Logos Bible Study

Job 32:15–22

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Job’s Friends Failed to Answer34

32:15“They are dismayed35 and cannot answer any more;

they have nothing left to say.36

32:16And I have waited.37 But because they do not speak,

because they stand there and answer no more,

32:17I too will answer my part,

I too will explain what I know.

32:18For I am full of words,

and the spirit within me38 constrains me.39

32:19Inside I am like wine which has no outlet,40

like new wineskins41 ready to burst!

32:20I will speak,42 so that I may find relief;

I will open my lips, so that I may answer.

32:21I will not show partiality to anyone,43

nor will I confer a title44 on any man.

32:22for I do not know how to give honorary titles,45

if I did,46 my Creator would quickly do away with me.47

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Footnotes

  1. 34 Elihu now will give another reason why he will speak—the arguments of these friends failed miserably. But before he gets to his argument, he will first qualify his authority.
  2. 35 The verb חַתּוּ (khattu) is from חָתַת (khatat) which means “to be terrified.” But here it stresses the resulting dilemma. R. Gordis (Job, 369) renders it, “they are shattered, beaten in an argument.”
  3. 36tn Heb “words have moved away from them,” meaning words are gone from them, they have nothing left to say.
  4. 37 Some commentators take this as a question: “And shall [or must] I wait because they do not speak?” (A. B. Davidson, R. Gordis). But this is not convincing because the silence of the friends is the reason for him to speak, not to wait.
  5. 38 Heb “the spirit of my belly.”
  6. 39 The verb צוּק (tsuq) means “to constrain; to urge; to press.” It is used in Judg 14:17; 16:16 with the sense of wearing someone down with repeated entreaties. Elihu cannot withhold himself any longer.
  7. 40 Heb “in my belly I am like wine that is not opened” (a Niphal imperfect), meaning sealed up with no place to escape.
  8. 41 The Hebrew text has כְּאֹבוֹת חֲדָשִׁים (ké’ovot khadashim), traditionally rendered “like new wineskins.” But only here does the phrase have this meaning. The has “smiths” for “new,” thus “like smith’s bellows.” A. Guillaume connects the word with an Arabic word for a wide vessel for wine shaped like a cup (“Archaeological and philological note on Job 32:19,” 93 [1961]: 147–50). Some have been found in archaeological sites. The poor would use skins, the rich would use jars. The key to putting this together is the verb at the end of the line, יִבָּקֵעַ (yibbaqea’, “that are ready to burst”). The point of the statement is that Elihu is bursting to speak, and until now has not had the opening.
  9. 42 The cohortative expresses Elihu’s resolve to speak.
  10. 43 The idiom is “I will not lift up the face of a man.” Elihu is going to show no favoritism, but speak his mind.
  11. 44 The verb means “to confer an honorary title; to give a mark of distinction,” but it is often translated with the verb “flatter.” Elihu will not take sides, he will not use pompous titles.
  12. 45 The construction uses a perfect verb followed by the imperfect. This is a form of subordination equivalent to a complementary infinitive (see §120.c).
  13. 46 The words “if I did” are supplied in the translation to make sense out of the two clauses.
  14. 47 Heb “quickly carry me away.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“They are dismayed; they answer no more;

they have not a word to say.

And shall I wait, because they do not speak,

because they stand there, and answer no more?

I also will answer with my share;

I also will declare my opinion.

For I am full of words;

the spirit within me constrains me.

Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;

like new wineskins ready to burst.

I must speak, that I may find relief;

I must open my lips and answer.

I will not show partiality to any man

or use flattery toward any person.

For I do not know how to flatter,

else my Maker would soon take me away.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“They are dismayed and have no more to say;

words have failed them.

Must I wait, now that they are silent,

now that they stand there with no reply?

I too will have my say;

I too will tell what I know.

For I am full of words,

and the spirit within me compels me;

inside I am like bottled-up wine,

like new wineskins ready to burst.

I must speak and find relief;

I must open my lips and reply.

I will show no partiality,

nor will I flatter anyone;

for if I were skilled in flattery,

my Maker would soon take me away.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer;

words have left them.

Should I continue to wait now that they are silent,

now that they stand there and no longer answer?

I too will answer;

yes, I will tell what I know.

For I am full of words,

and my spirit compels me to speak.

My heart is like unvented wine;

it is about to burst like new wineskins.

I must speak so that I can find relief;

I must open my lips and respond.

I will be partial to no one,

and I will not give anyone an undeserved title.

For I do not know how to give such titles;

otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

You sit there baffled,

with nothing more to say.

Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent?

Must I also remain silent?

No, I will say my piece.

I will speak my mind.

For I am full of pent-up words,

and the spirit within me urges me on.

I am like a cask of wine without a vent,

like a new wineskin ready to burst!

I must speak to find relief,

so let me give my answers.

I won’t play favorites

or try to flatter anyone.

For if I tried flattery,

my Creator would soon destroy me.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“They are dismayed; they no longer answer;

they have nothing to say.

And I have waited because they do not speak,

because they stand there and no longer answer.

I myself will answer my share also;

I myself will declare my knowledge also,

for I am full of words;

the spirit within me urges me.

“Look, my internal organs are like unopened wine,

like new wineskins it is ready to burst open.

Let me speak that I may find relief;

let me open my lips, and let me answer.

Please let me not show partiality to anyone,

and let me not show flattery to human beings,

for I do not know how to flatter,

else my Maker would soon put an end to me.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

They were amazed, they answered no more:

They left off speaking.

When I had waited, (for they spake not,

But stood still, and answered no more;)

I said, I will answer also my part,

I also will shew mine opinion.

For I am full of matter,

The spirit within me constraineth me.

Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent;

It is ready to burst like new bottles.

I will speak, that I may be refreshed:

I will open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person,

Neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

For I know not to give flattering titles;

In so doing my maker would soon take me away.

Public Domain