Elihu, a character in the Book of Job, is introduced as a young man from the family of Buz, a descendant of Nahor, Abraham's brother. His lineage is mentioned in Job 32:2, where he is identified as "Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite." Elihu's role in the narrative of Job is significant, as he appears after Job's three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—have ceased their attempts to explain Job's suffering.

Role in the Book of Job

Elihu's speeches are found in Job 32-37. Unlike the three friends, Elihu is not mentioned at the beginning of the book, nor is he included in the final rebuke by God. His intervention comes after Job has defended his righteousness and the three friends have failed to provide satisfactory answers to Job's plight. Elihu's speeches serve as a bridge between the dialogues of Job and his friends and the divine speeches that follow.

Elihu's Perspective

Elihu's approach differs from that of the other friends. He is portrayed as a passionate and somewhat indignant young man, who is initially hesitant to speak due to his youth. However, he is compelled to speak because he believes that wisdom is not necessarily linked to age, as stated in Job 32:8-9 : "But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice."

Elihu criticizes both Job and his friends. He rebukes the friends for failing to refute Job effectively and accuses Job of justifying himself rather than God. Elihu emphasizes God's greatness and justice, asserting that God communicates with humans in various ways, including through suffering, to turn them from wrongdoing and to save them from pride (Job 33:14-30).

Theological Contributions

Elihu's speeches introduce several theological themes. He underscores the sovereignty and majesty of God, highlighting that God's ways are beyond human comprehension. Elihu insists that God is just and that He governs the world with righteousness. He also suggests that suffering can be a form of divine discipline, intended to instruct and refine rather than simply to punish.

Elihu's discourse culminates in a vivid description of God's power and wisdom, as seen in the natural world. In Job 36:26-33 and Job 37, Elihu speaks of God's control over the elements, using imagery of storms and the wonders of creation to illustrate God's omnipotence and inscrutability.

Significance in the Narrative

Elihu's speeches prepare the way for God's response to Job. While Elihu is not directly rebuked by God, his role is to reorient the discussion from human wisdom to divine revelation. His emphasis on God's transcendence and the limitations of human understanding sets the stage for the theophany in which God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.

Elihu's presence in the Book of Job serves as a reminder of the complexity of divine-human interaction and the mystery of God's purposes. His speeches challenge readers to consider the multifaceted nature of suffering and the importance of maintaining a posture of humility before the Almighty.Job 32:1
So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Nave's Topical Index

Job 33:1
Why, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and listen to all my words.
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Job 34:1
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
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Job 35:1
Elihu spoke moreover, and said,
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Job 36:1
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
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Job 37:1
At this also my heart trembles, and is moved out of his place.
Nave's Topical Index

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