This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled against Job. His wrath was kindled because he justified himself rather than God.
- KJV Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
- NKJV Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
- NASB But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God.
- NLT Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Elihu's anger is kindled against Job because Job justified himself rather than God. A younger man now enters the debate with a fresh complaint.
Overview
The narrator introduces Elihu, whose indignation rises against Job for vindicating himself at God's expense. Unlike the three friends, Elihu's chief concern is that God's righteousness be upheld, not merely that Job be proven guilty. This focus on defending God's justice prepares for themes God will take up directly, and it reflects the proper concern that God be glorified, a concern perfectly fulfilled in Christ, who always honored the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Gen 22:21Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram),
- Job 40:8Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?
- Job 27:2“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—
- Job 35:2“Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am more righteous than God.’
- Job 27:5I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die.
- Mark 3:5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.
- Job 10:3Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?
- Job 30:21You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.
- Luke 10:29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
- Ps 69:9because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
- Eph 4:26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
- Job 34:5–6For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
- Job 34:17–18Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 32:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.