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Elihu Rebukes Job
In Job 33, Elihu asks Job to listen carefully. He says he speaks sincerely, repeats Job’s complaint, and argues that God may speak in more than one way to turn a person back from ruin.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is part of a speech from Elihu to Job. Elihu presents himself as a fellow human formed from clay and made alive by God’s breath. He challenges Job’s complaint against God, then explains his own view that God may warn, correct, and show grace to a person.
Job 33:1–33Main takeaway
Elihu argues that God is greater than people and may use warning, suffering, and mercy to bring a person back from the pit to the light of life.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Elihu speaks as a fellow humanElihu begins by asking Job to hear all his words. He says he will speak sincerely from an upright heart.
Explanation
Elihu begins by asking Job to hear all his words. He says he will speak sincerely from an upright heart. He also reminds Job that both of them owe life to God, and that he too was formed from clay. Because of that, Job need not fear Elihu’s pressure or terror.
02Elihu answers Job’s complaintElihu says he has heard Job’s claim to be clean, innocent, and without iniquity. He also repeats Job’s complaint that God counts him as an enemy, restrains him, and watches all his paths.
Explanation
Elihu says he has heard Job’s claim to be clean, innocent, and without iniquity. He also repeats Job’s complaint that God counts him as an enemy, restrains him, and watches all his paths. Elihu answers that Job is not just in this matter, because God is greater than man.
03God may warn before destructionElihu argues that God does speak, even when people do not pay attention. He mentions dreams and night visions, where God opens ears and seals instruction.
Explanation
Elihu argues that God does speak, even when people do not pay attention. He mentions dreams and night visions, where God opens ears and seals instruction. According to Elihu, this warning can draw a person away from his own purpose, hide pride, and keep his life back from the pit.
04Pain and mercy in Elihu’s descriptionElihu next describes a person weakened by pain, unable to enjoy food, with flesh wasted away and life drawing near to the pit.
Explanation
Elihu next describes a person weakened by pain, unable to enjoy food, with flesh wasted away and life drawing near to the pit. Then he gives a condition: if there is an angel, an interpreter, to show what is right, God may be gracious and say, ‘Deliver him’, because a ransom has been found.
05Restoration, confession, and Elihu’s closing appealFrom that gracious deliverance, Elihu describes renewed flesh, prayer, joy before God, and restored righteousness.
Explanation
From that gracious deliverance, Elihu describes renewed flesh, prayer, joy before God, and restored righteousness. The person then openly confesses sin and says that perverting what was right did not profit him. Elihu says God does such things repeatedly to bring a person back to the light, then calls Job to answer or listen to wisdom.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Elihu present himself as someone Job can listen to without fear?
02What purposes does Elihu give for God’s warnings in dreams and visions?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 33:1–33
1“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
16then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”