Job 33 6

Job 33:6 kjv

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

Job 33:6 nkjv

Truly I am as your spokesman before God; I also have been formed out of clay.

Job 33:6 niv

I am the same as you in God's sight; I too am a piece of clay.

Job 33:6 esv

Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.

Job 33:6 nlt

Look, you and I both belong to God.
I, too, was formed from clay.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 6 Meaning

Job 33:6 asserts Elihu's shared human vulnerability and created nature with Job. Elihu positions himself as an equal before God, stressing that just like Job, he too was fashioned from humble clay, thereby validating his right to speak to Job on common ground, independent of age or status differences. It underscores that both stand equally as creatures before their Creator.

Job 33 6 Context

Job 33:6 appears within Elihu’s initial discourse (Job 32-37). Having patiently waited, Elihu, the youngest of Job’s interlocutors, now intervenes after the three older friends have ceased speaking due to Job's unyielding position. Chapters 32:1-5 explain Elihu’s initial anger at both Job’s self-righteousness and the friends' inability to provide a conclusive answer. He emphasizes his deference to their age but then asserts his own right to speak, attributing his insight to God’s Spirit (Job 32:6-9). This verse directly addresses Job, reassuring him that Elihu is not presenting himself as a divine arbiter but as a fellow human being. This sets the stage for Elihu to challenge Job's arguments from a perspective of shared creatureliness before God, rather than hierarchical superiority. Historically and culturally, age often equated to wisdom and authority, making Elihu’s self-introduction here crucial for establishing his legitimacy to speak, countering such contemporary beliefs by asserting universal human frailty before God.

Job 33 6 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An emphatic interjection meaning "look," "pay attention," or "indeed." It is used to draw immediate attention to the statement that follows, signifying a point of considerable importance.
• I am toward God (כָּאֵל - kā-'ēl):
  • kā (כָּ): The preposition "like" or "as." It denotes similarity or equality in a particular respect.
  • ’ēl (אֵל): Here referring to "God."
  • Together, kā-'ēl does not imply Elihu claims to be "like God" in divine nature but rather "before God" or "as you are before God," in the same posture or condition. It emphasizes shared standing, acknowledging God as supreme over both of them.
• as you are (פִּיךָ - pîḵā): Literally, "your mouth." In this context, it functions idiomatically to mean "as you speak" or "as you claim." It likely refers to Job’s desire to argue his case directly with God (Job 13:3, 9:32-35), suggesting Elihu stands in that same, open posture toward God. Some translations render it more broadly as "as you are," referring to Job's human state. The nuance suggests Elihu stands as Job's counterpart, willing to speak with God, yet fully human.
• I too (גַּם־אֲנִי - gam-'ānī):
  • gam (גַּם): Means "also," "even," "too." It underscores the inclusivity of the statement.
  • ’anī (אֲנִי): The first-person singular pronoun, "I."
  • Together, "I also" stresses Elihu’s identical created status and vulnerability to Job, creating a profound point of commonality and enabling an empathetic but challenging dialogue.
• was formed (קֹרַצְתִּי - qoratz’tî): From the root qaratz (קָרַץ), meaning "to pinch off," "to mold," or "to fashion." It explicitly speaks of shaping from a malleable substance, indicating direct divine craftsmanship. This verb points to the tangible process of formation, emphasizing humanity’s created state, rather than being self-existent or born from pure spirit.
• out of clay (מֵחֶמֶר - mē-ḥemer):
  • mē (מֵ): The preposition "from" or "out of."
  • ḥemer (חֶמֶר): Refers to "clay," "loam," or "mire."
  • This phrase emphasizes humanity’s humble and fragile earthly origins, highlighting our dependence on God for existence. It is a powerful reminder of mortality and the transient nature of human life.

Words-group analysis:

• "Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too": Elihu opens with an attention-grabbing statement, immediately asserting his position vis-à-vis God is identical to Job's. He stresses shared human identity and a mutual accountability before the Creator. This removes any hierarchical barrier and suggests an upcoming discourse based on common, fundamental truths rather than differing experiences or social standing. It acts as a leveling declaration.
• "was formed out of clay": This phrase anchors Elihu's shared identity with Job firmly in the Genesis creation account. It directly appeals to their common mortal nature and physical frailty, reminding both speaker and listener of their finite, created existence. This undermines any basis for Job to feel superior in suffering or for Elihu to claim inherent authority beyond divine inspiration, framing the conversation within the ultimate reality of Creator and creature. It implies a direct polemic against any perception of human self-sufficiency or innate divinity.

Job 33 6 Bonus section

• The emphasis on being "formed out of clay" serves as a counterpoint to Job’s profound desire to argue with God as an equal. Elihu reminds both Job and the audience that such equality is impossible due to the fundamental difference between Creator and creature.
• This verse pre-empts any potential objection from Job regarding Elihu’s age or inexperience. Elihu establishes his right to speak not from worldly wisdom or status, but from his inherent participation in humanity's divinely formed, humble nature, which also receives the spirit of God (Job 32:8).
• The use of "clay" and "formed" carries echoes of God as the divine Potter and humanity as the pliable clay (Isa 64:8, Jer 18:6, Rom 9:20-21). This imagery profoundly illustrates God's sovereignty and humanity's subservience, setting the stage for Elihu’s exposition of God's ways, particularly His discipline and grace.
• The very act of forming from clay underscores that life is a divine gift, not an inherent right or something humanity generates independently. This deepens the argument for submission to divine will.

Job 33 6 Commentary

Elihu's words in Job 33:6 serve as a crucial preamble to his subsequent arguments. By stating his equality with Job—both standing as finite, created beings formed from clay before an infinite God—he subtly yet firmly dismantles any social or experiential barrier that might prevent Job from receiving his words. This declaration highlights a fundamental biblical truth: all humanity shares a common, humble origin, utterly dependent on the Creator. It addresses Job’s intense desire to present his case directly to God (Job 13:3) by assuring him that Elihu stands in that same vulnerable yet responsible position. This also implies that wisdom does not reside solely in age or accumulated experience but can come through the Spirit of God, which Elihu had asserted earlier (Job 32:8). Elihu uses their shared human limitation and createdness from dust (cf. Gen 2:7, Gen 3:19) as a foundation for genuine dialogue, urging Job to hear him not as a judge, but as a fellow struggling human seeking to articulate divine truth. Elihu presents himself as a proxy, standing where Job wants to stand with God, but maintaining the proper posture of creature to Creator. This humility and self-awareness provide Elihu credibility in contrast to the earlier friends who spoke with assumed authority based on their interpretation of wisdom traditions.