Job 33 32

Job 33:32 kjv

If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

Job 33:32 nkjv

If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you.

Job 33:32 niv

If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you.

Job 33:32 esv

If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.

Job 33:32 nlt

But if you have anything to say, go ahead.
Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 32 Meaning

Elihu extends a direct and sincere invitation to Job, urging him to respond and present any further arguments he possesses. Elihu declares his earnest desire not to condemn Job, but rather to find grounds to justify, declare him righteous, or vindicate his cause, shifting from the confrontational stance of Job's previous interlocutors.

Job 33 32 Context

Job 33:32 is found within Elihu's first discourse to Job and his three friends. Prior to this verse (Job 32:6-33:30), Elihu has presented his unique perspective, differentiating himself from the three friends who largely condemned Job based on a retributive theology (suffering = sin). Elihu argues that God's ways are more complex and encompass discipline, teaching, and drawing individuals to repentance, even through suffering, potentially without specific grave sin. He posits that God speaks through various means, including dreams and physical affliction, to bring men to self-reflection and redemption. Elihu introduces the concept of a "mediator" or "interpreter" (Job 33:23-24) who can intercede for a suffering person, pointing towards God's mercy and desire for restoration.

This verse immediately follows Elihu's extensive presentation of God's redemptive discipline (Job 33:14-30) and a direct command for Job to pay attention and listen (Job 33:31). Now, Elihu shifts the burden of response back to Job, indicating that he is not simply delivering a monologue but genuinely engaging in a legal-style disputation. This reflects the common legal culture of the ancient Near East, where formal arguments and opportunities for defense were part of judicial processes. Elihu's open invitation to Job ("If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak") and his explicit stated desire ("for I desire to justify you") highlight a different approach than that of Job's previous accusers. Elihu presents himself as impartial and truly seeking the truth regarding Job's situation, even if it means acknowledging Job's righteousness rather than confirming his guilt. This contrasts sharply with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who pressed Job for confessions of sin.

Job 33 32 Word analysis

• If: This introduces a conditional clause, implying that Job is given a genuine option to respond, not just a pro-forma one. It respects Job's autonomy in the discourse.
• you have anything to say: Hebrew: ḥebrāt dāvār (חֶבְרַת דָּבָר).
  • ḥebrāt (חֶבְרַת): related to 'fellowship,' 'company,' 'association.' Here it signifies 'a collection of words' or 'a discourse.'
  • dāvār (דָּבָר): 'word,' 'matter,' 'thing,' 'argument.' This phrase collectively means "if you have a discourse of words," "any matter of argument," or "anything to argue." It gives Job broad scope to articulate his case. This signifies Elihu's open-mindedness to hearing any counter-argument from Job.
• answer me: Hebrew: ʿănēnî (עֲנֵנִי). This is an imperative, a direct command and urgent request. It emphasizes the expectation for Job to engage directly and verbally.
• Speak: Hebrew: dabbēr (דַּבֵּר). Another imperative, reinforcing the invitation to articulate. This word often carries the sense of speaking with authority, deliberation, or with purpose. Elihu genuinely wants Job to vocalize his position.
• for I desire: Hebrew: wəʾeḥpōṣ (וְאֶחְפֹּץ). From the root ḥāphēṣ (חָפֵץ), meaning 'to desire,' 'to delight in,' 'to take pleasure in.' This indicates Elihu's earnest will and genuine intent. It's not a mere procedural statement but an expression of his sincere motivation. He genuinely wishes to see Job's integrity confirmed if it is indeed just.
• to justify you: Hebrew: ləhaṣdîqeḵā (לְהַצְדִּיקֶךָ). From the root ṣādaq (צָדַק), 'to be righteous,' 'to be just.' The Hiphil stem haṣdîqeḵā means 'to declare righteous,' 'to pronounce innocent,' 'to vindicate.' This is the crucial point of the verse. Elihu's aim is distinct from Job's friends. While they sought to prove Job guilty of sin that warranted his suffering, Elihu offers the possibility of publicly affirming Job's righteousness in the dispute, potentially finding a righteous basis for his suffering or declaring him right in his appeals to God. This term sets up the contrast between human accusations and divine justification (ultimately God justifies Job in Job 42).

Words-group Analysis:

• "If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak": This sequence highlights Elihu's legal and confrontational, yet also genuinely open, stance. It frames the discourse as a direct legal challenge, providing Job an unhindered platform to defend himself after Elihu has had his say. It's a testament to ancient disputation ethics that even the younger speaker grants the elder an opportunity for rebuttal.
• "for I desire to justify you": This phrase reveals Elihu's unique and perhaps redemptive perspective, distinct from the other friends. It introduces the possibility of a just suffering or a vindication of Job's integrity before God and men. This shifts the focus from finding guilt to seeking righteous affirmation, a move that prepares the ground for God's eventual appearance and Job's true justification. It's an expression of hope and impartial inquiry.

Job 33 32 Bonus section

• Elihu's perspective in this verse serves as a crucial bridge in the Book of Job. He moves the conversation beyond human retributive theology, introducing God's use of suffering for purification and instruction. His invitation for Job's justification prefigures God's final declaration of Job's integrity, shifting from a focus on punishment for sin to a focus on divine purpose and eventual restoration.
• The desire to "justify you" is a striking contrast to Job's experience throughout the book, where he has sought a vindicator (Job 16:19; 19:25) against his friends and even against God's apparent dealings. Elihu here steps into a quasi-mediatorial role, expressing a desire for vindication, even if not the ultimate divine vindication Job craved.
• Elihu, though a human interpreter, helps to prepare Job for the voice of God. His speech subtly shifts the dialogue from Job’s intense focus on his perceived legal battle with God to a recognition of God's greater purposes and wisdom, setting the stage for the dramatic appearance of the Almighty in Job 38-41.

Job 33 32 Commentary

Job 33:32 stands out as a crucial verse that differentiates Elihu's approach from the dogmatic condemnations of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. While they focused on proving Job's sin to justify God's perceived judgment, Elihu expresses a profound desire to "justify" Job. This term ləhaṣdîqeḵā (to make righteous or vindicate) does not mean Elihu presumes Job is righteous, but that he is genuinely open to finding and articulating the justice of Job's position if it exists. It represents a potential for acquittal or for understanding Job's suffering in a light that maintains his integrity and God's righteousness without implying sin on Job's part. Elihu’s impartiality, unlike the fixed theological biases of the other friends, allowed him to consider a path for Job's vindication. He functions here almost as an advocate, inviting Job's final argument, before God Himself would step in and provide the ultimate vindication (Job 42:7-8). This verse sets a compassionate and intellectual tone, demonstrating a listening posture crucial for discerning truth and acknowledging the divine mystery of suffering.