Job 35:1 kjv
Elihu spake moreover, and said,
Job 35:1 nkjv
Moreover Elihu answered and said:
Job 35:1 niv
Then Elihu said:
Job 35:1 esv
And Elihu answered and said:
Job 35:1 nlt
Then Elihu said:
Job 35 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Speech and Discourse | ||
| Job 32:2 | Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite... against Job because he justified himself rather than God. | Elihu's initial motivation and anger. |
| Job 32:18-20 | For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me... I will speak, that I may find relief... | Elihu's inner compulsion to speak. |
| Job 33:1 | Hear now, O Job, my words... | Elihu commanding Job's attention. |
| Prov 18:13 | If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. | Elihu's response implies listening. |
| Ecc 5:2 | Be not rash with your mouth... let your words be few. | Contrast to Elihu's extensive speeches. |
| Prov 10:19 | When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent. | Further thought on multitude of words. |
| Jas 1:19 | Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; | A general principle for communication. |
| Prov 29:11 | A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. | Elihu fully expressing his thoughts. |
| Youth and Wisdom | ||
| Job 32:6-7 | Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, “I am young in days... | Elihu's self-acknowledged youth. |
| 1 Tim 4:12 | Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example... | Youthful wisdom not to be dismissed. |
| 1 Kgs 3:7 | ...I am but a young man and do not know how to go out or come in. | Solomon's acknowledgment of youth before wisdom. |
| Jer 1:6-7 | Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the LORD said... | Jeremiah's youth not hindering God's call. |
| Prov 20:29 | The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. | Elihu representing the freshness of youth. |
| Divine Justice and Sovereignty | ||
| Job 35:2-3 | “Do you think this to be just: ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?... | Elihu's immediate point of argument in Ch 35. |
| Job 34:10-12 | Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding... Far be it from God to do wickedness... | Elihu defending God's character. |
| Psa 89:14 | Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. | God's absolute justice. |
| Rom 3:25-26 | ...to show God's righteousness... He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. | God's justice displayed perfectly. |
| Isa 45:9 | Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter! | Elihu's underlying message against questioning God. |
| Job 36:22-23 | Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed for Him His way? | Elihu's points about God's transcendence. |
| Job 40:2 | “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who argues with God answer it.” | God's direct challenge, foreshadowed by Elihu. |
| Psa 50:21 | ...you thought that I was one like yourself. But with a rebuke I will set it before your eyes. | God confronting human misconceptions of Him. |
| Rom 9:20 | But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? | Emphasizes the folly of disputing with God. |
Job 35 verses
Job 35 1 Meaning
This verse serves as a direct transition, marking the continuation of Elihu’s discourse within the dialogues of the Book of Job. It indicates that Elihu is resuming his speech, following his earlier interventions, signaling a new section of his argumentation.
Job 35 1 Context
The Book of Job explores profound questions about suffering, divine justice, and humanity's relationship with God. Before chapter 35, Job, a righteous man, suffers immensely and debates the cause of his calamities with his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar). The friends advocate a strict retribution theology, claiming Job must have sinned, which Job adamantly denies, affirming his innocence and appealing directly to God. Their dialogue reaches an impasse.
Elihu, a younger and previously silent participant, then interjects. He expresses anger both at Job for implying God is unjust and at the friends for failing to adequately refute Job while still condemning him. Chapters 32-37 comprise Elihu's extensive speeches. His arguments introduce a more nuanced understanding, suggesting that suffering can be for discipline, instruction, and refinement rather than solely punitive. He seeks to vindicate God's justice and sovereignty. Job 35:1 simply serves as the opening phrase for a new segment of Elihu's discourse, particularly leading into his argument that human righteousness or sin does not add to or diminish God's essential being or power, but rather affects fellow humans.
Job 35 1 Word analysis
Elihu: Transliterated from Hebrew אֱלִיהוּא ('Ĕlīhū). The name means "He is my God" or "My God is He." This meaning is highly symbolic, given Elihu's self-appointed role as a spokesman for God, passionately defending God's character and actions throughout his lengthy discourses. His very name seems to confirm his declared divine inspiration.
continued: Transliterated from Hebrew וַיַּעַן (vayya'an). This verb commonly translates as "and he answered" or "and he responded." While introductory, its use suggests that Elihu's words are a direct, sustained response to the preceding arguments and the theological stalemates between Job and the friends, emphasizing that his speech is not random but deliberately structured within the ongoing debate.
and said: Transliterated from Hebrew וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyō'mer). This is a standard Hebrew idiom to introduce spoken words. Its inclusion here simply marks the commencement of Elihu's verbal articulation of the specific points and arguments that will follow in Job chapter 35.
"Elihu continued and said": This entire phrase serves as a formal literary device. It signals a renewed vigor and sustained authority in Elihu’s delivery. It assures the audience that Elihu is still very much in control of the narrative flow and committed to expressing the entirety of his insights, thereby reinforcing the structured and deliberate nature of his extensive theological address.
Job 35 1 Bonus section
- Elihu's arguments, unlike those of the three friends, are not explicitly condemned or corrected by God in the conclusion of the Book of Job. This absence of divine rebuke often leads scholars to consider his contributions as holding a higher theological accuracy or serving as a divinely inspired prelude to God's own speech.
- He also introduces themes that anticipate later biblical revelation, such as the concept of God's redemptive discipline and even hints at a "mediator" or "intercessor" (Job 33:23-24) between God and humanity.
- Elihu’s persistence, marked by these "continued and said" markers throughout his sections, highlights his unique position as a comprehensive, organized, and unyielding advocate for God's wisdom and justice. He is characterized by a zealous eagerness to defend God's character from all misconceptions.
- His rhetorical style is more reasoned and comprehensive, exploring various avenues through which God communicates with humanity (e.g., dreams, afflictions), aiming to bring Job to a posture of greater humility and understanding.
Job 35 1 Commentary
Job 35:1, despite its brevity, functions as a critical textual marker within the Book of Job, signifying the unwavering determination of Elihu to complete his extensive arguments. Elihu's continued discourse represents a theological evolution within the book. He introduces a deeper perspective than the simplistic retribution theology of the friends, arguing that God is sovereign, and suffering can be a disciplinary tool, refining and instructing individuals. This specific verse prepares the audience for Elihu's challenge to Job's self-righteousness, specifically arguing that human actions do not alter God's nature or position. Elihu's discourse thus bridges the initial deadlock of the friends' arguments and Job's laments, effectively setting the stage for the climactic appearance and direct address of God Himself, who later affirms aspects of God’s sovereignty and Job's eventual humility.