Job 34 2

Job 34:2 kjv

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

Job 34:2 nkjv

"Hear my words, you wise men; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

Job 34:2 niv

"Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.

Job 34:2 esv

"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;

Job 34:2 nlt

"Listen to me, you wise men.
Pay attention, you who have knowledge.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 2 Meaning

Job 34:2 is an invocation by Elihu, addressing those whom he considers to be discerning and wise. He urges them to pay close attention to his words and understand the depth of his impending discourse. It serves as an emphatic demand for a receptive and attentive audience, implying that his subsequent arguments merit careful consideration from individuals of intellect and understanding.

Job 34 2 Context

Job 34:2 is part of Elihu's third speech, which begins in chapter 34. Having waited for Job and his three friends to complete their arguments, and finding fault with all of them (Job 32), Elihu now takes the floor. He views himself as having superior insight, gained not necessarily through age, but through divine inspiration (Job 32:8).

In the immediate context of Job 34:1, Elihu begins his address. Before launching into his detailed refutation of Job's claim that God has wronged him, Elihu makes a general appeal for attention and discernment from anyone present whom he deems "wise" or possessing "knowledge." This establishes the tone for his discourse: he expects a serious and objective hearing for his arguments about God's justice, arguments that he believes surpass those offered by Job's older friends. He implicitly invites judgment on his words, believing them to be truthful and righteous.

Job 34 2 Word analysis

• Hear (שִׁמְעוּ, shim'u): This is an imperative verb, "listen!" or "obey!" in Hebrew. It implies not just perceiving sound but heeding, understanding, and potentially acting upon what is heard. It demands active engagement rather than passive reception. In the biblical context, "hearing" often leads to "doing."
• my words (מִלַּי, millay): Refers to his utterances, speeches, or discourse. Elihu is confident in the content he is about to present, presenting them as weighty and significant.
• O ye wise men (חֲכָמִים, chakhamim): The plural of chakham, meaning wise, skillful, or shrewd. In Hebrew wisdom literature, this term typically denotes individuals who possess moral and practical understanding, often aligned with divine principles. Elihu is specifically appealing to those who are capable of discerning truth and making sound judgments, not to the common crowd. This highlights his perception of the elevated nature of his message.
• and give ear (וְהַאֲזִינוּ, wəha'azinū): Another imperative, from the root azan, meaning "to listen closely," "to attend carefully," or "to incline the ear." This phrase is often used for receiving important instruction or a divine message. It intensifies the command to listen found in shim'u, urging deep concentration.
• unto me (לִי, li): Emphatically directs the requested attention back to Elihu himself, reinforcing his position as the speaker with important revelation.
• ye that have knowledge (יֹדְעֵי־דָעַת, yode’ey-da'at): Lit. "knowers of knowledge" or "possessors of understanding." Da'at signifies intellectual discernment, understanding, or knowing intimately. This term complements chakhamim, appealing not just to practical wisdom but also to intellectual comprehension and deep insight. Elihu is thus targeting both the practically sagacious and the intellectually learned.

Words-group analysis

• "Hear my words" and "give ear unto me": This is a classic example of synonymous parallelism, a common literary device in Hebrew poetry. It involves repeating the same idea using different but related phrases, emphasizing the message and intensifying the command. It highlights Elihu's strong desire for his words to be taken seriously and absorbed fully by his audience. It conveys urgency and significance.
• "O ye wise men" and "ye that have knowledge": This pairing also uses synonymous parallelism to broadly define Elihu's target audience. He's not addressing just anyone but those recognized for their sagacity (chakhamim) and those characterized by their understanding and insight (yode’ey-da'at). This demonstrates Elihu's belief that his message requires intellectual and spiritual discernment, and he anticipates such a reception from this chosen audience. It also subtly positions his own understanding as aligning with true wisdom and knowledge.

Job 34 2 Bonus section

Elihu's appeal to "wise men" rather than merely to Job and his friends, suggests he sees his discourse as a general exposition of divine principles that transcends the immediate dispute. It implies that the errors of Job's friends and Job himself stemmed from a flawed understanding of divine wisdom, and Elihu presents himself as the corrective. This foreshadows Elihu's arguments emphasizing God's omnipotence and absolute righteousness, which stand as a divine and perfect form of "wisdom" compared to the human perspectives debated so far. His strong demand for attention and the designation of his audience as "wise" sets up the dramatic entrance of God's voice in the whirlwind in subsequent chapters, validating aspects of Elihu's focus on God's overwhelming majesty.

Job 34 2 Commentary

Job 34:2 introduces Elihu's third major discourse, setting a tone of confident authority and a demand for intellectual engagement. By calling upon "wise men" and those with "knowledge," Elihu is effectively inviting critical but receptive judgment of his arguments, positioning himself as someone who holds profound truths worthy of consideration by discerning minds. He challenges the assumed wisdom of Job's older friends by asserting his own inspired understanding, implying that they, despite their reputation, had failed to grasp the deeper aspects of God's justice. This verse underscores the premise of Elihu's subsequent argument: that true understanding comes from divine insight, and that his words, therefore, ought to be received with the utmost attention and discernment. It frames his speech not as a youthful outburst, but as a reasoned revelation.