Job 32:8 Commentary and Bible Study

Elihu prepares the way for what was to be a very forceful move, for he was about to criticise some of the most renowned men in the land. He was going to admonish the three friends who had come so far to bring the fruits of their experience and he was going to admonish Job who had outstanding respect in that society. He could easily have been taken for an upstart who believed that he was right and everyone else was wrong. He had therefore to explain carefully what had led him to speak as he did. In fact, although he was rough with the three friends, he spoke sympathetically to Job and evidently regarded him as the most significant person present, and a true child of God. It is probably because he is defending himself in this way that he ends up making references to himself so often. It is certainly necessary for him to justify what he is about to say for he dares to contradict the wisdom of the ages uttered by the comforters and to take a very different approach to Job’s situation. He calls what he is about to say his opinion, but it is an opinion that is informed by the heavenly doctrine. We might say that it is not a matter of opinion at all since it is built on the word of God.