Job 32 Elihu, Job’s fourth friend, speaketh: he is angry with Job for justifying himself, and with his three friends for not satisfying, and yet condemning him, Job 32:1–5.

i.e. Was self-conceited, and obstinately resolved to justify himself both against God and men; therefore they give him over as incorrigible.

The Buzite; of the posterity of Buz, Nahor’s son, Gen. 22:21. Of the kindred of Ram, or of Aram; for Ram and Aram are used promiscuously: compare 2 Kings 8:28, with 2 Chron. 22:5, Ruth 4:19, Matt. 1:3. Others, of Abraham, who as he was called Abram, possibly was at first called only Ram.

They had found no answer to Job’s allegations and arguments, as to the main cause. Had condemned Job as a hypocrite or ungodly, man.

Elihu had waited with patience, as the word notes. Till Job; add, and his three friends, as appears from the following words. It is a synecdoche, whereof instances have been given before.

To wit, of discovering my weakness and folly, and of being thought forward and presumptuous.

Days, i.e. multitude of days, by comparing the next clause of the verse. Or men of days, i.e. of many days or years, old men. Should speak, to wit, wisely and pertinently, as the next words limit it.

But; or, surely; it must be confessed. A spirit, to wit, which gives him understanding, as is easily and fitly gathered out of the last words of the verse. And this is to be understood either, 1. Of the human spirit, or reasonable soul, which is in every man.

Great men, i.e. men of eminency for age or learning, or dignity and power, such as Job’s three friends seem to have been. Judgment; what is just and right; or the judgment of God, and the methods and reasons of his administrations.

I said within myself, and now I say it with my mouth. Hearken to me; thou, Job, especially, who art more nearly concerned, (to whom therefore he speaketh in the singular number,) and thy friends with thee.

I waited with silence, and patience, and diligent attention; which therefore I now expect from you. Your reasons; or, reasonings, Heb. understandings; or mind’s; the depth and strength of your discourses, your most intelligent and forcible arguments against Job; I searched and examined them to the…

By solid and satisfactory answers to his assertions and allegations.

Lest ye should say; it is a defective speech, and may be thus supplied: Thus it was, or God thus left you to your own weakness, and mistakes, and impertinent discourses, lest ye should say, &c., i.e.

I am not engaged in this discourse by any provoking words of Job, as you have been, which hath drawn forth your passions and biassed your judgments; but merely from zeal for the vindication of God’s honour, and love to truth and justice, and a sincere desire to administer to Job matter both of…

They, i.e. Job’s three friends, of whom he speaks some times, in the second, and here in the third person, directing his speech to Job and the auditors of this disputation.

Which he repeats as a strange and unreasonable thing, that they should be silent when they had such obligations to speak for the vindication both of God’s justice, and of their own truth and reputation.

I will take my turn, and speak what they have omitted.

I am full of matter, i.e. I have many things to say in this cause. The spirit within me; either my own spirit or soul, which is wholly dissatisfied with what hath been hitherto spoken, and clearly apprehends what may silence Job, and end the dispute; or God’s Spirit, which he hath put in me; the…

My belly, i.e. my mind or heart, which is oft called a man’s belly, as Job 15:35, Ps. 40:8, Hab. 3:16, John 7:38. As wine; as new wine pent up close in a bottle, as the following words explain it and determine it. The wine is here put for the bottle in which it is, by a common metonymy.

That I may be refreshed; that I may ease my mind of those thoughts which now oppress it. I will open my lips and answer; I will not utter impertinent words, but solid answers, to Job’s arguments.

Do not expect that I should out of fear or respect to any of you speak partially, but bear with my free and plain dealing with you all. As I shall not censure and reproach Job as a hypocrite or profane person, which you have done; so neither shall I flatter him, but faithfully reprove him for his…

I have neither skill nor will to flatter Job or any man so as to debauch my conscience, or corrupt the truth, or speak falsely for his sake. If I should be guilty of that sin, God would quickly and sorely punish me for it.