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.
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.
- BSB 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,
- 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 his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
- Job 40:8Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
- Job 27:2“As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter
- Job 35:2“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’
- Job 27:5Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
- Mark 3:5When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.
- Job 10:3Is it good to you that you should oppress, that you should despise the work of your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
- Job 30:21You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
- Luke 10:29But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
- Ps 69:9For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
- Eph 4:26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
- Job 34:5–6For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:
- Job 34:17–18Shall even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty? —
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.