Job 33: Elihu speaks to Job about how God speaks
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Elihu tells Job to hear him, says the Spirit of God made him, and repeats what he says he heard Job say: that he is clean and innocent, and that God counts him an enemy and puts his feet in the stocks. Elihu answers that God is greater than man and speaks once, yes twice, in dreams and through pain. He describes a man near the pit and an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, after which the man is restored and says he has sinned. He ends by telling Job to answer if he has words, or else to keep quiet and listen.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. Elihu speaks to Job through the whole chapter (he names Job in verses 1 and 31). In verses 9 to 11 he repeats what he says Job said, and those words stay in Job's mouth as Elihu reports them. In verse 24 he tells of someone who says "Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom" (the WEB says it is God; the Hebrew says "he"), and in verses 27 and 28 of the man who has been brought back and says "I have sinned". These are Elihu's picture of what is said, so none of it is gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
In plain English: "However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
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2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
In plain English: Look now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue speaks in my mouth (the Hebrew says: on my palate).
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3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
In plain English: My words are the uprightness of my heart. What my lips know, they speak purely (or: sincerely).
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4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
In plain English: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
The Hebrew words: "The Spirit of God" is ruach with El, and "the breath of the Almighty" is neshamah with Shaddai. A spirit and a breath are also named together in and .
Good to know: The word neshamah is also in : "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life".
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5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
In plain English: If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and take your stand.
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6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
In plain English: Look, I am toward God as you are (the Hebrew words say: like your mouth to God: see the note). I also was formed (the Hebrew word means: pinched off) out of clay.
The Hebrew words: Word by word the first half is "I am, like your mouth, to God". "Mouth" is peh, which the dictionary gives as "the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to". "Formed" is qarats, which the dictionary gives as "to pinch, i.e. (partially) to bite the lips, blink the eyes (as a gesture of malice), or (fully) to squeeze off (a piece of clay in order to mould a vessel from it)". It is in 5 verses of the Bible, and only here in Job. The WEB says "formed" here.
What changes: The WEB reads that Elihu stands toward God as Job does. With "according to" the first half can also read "I am to God according to your mouth". The text does not say which, or what "your mouth" refers to.
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7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
In plain English: Look, the dread of me will not terrify you, and my pressure will not be heavy on you.
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8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
In plain English: "Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I heard the sound of your words, saying,
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9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
In plain English: 'I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.
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10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
In plain English: Look, he finds occasions against me. He counts me as his enemy.
Good to know: Elihu gives these as Job's words, and he does not say where Job said them. Verse 11 has the same six Hebrew words as ("You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths"). The words for "counts" and "enemy" in verse 10 are also in ("consider me your enemy"). In those verses Job says "you" to God, and here Elihu has him say "he".
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11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
In plain English: He puts my feet in the stocks. He watches all my paths.'
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12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
In plain English: "Look, in this you are not in the right (or: not just), and I will answer you, for God is greater than a human.
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13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
In plain English: Why have you contended against him, because he does not answer (the WEB says: give account of) any of his words (or: matters)?
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14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
In plain English: For God speaks once, yes twice, though no one perceives it (or: pays attention).
The Hebrew word: "Pays no attention" is shur, which the dictionary gives as "to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for". It is in 10 verses of Job, and the WEB says "sings" in 1 of them, . Word by word the end of this verse is "and no one perceives it".
What changes: The line can also read "God speaks in one way, even in two, and no one perceives it". Either way, Elihu says people do not take it in.
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15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
In plain English: In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people, in slumber on the bed,
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16then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
In plain English: then he opens the ears of people, and seals their instruction (or: discipline),
The Hebrew words: "Instruction" is mosar, which the dictionary gives as "admonition". It is in 1 verse of the whole Bible, this one. Word by word the Hebrew is "with their discipline he will seal". "Seals" is chatam, which the dictionary gives as "to close up; especially to seal". It is in 24 verses of the Bible, and in Job in , , , 33:16 and .
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17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
In plain English: to turn a person away from his deed (or: purpose), and to hide pride from a man.
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18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
In plain English: He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword (the Hebrew word means: a missile or weapon).
The Hebrew word: "Sword" is shelach, which the dictionary gives as "a missile of attack, i.e. spear; also (figuratively) a shoot of growth; i.e. branch". It is in 8 verses of the Bible, and in Job in 33:18 and , where the WEB says "sword" in both.
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19“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
In plain English: "He is also chastened with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones (word by word: the multitude of his bones is constant),
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20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
In plain English: so that his life loathes bread, and his soul loathes food of desire (dainty food).
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21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
In plain English: His flesh wastes away so that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen are laid bare.
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22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
In plain English: Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).
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23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
In plain English: "If there is beside him an angel (or: a messenger), an interpreter (or: a mediator), one among a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him (the Hebrew says: his uprightness),
The Hebrew words: "Angel" is malak, which the dictionary gives as "a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)". It is in 3 verses of Job, and the WEB says "angel" in 2 and "messenger" in 1. "Interpreter" is luts, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede". It is in 2 verses of Job, and the WEB says "scoff" in and "interpreter" here.
What changes: The same Hebrew word is "angel" or "messenger", so the one beside him can be read as an angel or as a messenger. With "interpreter" he explains. With "mediator" (the word given by the word-by-word list) he stands between the man and God, and with "intercede" he speaks for the man. The text says only that he is one among a thousand and that he shows the man what is right for him.
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24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
In plain English: then he is gracious to him (the WEB says: God is gracious to him) and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom.'
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew of this verse has "he" where the WEB prints "God": word by word it is "and he showed favor to him and he said". The one last named, in verse 23, is the angel, the interpreter. "Ransom" is kopher, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a cover, i.e. (literally) a village (as covered in); (specifically) bitumen (as used for coating), and the henna plant (as used for dyeing); figuratively, a redemption-price". It is in 2 verses of Job, here and , where the WEB says "bribe".
What changes: If "he" is God, God is gracious and says "Deliver him". If "he" is the angel, the interpreter, then he is gracious and says it. Either way the words are inside Elihu's picture, and the text does not rule between the readings.
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25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
In plain English: His flesh will be fresher than a youth's (the WEB says: than a child's). He returns to the days of his youth.
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26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
In plain English: He prays to God, and he is favorable to him (or: accepts him), so that he sees his face with a shout of joy. He restores to a person his righteousness.
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27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
In plain English: He sings (or: looks) before (or: over) men, and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me (the Hebrew says: it was not equal to me).
The Hebrew words: The first word is shur, the same word as "pays no attention" in . Word by word the verse begins "he looks (or: watches) over people", and the WEB says "he sings before men". The dictionary gives shur as "to spy out" and does not give "sing" for it.
Good to know: In verse 28 the WEB has "my soul" and "my life". Word by word the Hebrew has "his soul" and "his life" there. The text does not say more.
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28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
In plain English: He has redeemed my soul (word by word: his soul) from going into the pit. My life (word by word: his life) will see the light.'
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29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
In plain English: "Look, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
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30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
In plain English: to bring back his soul from the pit, so that he may be lit up with the light of the living (or: of life).
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31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
In plain English: Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Keep quiet, and I will speak.
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32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
In plain English: If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
The Hebrew word: "Justify" is tsadaq, the same word as "justified himself" in and "not just" in . It is in 17 verses of Job, and the WEB says a form of "justify" in 5 of them.
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33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
In plain English: If not, you listen to me. Keep quiet, and I will teach you wisdom."
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