Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Job 34
Job 34:10-11"Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong." For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
Elihu makes his central point here: God cannot do wrong. He argues that God's justice is perfect, repaying people according to their actions.Job 34:21-22"For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps." There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.
This passage emphasizes God's all-seeing nature. No evil deed can be hidden from Him, which is the basis for His perfect and knowledgeable judgment.Job 34:35-37Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God."
Elihu delivers his sharpest critique of Job, concluding that Job's words are ignorant and rebellious. He accuses Job of multiplying his words against God, compounding his sin.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Young Man Enters the Debate
After Job and his three older friends have exhausted their arguments, a younger man named Elihu steps forward. He has been listening silently, growing frustrated with both Job's self-justification and the friends' weak responses. In the preceding chapters, Elihu established his right to speak, claiming that wisdom comes from God's spirit, not old age. He now turns his attention to the 'wise men' present, preparing to offer a new, forceful defense of God's character.
The Case for God's Righteousness
Elihu's speech is not another opinion. It is a structured theological argument. He directly quotes Job's complaints to show he has been listening carefully. His goal is to systematically dismantle Job's assertion that God has treated him unfairly. By focusing on God's absolute power, perfect knowledge, and inherent righteousness, Elihu attempts to shift the entire conversation away from Job's suffering and back to God's unchanging nature.
Elihu's Defense of God's Justice
In Job 34, Elihu takes the floor to address not only Job but also the other 'wise men' listening. He feels that Job has crossed a line by accusing God of injustice, and he is determined to set the record straight. His speech is a passionate, logical defense of God's perfect character, aiming to prove that the Almighty can do no wrong.
The Accusation Against Job (Job 34:1-9)
1 Then Elihu answered and said:
2 "Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
3 For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, 'I am in the right, and God has taken away my right;
6 Would I lie against my right? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 Who goes in company with the evildoers and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’
Commentary:
Elihu accuses Job of blasphemy, claiming his complaints are like scoffing and siding with the wicked.
The Foundation of Divine Justice (Job 34:10-15)
10 "Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong."
11 For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12 Surely, God will not act wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave him charge over the earth, and who laid on him the whole world?
14 If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.
Commentary:
Elihu declares that God, as the all-powerful Creator, is incapable of being unjust or wicked.
God's Impartial and All-Seeing Judgment (Job 34:16-30)
16 "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say."
17 Can one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked'?
19 who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
20 In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.
21 "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps."
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place.
25 Therefore, he knows their works; he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see,
27 Because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted -
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or a man?
30 that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.
Commentary:
Elihu explains that God judges everyone impartially and sees everything, so His justice is always perfectly informed.
A Challenge for Job to Repent (Job 34:31-37)
31 "For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne punishment; I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more.’
33 Will God then make requital to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man listen.
35 Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.
36 Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God."
Commentary:
Elihu condemns Job for his arrogant words and challenges him to adopt a humble, repentant posture before God.
Core Truths in Elihu's Speech
The Absolute Justice of God
Elihu's primary theme is that God is incapable of injustice. He argues that wickedness is contrary to God's very nature as the Almighty, and therefore, any claim that God has perverted justice is fundamentally wrong. This truth stands regardless of human circumstances.
Divine Sovereignty
Elihu emphasizes that God's authority is total and inherent. He wasn't given charge over the earth by someone else. He is the source of all life and power. This sovereignty is the foundation of His right to judge the world as He sees fit.
The Danger of Human Presumption
This chapter serves as a strong warning against speaking rashly about God's ways. Elihu views Job's complaints not as honest questions but as arrogant accusations born of ignorance. He teaches that finite humans must be careful not to judge the infinite Creator.
Applying God's Justice to Our Lives
Elihu's speech, though harsh, urges you to anchor your faith in God's unchanging character, not your changing circumstances. When you feel wronged, Job 34:12 reminds you that 'Surely, God will not act wickedly.' Starting from this truth allows you to bring your pain to God with trust, rather than accusing Him of injustice.
Elihu wrongly assumes he knows the reason for Job's pain, a mistake Job's other friends also made. This chapter serves as a caution against creating simple formulas for suffering. While God is just, His ways are complex, and you should avoid assuming someone's hardship is a direct punishment for a specific sin, as seen in Job 34:11.
Job's pain led him to feel that delighting in God was pointless (Job 34:9). To guard against this, you can adopt the humble posture Elihu suggests in Job 34:32: 'Teach me what I do not see.' By asking God for His perspective instead of demanding answers, you open your heart to His wisdom and protect it from the bitterness that comes from misunderstanding.
God's Character Is Not on Trial
Elihu's speech is a powerful declaration that God's justice is a non-negotiable truth. He argues that God, as the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator, cannot act wickedly or pervert justice. The message is a firm reminder that while human understanding is limited, God's character is not. Our suffering does not change the fundamental reality of His perfect righteousness.
What This Means for Us Today
Elihu's argument challenges us to check our own hearts when we face trials. It invites us to move from questioning God's character to trusting it, even when circumstances feel unjust. This chapter calls us to a posture of humility, acknowledging that the Creator's justice is far beyond our ability to fully comprehend.
- Where in my life am I tempted to believe God has been unfair?
- How can I practice trusting God's character today, even without understanding my circumstances?
- Do my words about God, especially when I'm hurting, reflect trust or accusation?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Paul addresses similar questions about God's fairness and sovereignty, concluding that the creature has no right to question the Creator.
Abraham expresses foundational faith in God's character by asking, 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?' - the very principle Elihu defends.
This verse describes God as 'the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.'
Discussion Questions
- Elihu is theologically correct about God's justice, but he seems to lack compassion for Job. How can we balance speaking truth with showing empathy to those who are in deep pain?
- In verses 31-32, Elihu outlines what a humble person might say to God. How does this contrast with the way people often pray during suffering, and what can we learn from it?
- Elihu accuses Job of 'drinking up scoffing like water' (v. 7). What does it look like in our own lives to become so consumed by cynicism or doubt that it becomes second nature?