Job’s three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given, a bystander and hearer of the whole dispute between them, rises up as a moderator, and expresses some anger both against them and Job, Job 32:1–5; he makes an apology for…

So these three men ceased to answer Job His three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, who came to visit and comfort him under his afflictions; but unawares were led into a controversy with him, occasioned by some rash and impatient expressions of his; which…

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite Both against Job and his three friends, for reasons after given; who this person was is not easy to say; they debase him too much, who make him to be Balaam the soothsayer, according to the tradition of the Jews [[6]]; for neither…

Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled He did not take part with either side, but blamed both, and took upon him to be a moderator between them, and deal impartially with them: what highly displeased him, and raised his spirit against the three friends of Job, was, because they had…

Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken Made an end of speaking, until he had thus expressed himself, “the words of Job are ended”, : and waited likewise until his three friends had said all they had to say, and which is here supposed and implied, as appears by what follows: because they were…

When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men That could be called an answer; nay, when he perceived they were quite nonplussed and silenced, though men of years and experience, and reputed wise and knowing: then his wrath was kindled; his spirit was stirred up; his heart…

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, &c.] Since there was no answer in them, he takes upon him to give one himself; but first makes an apology on account of his youth: I am young, and ye are very old; or “few of days”; a few days, comparatively speaking, had he lived in the…

I said, days should speak That is, men of days, of many days, who have lived many days and years in the world: man in common is but of few days, even the most that men arrive to are but few; and some indeed are very few, in comparison of whom others may be said to be men of days, or to have lived…

But there is a spirit in man This seems to be a correction of his former sentiment; the consideration of which gave him encouragement, though young, to declare his opinion, since there is a spirit in men, both young and old; and wherever that be, there is an ability to speak and a capacity of…

Great men are not always wise Men of grandeur and dignity, as Job’s friends might be, the rich, the honourable, and noble; the apostle is thought to refer to this, at least to express the sentiment contained in it, ; or the great in quantity, the many, the multitude; and therefore are not to be…

Therefore I said, hearken to me Thou O Job, and every one of you his friends, for the word is singular; though I am but a young man, yet if I have the Spirit of God, and am under the inspiration of the Almighty, I may be able to say something to you worth your hearing: I also will show mine…

Behold, I waited for your words With great desire, with great eagerness and earnestness, in hope of meeting with arguments fully satisfying and convincing; he waited for them, as for the rain, and the latter rain, to be revived, refreshed, and edified therewith; and he patiently waited until they…

Yea, I attended unto you Very closely, with great application and diligence, endeavouring to get, as it were, within them, and thoroughly understand the meaning of what they said: and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job; which was not owing to his obstinacy, but to want of proof in…

Lest ye should say, we have found out wisdom They were left to themselves, and not directed to take the proper methods of convincing Job, and answering his arguments; lest they should be wise in their own conceits, and attribute too much to themselves; or Elihu told them this, that they had not…

Now he hath not directed his words against me That is, Job had not directed his speech to him, or levelled his arguments against him; he had not set himself and his words in battle array against him, as the word signifies; he had not lashed and irritated him as he had them; and therefore he came…

They were amazed They were like persons thunderstruck, quite surprised and astonished to hear a young man talk after this manner: they answered no more; as they had ceased to answer Job, they did not undertake to answer Elihu, who had plainly told them their arguments were not convincing, their…

When one had waited To observe whether they would make any reply to what he had said, or any objection to his engaging in the controversy: for they spake not; were as mute as fishes: but stood still; like statues, had no power to move, neither to sit down nor to depart, but were as if all life,…

I said, I will answer also my part Or take his turn in giving an answer to Job; what they had given being quite insufficient and unsuitable: I also will show mine opinion; knowledge, or sentiment; this for a while he was fearful of doing, but, upon a thorough and serious consideration of things, he…

For I am full of matter Or “full of words” [[23]]; not of mere words, such that have nothing solid and substantial in them; this is the character of a fool, ; nor was Elihu a loquacious talkative man, as Job is charged to be, a man full of talk, ; but he was full of words, which had fulness of…

Behold, my belly is as wine, which hath no vent Or, “is not opened” [[0]], like a bottle of wine, as Ben Gersom, which is stopped close, and the wine in it new; which is most apt to ferment, and should have vent given it; so the Targum, “as new wine, which is not opened:” in the same manner Jarchi…

I will speak, that I may be refreshed That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard, and gave him pain; and therefore he determines to speak his mind, and disburden himself: so a minister of the word speaks sometimes to the refreshment of…

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person Neither the person of Job, because of his poverty and affliction, indulging too much to pity and commiseration, and affecting to get a good name from others for it; nor the persons of his three friends, on account of their wealth and grandeur; for…

For I know not to give flattering titles He had not been brought up in such a manner, nor taught to use them; he had not been inured to them, nor did he know or approve of them; nor could he in conscience give them; in so doing, my Maker would soon take me away; it being such a piece of wickedness,…