Job 32 4

Job 32:4 kjv

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

Job 32:4 nkjv

Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.

Job 32:4 niv

Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.

Job 32:4 esv

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

Job 32:4 nlt

Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 4 Meaning

Elihu, a previously silent observer, waited patiently for Job and his three friends to conclude their lengthy discussions and arguments before he interjected. His reason for this prolonged silence and respectful deference was solely because Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were all significantly older than he was. This verse introduces Elihu as someone who respects established societal norms, particularly the deference due to elders, before he offers his own perspective.

Job 32 4 Context

Job chapter 32 marks a significant turning point in the book of Job. After thirty-one chapters of intense dialogue, accusation, and lament between Job and his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar), a stalemate has been reached. Job has offered his final defense and self-justification, and his friends are silent, having exhausted their arguments and remaining unable to convince him. At this critical juncture, a new character, Elihu, son of Barachel the Buzite, is introduced. This verse highlights Elihu's deliberate restraint from speaking throughout the earlier discourse. Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East, there was a profound respect for elders, who were typically seen as the custodians of wisdom and experience. Elihu's silence underscores his adherence to this cultural norm, patiently waiting until the older, established speakers had completed their arguments, even though he disagreed with much of what they said and felt a strong internal urge to speak.

Job 32 4 Word analysis

• Now Elihu: Introduces a new and crucial character. Elihu ("My God is He") appears unexpectedly, poised to break the argumentative impasse. His sudden appearance emphasizes a new, possibly divine, perspective.
• had waited: From the Hebrew root ḥākāh (חכה), meaning to wait, expect, or tarry. This is a strong word denoting active, intentional patience, a conscious delaying of speech. It suggests not just passive observation but a disciplined restraint.
• till Job had spoken: Indicating that Elihu observed and heard every word until the very conclusion of Job's final address (Chapter 31), where Job declares his innocence and challenges God.
• because: The Hebrew ki (כי), signaling the direct reason or cause for Elihu's preceding action.
• they were older: From the Hebrew yeshanim (יְשָׁנִים), meaning old ones, aged. This refers to Job and his three friends collectively. The significance lies in the cultural premium placed on age and the wisdom supposedly accrued with it in ancient societies. This age differential commanded respect and deference from younger individuals.
• than he: Refers to Elihu. It underscores the age gap, making Elihu's preceding silence an act of humility and traditional decorum, acknowledging his relative youth compared to the debaters.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Now Elihu had waited...because they were older than he": This phrase establishes Elihu's character as one who demonstrates profound respect for seniority, a cornerstone of ancient social etiquette. It highlights his self-control and patient deference, setting him apart from the impatience that sometimes characterizes debate. His waiting is not passive but a principled stand reflecting cultural and moral values before he begins to speak.
• "waited till Job had spoken, because they were older than he": This emphasizes the exact duration of Elihu's patience – throughout the entirety of the long, convoluted arguments from all four participants. The explicit reason of age points to a traditional understanding of authority and the proper order of speech in communal deliberation. This cultural value shapes Elihu's conduct and his subsequent justification for finally speaking (Job 32:6-9).

Job 32 4 Bonus section

Elihu's role is often debated by scholars. Some view him as an unnecessary addition or a theological misstep, while others see him as a necessary transition figure who introduces insights distinct from Job's friends, foreshadowing God's eventual appearance and setting the stage for a richer understanding of divine justice and the purpose of suffering. His very entrance challenges the traditional assumption that wisdom exclusively resides with the aged. While Elihu upholds the custom of respecting elders, his subsequent arguments ultimately contend that true wisdom comes from the Spirit of God, independent of a person's age or accumulated worldly experience (Job 32:8-9). This nuanced stance presents a partial corrective to both Job's self-righteousness and the friends' rigid dogma.

Job 32 4 Commentary

Job 32:4 is pivotal as it introduces Elihu and immediately characterizes him through his actions of deliberate waiting. His patience stems from a profound respect for the social hierarchy based on age, a deeply ingrained cultural value in ancient societies. Elihu understood that deference was due to those with more years and experience, implicitly acknowledged as having greater wisdom. This verse serves to justify why he, a younger man, remained silent for so long during the intense theological debate. It showcases his discipline and humility, portraying him not as an impulsive youth but as someone who judiciously observed the customs before interjecting. This preparation highlights that Elihu's forthcoming speeches are not mere emotional outbursts but are presented as carefully considered divine revelation, justified by his respectful, yet ultimately differing, theological position.