Job 32 6

Job 32:6 kjv

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

Job 32:6 nkjv

So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And dared not declare my opinion to you.

Job 32:6 niv

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: "I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.

Job 32:6 esv

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

Job 32:6 nlt

Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, "I am young and you are old,
so I held back from telling you what I think.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 6 Meaning

Job 32:6 introduces Elihu, a new character, who explains his long silence in the preceding debate between Job and his three friends. He states that he withheld his opinion because of his youth, in respectful deference to their advanced age and presumed wisdom. His admission reflects the cultural custom where younger individuals were expected to remain silent in the presence of elders, especially during matters of grave discussion and experience. This verse sets the stage for Elihu to finally speak, having waited for the older men to exhaust their arguments without resolution.

Job 32 6 Context

Job 32 marks a significant turning point in the Book of Job. After seven days of silent despair and over twenty chapters of heated, unresolved debate between Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—all sides have fallen silent, acknowledging an impasse. Job's friends can no longer answer him because he maintains his righteousness, and Job's persistent self-vindication leaves them frustrated. Into this void of silence (Job 32:1), Elihu, who has been listening to the entire discourse (Job 32:4), steps forward. He is explicitly introduced as a young man who is angry with both Job and his friends: with Job for justifying himself rather than God, and with the friends for failing to provide a convincing answer while still condemning Job (Job 32:2-3). Job 32:6 initiates Elihu's extensive monologue, as he carefully lays the groundwork for his unprecedented intervention by explaining his delay. His speech provides a new theological perspective that acts as a bridge between the flawed human arguments and God's climactic speech from the whirlwind.

Job 32 6 Word analysis

• And Elihu: This marks the abrupt entrance of a previously unmentioned character. Elihu's name (אֱלִיהוּא, ʾĔlîhûʾ) means "He is My God" or "My God is He," carrying significant theological weight, suggesting he will reveal God's true nature or speak on His behalf.
• the son of Barachel the Buzite: This is a rare detailed genealogy for a character in the Book of Job, emphasizing his specific identity. Barachel (בָּרַכְאֵל, Bārakʾēl) means "God blesses." Buzite (בּוּזִי, Bûzî) refers to Buz, likely related to Nahor, Abraham's brother (Gen 22:21), placing him within the broad ancestral lines related to Abraham but distinct from Job's friends. This establishes him as an outsider with a potentially unique perspective, possibly from a region near Job's land of Uz.
• answered and said: Though Job and his friends had fallen silent, Elihu "answers" their unstated challenge, or more likely, "answers" the overall debate and the theological problems it posed. He's responding to the silence and the logical dead-end reached by the others.
• I am young (צָעִיר, tsa'ir): This term denotes a younger person, often lacking the societal status or presumed wisdom associated with age in ancient cultures. Elihu recognizes his junior position and uses it to explain his previous silence.
• and ye are very old (זְקֵנִים, zĕqēnîm): Refers to Job and his three friends, acknowledging their status as "elders" or "old men," a position that carried great honor and was traditionally associated with wisdom and experience in the ancient Near East.
• wherefore I was afraid (פָּחַד, pāḥaḏ): This "fear" is not simple terror but a deep reverence and awe for their age, presumed wisdom, and societal standing. He respected the hierarchical custom of allowing elders to speak first and carry the weight of the discussion.
• and durst not show you mine opinion: He "did not dare" (root חָלַשׁ, ḥalash, in Hiphil implies "to be weak, to become disheartened, to fail to do something"). This conveys his profound hesitation and the cultural pressure preventing a younger person from interjecting his thoughts to correct or even challenge older, respected individuals. He specifically uses the phrase "mine opinion" or "my knowledge" (חַוֹּת דֵּעָה, ḥawwot dēʿâ), emphasizing that he had his own distinct perspective or understanding of the matter.

Job 32 6 Bonus section

• Elihu's role as a mediator is crucial. He not only points out the shortcomings of both Job and his friends but also elevates the discussion by introducing new theological insights, especially concerning God's methods of communication and the purpose of suffering, acting as a crucial bridge to the divine speeches in the following chapters.
• While his immediate concern is respecting his elders, Elihu is fundamentally challenging the absolute equivalence of age and wisdom, foreshadowing his later argument that true understanding comes from the Spirit of God, not merely from the passage of time or accumulated human experience. This is a subtle but profound polemic against an overemphasis on traditional, age-based wisdom in the ancient world.
• Elihu's entrance signifies a change in tone and theological depth in the book, moving towards a more direct and precise theological reflection on God's sovereignty and wisdom. He is the last human voice before God Himself speaks, giving his words unique weight and function within the narrative structure.

Job 32 6 Commentary

Job 32:6 serves as Elihu's polite but firm self-introduction, explaining his silence while establishing the justification for his eventual speech. His opening lines demonstrate an understanding and respect for ancient cultural norms, where the wisdom of elders was highly valued, and youth was expected to listen, not interject or instruct. Elihu presents himself not as arrogant, but as one who has waited patiently, carefully observing the failed arguments of the four older men. This careful approach prepares the audience for a speech that, while delivered by a "young" man, claims a different source of wisdom (the Spirit of God, as he implies in Job 32:8) than mere age or human experience. His respectful tone in this verse, despite his later criticism of Job and the friends, highlights his attempt to avoid further offense while paving the way for a discourse that seeks to resolve the theological deadlock that the other debaters could not.