Elihu’s Speeches (32:1–37:24; 28:1–28)

Bibliography

Althann, R. “Elihu’s Contribution to the Book of Job.” OTE 12 (1999) 9–12. Bakon, S. “The Enigma of Elihu.” DD 12 (1984) 217–28. Barton, G. A. “Some Text-Critical Notes on the Elihu-Speeches.” JBL 43 (1924) 228. Beeby, H. D. “Elihu—Job’s Mediator?” SEAsiaJT 7 (1965) 33–54. Boelicke, M. Die Elihu-Reden nach ihrem Zusammenhange mit dem übrigen Theil des Buches Hiob und nach ihrem sprachlichen Charakter. Inaugural Diss. Halle: Karras, 1879. Brolley, J. D. “The Importance of Being Elihu: A Consideration of Bilateral Aspects of riv and Elihu as Literary Event on the Book of Job.” Diss., Candler, Atlanta, 1995. Clines, D. J. A. “Putting Elihu in His Place: A Proposal for the Relocation of Job 32–37.” JSOT 29 (2004) 115–25. Cox, C. “Origen’s Use of Theodotion in the Elihu Speeches.” SecCent 3 (1983) 89–98. Curtis, J. B. “Why Were the Elihu Speeches Added to the Book of Job?” PrGLM 8 (1988) 93–99. ———. “Word Play in the Speeches of Elihu (Job 32–37).” PrGLM 12 (1992) 23–30. Dennefeld, L. “Les discours d’Elihou (Job XXXII–XXXVII).” RB 48 (1939) 163–80. Deutsch, I. De Elihui sermonum origine atque auctore: Commentatio philologico-critica. Diss., Bratislava, 1873. Evans, J. M. “Elihu and the Interpretation of the Book of Job.” Diss., Glasgow, 2000. Finnan, A. P. “A Rhetorical Critical Analysis of Job 32–37.” Diss., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988. Fohrer, G. “Die Weisheit des Elihu (Hi 32–37).” AfO 19 (1959–60) 83–94. Reprinted in Studien zum Buche Hiob, 1956–79, 2d ed., BZAW 159 (Berlin: de Gruyter, 1983) 94–113. Freedman, D. N. “The Elihu Speeches in the Book of Job: A Hypothetical Episode in the Literary History of the Work.” HTR 61 (1968) 51–59. Reprinted in Pottery, Poetry, and Prophecy: Studies in Early Hebrew Poetry (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1980) 329–37. Gelzner, A. “” [The Elihu Collection]. BMik 78 (1979) 283–94. Gordis, R. “Elihu the Intruder: A Study of the Authenticity of Job (Chapters 32–33).” In Biblical and Other Studies. Ed. A. Altmann. Studies and Texts (Philip W. Lown Institute of Advanced Judaic Studies) 1. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1963. 60–78. Gore, K. W., Jr. “The Unifying Force of the Identity and Role of Elihu within the Book of Job.” Diss., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997. Habel, N. C. “The Role of Elihu in the Design of the Book of Job.” In In the Shelter of Elyon: Essays in Palestinian Life and Literature. FS G. W. Ahlström, ed. W. B. Barrick and J. R. Spencer. JSOTSup 31. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1984. 81–98. Hemraj, S. “Elihu’s ‘Missionary’ Role in Job 32–37.” BiBh 6 (1980) 49–80. Johns, D. A. “The Literary and Theological Function of the Elihu Speeches in the Book of Job.” Diss., St. Louis, 1983 (Ann Arbor: University Microfilms 8325382, 1983). Kroeze, J. H. “Die Elihu-reden im Buche Hiob.” OTS 2 (1943) 156–70. Leder, A. C. “Job 32–37: Elihu as the Mouthpiece of God.” In Reading and Hearing the Word from Text to Sermon. FS J. H. Stek, ed. A. C. Leder. Grand Rapids: Calvin Theological Seminary; CRC Publications, 1998. Martin, G. W. “Elihu and the Third-Cycle in the Book of Job.” Diss., Princeton, 1972. McCabe, R. V., Jr. “Elihu’s Contribution to the Thought of the Book of Job.” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 2 (1997) 47–80. ———. “The Significance of the Elihu Speeches in the Context of the Book of Job.” Diss., Grace Theological Seminary, 1985. McKay, J. W. “Elihu—A Proto-Charismatic?” ExpTim 70 (1978–79) 167–71. Mende, T. Durch Leiden zur Vollendung: Die Elihureden im Buch Ijob (Ijob 32–37). TThSt 49. Trier: Paulinus, 1990. Michel, W. L. “Job’s Real Friend, Elihu.” Criterion (Chicago) 21.2 (1982) 29–32. Montgomery, J. A. “The Hebrew Divine Name and the Personal Pronoun Hū.” JBL 63 (1944) 161–63. Nichols, H. H. “The Composition of the Elihu Speeches (Job, Chaps. 32–37).” AJSL 27 (1910–11) 97–186. Pfister, X. “Leiden als Bewährungsprobe: Die Reden Elihus (Hiob 32–37).” In Hiob: Ökumenischer Arbeitskreis für Bibelarbeit. Ed. R. Berger-Lutz. Bibelarbeit in der Gemeinde 7. Basel: Reinhardt, 1989. 261–76. Posselt, W. Der Verfasser der Eliu-Reden (Job Kap. 32–37): Eine kritische Untersuchung. BibS 14.3. Freiburg i. Br.: Herder, 1909. Staples, W. E. The Speeches of Elihu: A Study of Job 32–37. [A revised Hebrew text with introduction, notes, and a translation into English.] University of Toronto Studies Philological Series 8. Toronto: Univ. of Toronto Press, 1924. Tate, M. E. “The Speeches of Elihu.” RevExp 68 (1971) 487–95. Viviers, H. “Elihu (Job 32–37), Garrulous but Poor Rhetor? Why Is He Ignored?” In The Rhetorical Analysis of Scripture: Essays from the 1995 London Conference. Ed. S. E. Porter and T. H. Olbricht. JSNTSup 146. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1997. 137–53. ———. “Die funksie van Elihu (Job 32–37) in die boek Job.” SK 16 (1995) 171–92. Wahl, H. M. “Ein Beitrag zum alttestamentlichen Vergeltungsglauben am Beispiel von Hiob 32–37.” BZ 36 (1992) 250–55. ———. “Elihu, Frevler oder Frommer? Die Auslegung des Hiobbuches (Hi 32–37) durch ein Pseudepigraphon (TestHi 41–43).” JSJ 25 (1994) 1–17. ———. “Das ‘Evangelium’ Elihus (Hiob 32–37).” In The Book of Job. Ed. W. A. M. Beuken. BETL 114. Leuven: Leuven UP, 1994. 356–61. ———. Der gerechte Schöpfer: Eine redaktions- und theologiegeschichtliche Untersuchung der Elihureden—Hiob 32–37. BZAW 230. Berlin: de Gruyter, 1994. ———. “Seit wann gelten die Elihureden (Hi 32–37) als Einschub? Eine Bemerkung zur Forschungsgeschichte.” BN 63 (1992) 58–61. Waters, L. J. “The Authenticity of the Elihu Speeches in Job 32–37.” BSac 156 (1999) 28–41. ———. “Elihu’s Theology and His View of Suffering.” BSac 156 (1999) 143–59. ———. “Elihu’s View of Suffering in Job 32–37.” Diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1998. Whedbee, J. W. The Bible and the Comic Vision. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. 242–45. ———. “The Comedy of Job.” In Studies in the Book of Job (Semeia 7). Ed. R. Polzin and D. Robertson. Missoula, MT: Society of Biblical Literature, 1977. 1–39. Reprinted in On Humour and the Comic in the Hebrew Bible, ed. Y. T. Radday and A. Brenner, JSOTSup 92 (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990) 217–49. Wilson, L. “The Role of the Elihu Speeches in the Book of Job.” RTR 55 (1996) 81–94. Witte, M. “Noch einmal: Seit wann gelten die Elihureden im Hiobbuch (Kap. 32–37) als Einschub?” BN 67 (1993) 20–25. Wolfers, D. “Elihu: The Provenance and Content of His Speeches.” DD 16 (1987–88) 90–98.

Elihu’s First Speech (32:1–33:33)

Bibliography

Dahood, M. J. “The Dative Suffix in Job 33, 13.” Bib 63 (1982) 258–59. ———. “Hebrew-Ugaritic Lexicography I.” Bib 44 (1963) 289–303. ———. “Love and Death at Ebla and Their Biblical Reflections” [Job 33:22]. In Love and Death in the Ancient Near East. FS M. H. Pope, ed. J. H. Marks and R. M. Good. Guilford, CT: Four Quarters, 1987. 93–99. ———. “Northwest Semitic Philology and Job.” In The Bible in Current Catholic Thought: Gruenthaner Memorial Volume. Ed. J. L. McKenzie. St. Mary’s Theological Studies 1. New York: Herder & Herder, 1962. 55–74. ———. “The Phoenician Contribution to Biblical Wisdom Literature.” In The Role of the Phoenicians in the Interaction of Mediterranean Civilizations. Ed. W. A. Ward. Beirut: American Univ. in Beirut, 1968. 123–52. ———. Review of The New English Bible. Bib 52 (1971) 117–23. ———. “Some Northwest-Semitic Words in Job.” Bib 38 (1957) 306–20. Driver, G. R. “Once Again Abbreviations.” Textus 4 (1965) 76–94. Gammie, J. G. “The Angelology and Demonology in the Septuagint of the Book of Job.” HUCA 56 (1985) 1–19. Gevirtz, S. “Phoenician wšbrt mlṣm and Job 33:23.” Maarav 5–6 (1990) 145–58. Ginsberg, H. L. “” [Studies in the Book of Job (4, 17–20; 5, 14–23; 16, 2–9; 33, 1–11)]. Leš 21 (1956–57) 259–64. Guillaume, A. “The Arabic Background of the Book of Job.” In Promise and Fulfilment. FS S. H. Hooke, ed. F. F. Bruce. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1963. 106–27. ———. “An Archaeological and Philological Note on Job xxxii, 19.” PEQ 93 (1961) 147–50. Jenkins, R. G. “Hexaplaric Marginalia and the Hexapla-Tetrapla Question” [Job 32:11–15; 39:22]. In Origen’s Hexapla and Fragments: Papers Presented at the Rich Seminar on the Hexapla, Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, 25th [July]–3rd August 1994. Ed. A. Salvesen. TSAJ 58. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 1998. 73–87. Leibel, D. “” [Job 33:18; 36:12]. Tarbiz 33 (1963–64) 225–27. Reider, J. “Etymological Studies in Biblical Hebrew.” VT 4 (1954) 276–95. Ross, J. F. “Job 33:14–30: The Phenomenology of Lament.” JBL 94 (1975) 38–46. Rouillard, H. “Le sens de Job 33, 21.” RB 91 (1984) 30–50. Sauer, A. von Rohr. “Masters in the Making” [Job 32–33]. CTM 43 (1972) 338–45. Skehan, P. W. “ ‘I Will Speak Up’ (Job 32).” CBQ 31 (1969) 380–82. ———. “The Pit (Job 33).” CBQ 31 (1969) 382. Trendelenburg, C. , i.e. Elihu descriptio Messiae prophetici et sacerdotalis ex Job. xxxiii, v. 23. 24, praeses Nicolai Köppen . . . respondens Christopherus Trendelenburg. Greifswald: Adolphus, 1705. Wehrle, J. “Zur syntaktisch-semantischen Funktion der PV kʾ=m^eaṭ in Ijob 32:22.” BN 55 (1990) 77–95. Weingreen, J. “The Construct-Genitive Relation in Hebrew Syntax.” VT 4 (1954) 50–59. York, A. D. “11QtgJob XXI, 4–5 (Job 32, 13).” RevQ 9 (1977) 127–29.

Translation

1Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.a 2Then Elihu,a the son of Barachel,b the Buzite, of the family of Ram,c became angry;d he was angry with Job because he considered himself rather than Gode to be in the right;f 3and he was angry also at the three friends of Job because they had not found an answer,a and becauseb they had not shown Job to be in the wrong.c 4Elihu had waited to speak to Joba because they were older than he. 5But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men,a he became angry. 6Then Elihu, son of Barachel, the Buzite, gave answer and said:

I am young in years,a

and you are aged; b

therefore I was timidc and afraid

to declared my opinione to you.f

7I said,a “Let daysb speak;

let the multitude of yearsc teachd wisdom.”

8But surelya it is the spiritb in a human being,

the breathc of the Almighty, thatd gives understanding.

9It is not onlya the oldb who are wise,

or the gray-hairedc who understand justice.d

10aSo I say,b “Listenc to me;

let me also declared my opinion.” e

11Behold, I waiteda for your words;

I listenedb forc your wise sayings d

ewhile you searched outf your responses.

12I gave you my attention,a

but behold there was none who confutedb Job,

or answered his words, among you.

13Soa do not say,b “We have found wisdom;

God may rout him,c but no human.”

14He has nota marshalledb his words against me,

and I shall not reply to him with your speeches.

15They are dismayed;a they answer no more;

words have deserted them.b

16Am I to waita because they cannot speak,

because they stand stillb and answer no more?

17I too will take my part in reply; a

I too will offer my opinion.b

18aFor I am full of words; b

the breathc within med constrainse me.

19Behold,a my belly is like wine without a vent; b

like new wineskins,c it isd ready to burst.e

20I must speaka so as to get relief,b

I must open my lips and answer.

21I will surelya show partialityb to no one;

I will use no flattering namesc for anyone.d

22For I cannot givea flattering titles,

or elseb my Maker would soonc put an end to me.d

33:1But now,a hearb my speech, O Job;

give ear to all my words.

2aBehold, I open my mouth;

the tongue in my mouthb speaks.c

3aMy wordsb arec the uprightnessd of my heart,

and what my lips know they speak sincerely.e

4aThe spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty givesb me life.

5Answer mea if you can;

set your words in orderb before me; take your stand.c

6Behold, I am in God’s sight the same as you; a

I too was pinched offb from a piece of clay.

7Behold,a no fear of me shouldb terrifyc you;

there will be no heavy pressured from me upon you.e

8Now,a you have said in my hearing,b

and I have heard the sound of your words: c

9“I am pure, without transgression;

I am innocent;a there is no wrong in me.

10Behold,a he finds occasionsb against me;

he regards me as his enemy.

11aHe putsb my feet in the stocks; c

he watches all my paths.”

12Behold, in thisa you are not right; I will answer you.b

God is greater thanc humans.

13Why do you contend witha him, saying,b

“He answers none of my words”? c

14For God speaks in one way,

and in another a—though mortals may not perceive him.b

15In a dream, in a visiona of the night,

bwhen deep sleepc falls on mortals,

while they sleepd upon their beds,

16then he opensa the ears of mortals,

and dismaysb them with apparitions,c

17so as to turn humans awaya from their deeds,b

and to cut awayc prided from mortals.e

18So he keeps thema backb from the Pit,

their lifec from crossing the river of death.d

19aHumansb may also be chastenedc by pain upon their beds,d

and by unendinge strifef in their bones,g

20so that their lifea loathesb food,c

and their appetited dainties.e

21Their flesh is so wasteda that it cannot be seen,b

and their bones, once hidden,c are laid bare.d

22Their life draws neara to the Pit,b

their being to those who bring death.c

23But ifa there is by themb an angel,c

a mediator,d one of the Thousand,e

fwho declaresg to humans what is right for them,h

24aand he takes pityb on them and says,

“Deliverc them from going down to the Pit!

I have found a ransom; d

25alet their flesh become fresherb than in youth,c

let them returnd to the days of their vigor,” e

26athen they entreatb God and he favorsc them,

they beholdd his face with joy.e

fHe restoresg their righteousnessh to them.i

27They singa beforeb others, saying,c

“I sinned, and perverted what was right; d

and there was no profit in it for me.e

28He has redeemeda my lifeb from passing into the Pit,c

and my being shall enjoy light.” d

29Behold, such are the things God does,

twice, three times,a with mortals,

30abringing backb their life from the Pit,

that they may be illuminedc with the lightd of life.e

31aBe attentive, Job; listen to me;

be silent, and I will speak.

32If you have anything to say, let me hear it; a

speak, for my desire is to justifyb you.

33aBut if not, listen to me;

be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.