful, waiting to be released.
• the spirit (רוּחַ - ruach): This versatile Hebrew word can mean "wind," "breath," "mind," "spirit," or "Spirit (of God)." Here, it denotes an inner animating force or essence. Elihu's later claim in 33:4 ("The Spirit of God has made me...") suggests he implicitly attributes this "ruach" to divine inspiration or enablement, rather than merely his own human spirit. It's the inner drive that demands expression.
• within me / belly/inward parts (בִּטְנִי - bitni): This refers to the "belly" or "womb," but biblically and poetically it is often a metonym for the innermost being, the seat of emotions, understanding, thoughts, and character. It suggests that the words and the spirit's urging originate from the deepest core of his person.
• constrains me (צָרַתְנִי - tsaratni): This is a perfect form of the verb צָרַר (tsarar), meaning "to bind, to tie up, to compress, to besiege, to be in straits or trouble." It conveys a powerful sense of pressure, confinement, or distress. The words and spirit are pressing against him from the inside, seeking an outlet, much like fluid under pressure that must find an exit, or new wine that threatens to burst its wineskins. This vivid imagery emphasizes the involuntary, forceful nature of his internal state.

• "I am full of words": This phrase highlights an internal accumulation of knowledge, understanding, or insight that has reached a point of saturation. Elihu feels he has stored up so much information or wisdom regarding the preceding arguments that it can no longer be contained silently.
• "the spirit within me constrains me": This grouping identifies the driving force behind the fullness of words. The "spirit within" (whether Elihu's spirit deeply moved, or the Spirit of God acting through him) is depicted as actively causing internal pressure, compelling him to release what is built up inside. It paints a picture of being physically and emotionally constricted by an internal burden until it is vocalized.

Job 32 18 Bonus section

The imagery of a spirit "constraining" from within echoes various ancient and biblical understandings of prophecy, where individuals are seized or compelled by a divine force to deliver a message. Elihu’s language parallels descriptions of prophets who cannot but speak the word of the Lord, likening it to a burning fire in their bones (Jer 20:9). While some scholars debate if Elihu's spirit is explicitly the Holy Spirit or merely an intensely moved human spirit, his subsequent claims about the "Spirit of God" making him (Job 33:4) strongly imply he feels divinely enabled. This portrayal of spiritual compulsion stands in contrast to the reasoned, though flawed, arguments of the three friends, suggesting a deeper source of wisdom and authority.

Job 32 18 Commentary

Job 32:18 serves as Elihu’s earnest explanation for his unexpected intervention in the long-standing dialogue. He does not claim superiority based on age or status, but rather on an overwhelming internal impetus. His use of "full of words" and "spirit within me constrains me" employs vivid imagery, akin to fermenting wine or boiling water, suggesting an irrepressible pressure that demands release. He frames his forthcoming discourse as a spiritual burden, an unavoidable discharge of inner revelation or deep conviction, rather than a mere youthful eagerness to speak. This internal constraint, for Elihu, validates his breaking of silence and prepares the ground for his extensive and often profound contribution, setting the stage for what he perceives as divinely-inspired insight where the other friends fell short. He believes his speech is compelled by an urgent spiritual necessity to offer a fresh perspective on God's ways, preparing for God's eventual appearance.