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Text -- Job 33:1-4 (NET)

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Context
Elihu Invites Job’s Attention
33:1 “But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say! 33:2 See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken. 33:3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely. 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Job a man whose story is told in the book of Job,a man from the land of Uz in Edom


Dictionary Themes and Topics: SPIRIT | SINCERE; SINCERITY | PSYCHOLOGY | Mankind | Job | Holy Spirit | HOLY SPIRIT, 1 | God | Elihu | ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT | DEATH | Breath | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Job 33:3 - -- I will not speak passionately or partially, but from a sincere desire to do thee good.

I will not speak passionately or partially, but from a sincere desire to do thee good.

Wesley: Job 33:3 - -- What I speak will be plain, not hard to be understood.

What I speak will be plain, not hard to be understood.

Wesley: Job 33:4 - -- I am thy fellow creature, and am ready to discourse with thee upon even terms, according to thy desire.

I am thy fellow creature, and am ready to discourse with thee upon even terms, according to thy desire.

JFB: Job 33:2 - -- Rather, "palate," whereby the taste discerns. Every man speaks with his mouth, but few, as Elihu, try their words with discrimination first, and only ...

Rather, "palate," whereby the taste discerns. Every man speaks with his mouth, but few, as Elihu, try their words with discrimination first, and only say what is really good (Job 6:30; Job 12:11).

JFB: Job 33:2 - -- Rather, "proceeds to speak."

Rather, "proceeds to speak."

JFB: Job 33:3 - -- I will speak according to my inward conviction.

I will speak according to my inward conviction.

JFB: Job 33:3 - -- Rather, "purely"; sincerely, not distorting the truth through passion, as the friends did.

Rather, "purely"; sincerely, not distorting the truth through passion, as the friends did.

JFB: Job 33:4 - -- As He did thee: latter clause of Job 33:6 (Gen 2:7). Therefore thou needest not fear me, as thou wouldest God (Job 33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand,...

As He did thee: latter clause of Job 33:6 (Gen 2:7). Therefore thou needest not fear me, as thou wouldest God (Job 33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand, "the breath of the Almighty hath inspired me" (as Job 32:8); not as English Version, "given me life"; therefore "I am according to thy wish (Job 9:32-33) in God's stead" to thee; a "daysman," umpire, or mediator, between God and thee. So Elihu was designed by the Holy Ghost to be a type of Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26).

Clarke: Job 33:3 - -- My words shall be of the uprightness - As God has given me his Spirit, from that Spirit alone will I speak; therefore all my words shall be of uprig...

My words shall be of the uprightness - As God has given me his Spirit, from that Spirit alone will I speak; therefore all my words shall be of uprightness, knowledge, and truth

Clarke: Job 33:3 - -- Knowledge clearly - דעת ברור daath barur , pure science. I shall lay down no false positions, and I shall have no false consequences.

Knowledge clearly - דעת ברור daath barur , pure science. I shall lay down no false positions, and I shall have no false consequences.

Clarke: Job 33:4 - -- The Spirit of God hath made me - Another plain allusion to the account of the creation of man, Gen 2:7, as the words נשמת nishmath , the breath...

The Spirit of God hath made me - Another plain allusion to the account of the creation of man, Gen 2:7, as the words נשמת nishmath , the breath or breathing of God, and תחיני techaiyeni , hath given me life, prove: "He breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives, and he became a living soul."

TSK: Job 33:1 - -- hear : Job 13:6, Job 34:2; Psa 49:1-3; Mar 4:9

TSK: Job 33:2 - -- I : Job 3:1; Psa 78:2; Mat 5:2 mouth : Heb. palate, Job 31:30 *marg.

I : Job 3:1; Psa 78:2; Mat 5:2

mouth : Heb. palate, Job 31:30 *marg.

TSK: Job 33:3 - -- the : Job 27:4; Pro 8:7, Pro 8:8; 1Th 2:3, 1Th 2:4 my lips : Job 15:2, Job 36:3, Job 36:4, Job 38:2; Psa 37:30, Psa 37:31; Pro 15:2, Pro 15:7, Pro 20:...

TSK: Job 33:4 - -- Job 10:12, Job 32:8; Gen 2:7; Psa 33:6; Rom 8:2; 1Co 15:45

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Job 33:1 - -- Wherefore, Job, I pray thee - In the next chapter he addresses the three friends of Job. This is addressed particularly to him. My speeche...

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee - In the next chapter he addresses the three friends of Job. This is addressed particularly to him.

My speeches - Hebrew, "my words"- מלה millâh . This is the usual word in the Aramaen languages to express a saying or discourse, though in Hebrew it is only a poetic form. The meaning is, not that he would address separate speeches, or distinct discourses, to Job, but that he called on him to attend to what he had to say.

Barnes: Job 33:2 - -- My tongue hath spoken in my mouth - Margin, "palate."The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would ...

My tongue hath spoken in my mouth - Margin, "palate."The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would utter only that which was worthy to be heard. This is properly the commencement of his argument, for all that he had before said was merely an introduction. The word palate - "in my palate"( בחכי be chêkiy ) is used here because of the importance of that organ in the act of speaking. Perhaps also, there may be reference to the fact that the Hebrews made much more use of the lower organs of enunciation - the palate, and the throat, than we do, and much less use of the teeth and lips. Hence, their language was strongly guttural.

Barnes: Job 33:3 - -- My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart - I will speak in sincerity. I will utter nothing that shall be hollow and hypocritical. What ...

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart - I will speak in sincerity. I will utter nothing that shall be hollow and hypocritical. What I speak shall be the real suggestion of my heart - what I feel and know to be true. Perhaps Elihu was the more anxious to make this point entirely clear, because the three friends of Job might be supposed to have laid themselves open to the suspicion that they were influenced by passion or prejudice; that they had maintained their opinions from mere obstinacy and not from conviction; and that they had been sometimes disposed to cavil. Elihu claims that all that he was about to say would be entirely sincere.

Shall utter knowledge clearly - Shall state things just as they are, and give the true solution of the difficulties which have been felt in regard to the divine dealings. His object is to guard himself wholly from the suspicion of partiality.

Barnes: Job 33:4 - -- The Spirit of God hath made me; - see the notes at Job 32:8. There is an evident allusion in this verse to the mode in which man was created, w...

The Spirit of God hath made me; - see the notes at Job 32:8. There is an evident allusion in this verse to the mode in which man was created, when God breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living being; Gen 2:7. But it is not quite clear why Elihu adverts here to the fact that God had made him, or what is the bearing of this fact on what he proposed to say. The most probable supposition is, that he means to state that he is, like Job, a man; that both were formed in the same way - from the same breathing of the Almighty, and from the same clay Job 33:6; and that although he bad undertaken to speak to Job in God’ s stead Job 33:6, yet Job had no occasion to fear that he would be overawed and confounded by the Divine Majesty. He had dreaded that, if he should be permitted to bring his case before him (Notes, Job 33:7), but Elihu says that now he would have no such thing to apprehend. Though it would be in fact the same thing as carrying the matter before God - since he came in his name, and meant to state the true principles of his government, yet Job would be also really conducting the cause with a man like himself, and might, unawed, enter with the utmost freedom into the statement of his views.

Poole: Job 33:1 - -- Hearken to all my words not only to what may please thee, but also to what may convince and reprove thee.

Hearken to all my words not only to what may please thee, but also to what may convince and reprove thee.

Poole: Job 33:2 - -- Now I have begun to speak, and intend with thy good leave to proceed in my discourse with thee. In my mouth Heb. in or with my palate ; for both ...

Now I have begun to speak, and intend with thy good leave to proceed in my discourse with thee.

In my mouth Heb. in or with my palate ; for both tongue and palate are instruments of speech; and, that a man should speak plainly and distinctly, (which he designed to do,) it is necessary that his tongue should ofttimes touch the palate or roof of the month.

Poole: Job 33:3 - -- I shall not speak passionately or partially, as one resolved to defend what I have once said, whether true or false; but from an honest mind, or wha...

I shall not speak passionately or partially, as one resolved to defend what I have once said, whether true or false; but from an honest mind, or what I verily believe to be true, and from a sincere desire to do thee good. I shall not speak my own fancies or devices, but only that which by diligent study and Divine inspiration I know to be true, and this I shall do plainly and clearly.

Poole: Job 33:4 - -- I am thy fellow creature, made by God’ s Spirit, Gen 1:2 , and quickened by that soul which God breathed into man, Gen 2:7 , and therefore fit ...

I am thy fellow creature, made by God’ s Spirit, Gen 1:2 , and quickened by that soul which God breathed into man, Gen 2:7 , and therefore fit and ready to discourse with thee upon even and equal terms, according to thy desire.

Haydock: Job 33:1 - -- Destroyers; the worms in the grave, (Haydock) or to sickness, (Menochius) "which bring on death." Pagnin mortiferis.

Destroyers; the worms in the grave, (Haydock) or to sickness, (Menochius) "which bring on death." Pagnin mortiferis.

Haydock: Job 33:3 - -- Sentence. Some editions have scientiam, "knowledge," with the Hebrew. (Calmet)

Sentence. Some editions have scientiam, "knowledge," with the Hebrew. (Calmet)

Haydock: Job 33:4 - -- Spirit. We are therefore equal. (Menochius) --- Thou canst not fear being overpowered with the divine majesty, in this dispute, chap. xiii. 21. (...

Spirit. We are therefore equal. (Menochius) ---

Thou canst not fear being overpowered with the divine majesty, in this dispute, chap. xiii. 21. (Calmet) ---

Life. Septuagint, "instruction." (Haydock)

Gill: Job 33:1 - -- Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches,.... In the preceding chapter, Elihu directed his discourse to the three friends of Job chiefly, here to...

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches,.... In the preceding chapter, Elihu directed his discourse to the three friends of Job chiefly, here to Job himself, and that by name; which none of his friends in all their discourses ever used; and in an humble suppliant manner entreats his attention to what he was about to deliver, and that for reasons which his address to his friends could furnish him with; and hence begins his speech with "wherefore", seeing he took not the part of his three friends, but blamed them; and because he had the Spirit of God in him, and was full of matter, and uneasy until he had vented it; and which he proposed to deliver in a plain and faithful manner, with sincerity and without flattery; on all which accounts be beseeches him to give him a diligent and attentive hearing:

and hearken to all my words; not to some of them only, but to all; he bespeaks his candid and constant attention, that he would hear him out, all that he had to say, with patience, and without interruption; and then judge of the truth, force, and pertinency of them; which he would not so well be able to do, unless he heard them all; for sometimes the proof, the evidence, and demonstration of a thing depends not on a single argument, but upon many put together; each of them alone being insufficient, at least may appear so, when all considered together give full satisfaction.

Gill: Job 33:2 - -- Behold, now I have opened my mouth,.... Begun to speak in order to give vent to the fulness of matter within him, which made him, like bottles of new ...

Behold, now I have opened my mouth,.... Begun to speak in order to give vent to the fulness of matter within him, which made him, like bottles of new wine, ready to burst; and since he had opened his lips, that he might speak and be refreshed, he desires Job to listen to him, and offers same things to his consideration to induce him to it:

my tongue hath spoken in my mouth: but does not every man's tongue speak in his mouth when he speaks? is there anything singular and peculiar in this, that can excite attention? it may be rendered, "in my palate" d; which, as it is an instrument of speech, so of tasting and trying food, see Job 6:30; and Elihu's sense is, that he had thoroughly considered what he should say, he had well weighed what he should speak, and should not deliver anything raw, crude, and undigested; he had palated his words, in order to discern whether there was anything in them perverse or not.

Gill: Job 33:3 - -- My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart,.... Not that the uprightness of his heart, or his own personal integrity, should be the subject of ...

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart,.... Not that the uprightness of his heart, or his own personal integrity, should be the subject of his discourse; but what he should say would be in or out of the uprightness of his heart, with all sincerity and faithfulness; what would be the real sentiments of his mind, and not proceed from a double or insincere heart:

and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly; what knowledge he had of God, and of the perfections of his nature, and of his works in nature and grace, and of his dealings in a providential way with the sons of men; and what knowledge he had of Christ, his person, office, and grace somewhat of which speaks in this chapter; and such sort of knowledge is to be uttered, to be published, and made known to the good of others; and not to be concealed, and hid, or held, as in a prison, in unrighteousness; and to be uttered clearly, plainly, and distinctly, in words intelligible, and easy to be understood; and not in ambiguous terms, or in words of a double meaning; or which are abstruse and intricate, and serve rather to make the mysteries of Providence and grace more dark and obscure than to explain them; integrity of heart, and perspicuity of language, serve much to recommend a speaker, and both are expressed in this verse.

Gill: Job 33:4 - -- The Spirit of God hath made me,.... As a man; so every man is made by God, and not by himself; Father, Son, and Spirit, are his Makers or Creators, as...

The Spirit of God hath made me,.... As a man; so every man is made by God, and not by himself; Father, Son, and Spirit, are his Makers or Creators, as we read of them in the plural number, Psa 149:2; and this is a proof of the deity of the Spirit, who was not only concerned in the creation of all things, garnishing the heavens, and moving upon the face of the waters on the earth; but in the formation of man:

and the breath of the mighty hath given me life; the same with the Spirit of God, the allusion is to the creation of man at first, when God breathed into him the breath of life, and he became a living soul: life natural is from God, he is the God of our life, he gives all the mercies of life, and by him is this life preserved; and the whole is the effect of almighty power: now this is observed by Elihu to Job, to encourage him to attend to him without fear, since he was a man, a creature of God, as he was: it may be understood of his spiritual formation, the Spirit of God remakes men, or makes them new men, new creatures; this is done in regeneration, which is the work of the Holy Spirit; hence regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, are put together; and being a work of almighty power, is proof of the deity of the Spirit of God; it is he that quickens men when dead in trespasses and sins, and makes them alive to God; which appears by their spiritual breathings after divine things, and by the exercise of their spiritual senses, and by their performance of spiritual actions; and now Elihu, being a man regenerated and quickened by the Spirit, might more justly claim the attention of Job, since what he should say was what he had heard, felt, and seen, as good man, one that had an experience of divine and spiritual things.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Job 33:1 Heb “hear all my words.”

NET Notes: Job 33:2 H. H. Rowley (Job [NCBC], 210) says, “The self-importance of Elihu is boundless, and he is the master of banality.” He adds that whoever w...

NET Notes: Job 33:3 More literally, “and the knowledge of my lips they will speak purely.”

NET Notes: Job 33:4 The verb תְּחַיֵּנִי (tÿkhayyeni) is the Piel imperfect of the verb “to l...

Geneva Bible: Job 33:4 The ( a ) Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. ( a ) I confess the power of God, and am one of his, therefo...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Job 33:1-33 - --1 Elihu offers himself instead of God to reason with Job.8 He excuses God from giving man an account of his ways, by his greatness.14 God calls man to...

MHCC: Job 33:1-7 - --Job had desired a judge to decide his appeal. Elihu was one according to his wish, a man like himself. If we would rightly convince men, it must be by...

Matthew Henry: Job 33:1-7 - -- Several arguments Elihu here uses to persuade Job not only to give him a patient hearing, but to believe that he designed him a good office, and to ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 33:1-3 - -- 1 But nevertheless, O Job, hear my speeches, And hearken to all my words. 2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, My tongue speaketh in my palate. ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 33:4-7 - -- 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5 If thou canst, answer me, Prepare in my presence, take thy...

Constable: Job 32:1--37:24 - --F. Elihu's Speeches chs. 32-37 Many critical scholars believe that a later editor inserted chapters 32-3...

Constable: Job 32:6--34:1 - --2. Elihu's first speech 32:6-33:33 Before Elihu began presenting his views (ch. 33), he first ha...

Constable: Job 33:1-33 - --Elihu's first response to Job ch. 33 This whole speech is an attempt to explain to Job w...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Job (Book Introduction) JOB A REAL PERSON.--It has been supposed by some that the book of Job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of ...

JFB: Job (Outline) THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (Job 1:1-5) SATAN, APPEARING BEFORE GOD, FALSELY ACCUSES JOB. (Job 1:6-12) SATAN FURTHER TEMPTS JOB. (Job 2:1-8)...

TSK: Job (Book Introduction) A large aquatic animal, perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, the exact meaning is unknown. Some think this to be a crocodile but from the desc...

TSK: Job 33 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Job 33:1, Elihu offers himself instead of God to reason with Job; Job 33:8, He excuses God from giving man an account of his ways, by his...

Poole: Job 33 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 33 He offereth himself in God’ s stead to reason with Job, Job 33:1-7 , who had too hard thoughts of God, who by his greatness giveth ...

MHCC: Job (Book Introduction) This book is so called from Job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. He lived soon after Abraham, or perhaps before tha...

MHCC: Job 33 (Chapter Introduction) (Job 33:1-7) Elihu offers to reason with Job. (Job 33:8-13) Elihu blames Job for reflecting upon God. (Job 33:14-18) God calls men to repentance. (...

Matthew Henry: Job (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Job This book of Job stands by itself, is not connected with any other, and is therefore to...

Matthew Henry: Job 33 (Chapter Introduction) Pompous prefaces, like the teeming mountain, often introduce poor performances; but Elihu's discourse here does not disappoint the expectations whi...

Constable: Job (Book Introduction) Introduction Title This book, like many others in the Old Testament, got its name from...

Constable: Job (Outline) Outline I. Prologue chs. 1-2 A. Job's character 1:1-5 B. Job's calamitie...

Constable: Job Job Bibliography Andersen, Francis I. Job. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. Leicester, Eng. and Downe...

Haydock: Job (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF JOB. INTRODUCTION. This Book takes its name from the holy man, of whom it treats; who, according to the more probable opinion, was ...

Gill: Job (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB This book, in the Hebrew copies, generally goes by this name, from Job, who is however the subject, if not the writer of it. In...

Gill: Job 33 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB 33 In this chapter Elihu addresses Job himself, and entreats his attention to what he had to say to him, and offers several thi...

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