Job 32 8

Job 32:8 kjv

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Job 32:8 nkjv

But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

Job 32:8 niv

But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

Job 32:8 esv

But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

Job 32:8 nlt

But there is a spirit within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 8 Meaning

Job 32:8 articulates a profound theological truth asserted by Elihu: true understanding and wisdom do not come merely from advanced age or accumulated human experience, but rather from the indwelling of God's Spirit in humanity. It suggests that while respect for elders and their experience is traditional, ultimate spiritual insight and discernment originate from a divine source—the breath of the Almighty. This challenges the prevalent notion among Job's friends that wisdom is solely a byproduct of long life, emphasizing instead the Spirit's unique role in imparting true comprehension of divine matters.

Job 32 8 Context

Job chapter 32 introduces Elihu, the youngest of Job's four companions. He has remained silent until this point, waiting for the older men to finish their arguments (v. 4). However, his patience wears thin, as he finds both Job and his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) in error. He is indignant because the friends failed to refute Job's arguments, and Job failed to justify himself before God. Verses 6-7 describe the prevailing societal norm Elihu observed, stating he held back because "days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom." Job 32:8 then presents Elihu's groundbreaking counter-argument to this traditional view, positing that understanding is not a sole prerogative of the aged but a divine endowment given through God's Spirit. This sets the stage for Elihu's extended speeches (Job 32-37), which introduce a fresh theological perspective, challenging both Job's self-justification and the friends' flawed wisdom.

Job 32 8 Word analysis

• But (אָכֵן - ʾāḵēn): A strong affirmative particle, serving here as a significant contrastive conjunction. It emphatically introduces a corrective statement, shifting the discussion from the preceding belief that age inherently grants wisdom (v. 6-7) to Elihu's profound insight regarding the true source of understanding. It is a polemic against the "age equals wisdom" assumption.
• it is the spirit (רוּחַ - rûaḥ): This significant Hebrew term is multifaceted, capable of meaning "wind," "breath," or "spirit." In this context, juxtaposed with "breath of the Almighty," rûaḥ signifies not merely human intellect or life force but implies a divine spiritual capacity or direct divine influence. It speaks to a deeper, more profound kind of discernment that originates supernaturally, distinguishing it from purely cognitive human ability. This rûaḥ is often linked with inspiration and empowerment for specific tasks or insight throughout Scripture.
• in man (בָּאֱנוֹשׁ - bāʾĕnôš): The noun ʾĕnôš specifically refers to humankind, often with a nuance of frailty or mortality. This highlights that while humans are weak and fallible, they are paradoxically recipients of this divine empowering rûaḥ. It suggests that this understanding isn't inherent to humanity but is granted to frail mortals.
• the breath (נִשְׁמַת - nišmat): Derived from the root for "to breathe," nišmat also refers to vital breath or spirit. It strongly overlaps with rûaḥ but reinforces the idea of something vital, inspiring, and life-giving originating from a divine source. It signifies direct impartation rather than acquired knowledge.
• of the Almighty (שַׁדַּי - Šadday): El Shaddai, meaning "God Almighty" or "God All-Sufficient," is a covenant name for God, emphasizing His absolute power, sovereignty, and ability to fulfill His purposes. Attributing the breath to Šadday unequivocally identifies the ultimate source of true understanding as God Himself, stressing its divine, powerful, and authoritative origin.
• that gives him understanding (וְהִיא תְּבִינֵם - wəhîʾ təḇîněm): Těḇînāh denotes deep insight, discernment, or intelligence. This phrase explicitly states the function of the Spirit/Breath of the Almighty: to impart true understanding. It implies a qualitative difference between worldly knowledge and divinely-inspired comprehension, especially regarding spiritual truths and God's ways.

Words-group analysis

• "the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty": This crucial phrase creates a parallelism, linking the human capacity for understanding directly to the divine essence. It merges the internal "spirit in man" with the external divine "breath," implying that the human spirit's ability to truly comprehend is a direct result of being indwelt, enlivened, or empowered by the Spirit of God Almighty. It corrects the anthropocentric view of wisdom by rooting it in God.
• "that gives him understanding": This directly states the purpose and outcome of the divine impartation. The understanding imparted is not merely intellectual accumulation but profound insight, a spiritual discernment that allows one to grasp truth, often regarding God's will or mysteries, which cannot be gained through human faculties alone.

Job 32 8 Bonus section

Elihu's perspective in Job 32:8 is unique among the interlocutors and offers a bridge to God's subsequent intervention. While Elihu is young and therefore, by the traditional understanding, less wise, his appeal to divine inspiration validates his subsequent theological exposition. This verse implies that wisdom is not earned or accumulated simply by longevity but is supernaturally gifted. It sets up Elihu as a prototype of one whose words are not based on human wisdom but on divine illumination, a concept foundational to prophetic ministry and later, to the Spirit-led understanding promised in the New Covenant. The emphasis on "Spirit" and "Breath of the Almighty" highlights God's active engagement and not a passive human reception of knowledge.

Job 32 8 Commentary

Job 32:8 is a pivotal statement in Elihu's argument, serving as a corrective to the long-held assumption that wisdom correlates directly with age. Elihu boldly challenges his elders' flawed reliance on tradition and experience, asserting that ultimate wisdom originates solely from God, specifically through His Spirit in man. This verse anticipates later biblical themes of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit's role in granting spiritual discernment. It acts as a profound theological polemic, advocating for divine revelation as the supreme source of truth over mere human tradition or cumulative experience, highlighting God's sovereignty as the wellspring of all genuine understanding. It demonstrates that true insight is a gift from God, available to any humble heart, regardless of their years.