Job 36:3

36:3 With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, ¹ 

and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness. ² 

Job 32:10

32:10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen ³  to me.

I, even I, will explain what I know.’

Job 32:17

32:17 I too will answer my part,

I too will explain what I know.

Job 37:16

37:16 Do you know about the balancing ⁴  of the clouds,

that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 32:6

Elihu Claims Wisdom

32:6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: ⁵ 

“I am young, ⁶  but you are elderly;

that is why I was fearful, ⁷ 

and afraid to explain ⁸  to you what I know.

¹ tn Heb “I will carry my knowledge to-from afar.” The expression means that he will give a wide range to knowledge, that he will speak comprehensively.

² tn This line gives the essence of all of Elihu’s speech – to give or ascribe righteousness to God against the charges of Job. Dhorme translates this “I will justify my Maker,” and that is workable if it carries the meaning of “declaring to be right.”

³ tc In most Hebrew mss this imperative is singular, and so addressed to Job. But two Hebrew mss and the versions have the plural. Elihu was probably addressing all of them.

⁵ tn As indicated by HALOT 618 s.v. מִפְלָשׂ, the concept of “balancing” probably refers to “floating” or “suspension” (cf. NIV’s “how the clouds hang poised” and J. E. Hartley, Job [NICOT], 481-82, n. 2).

⁷ tn Heb “answered and said.”

⁸ tn The text has “small in days.”

⁹ tn The verb זָחַלְתִּי (zakhalti) is found only here in the OT, but it is found in a ninth century Aramaic inscription as well as in Biblical Aramaic. It has the meaning “to be timid” (see H. H. Rowley, Job [NCBC], 208).

¹⁰ tn The Piel infinitive with the preposition (מֵחַוֹּת, mekhavvot) means “from explaining.” The phrase is the complement: “explain” what Elihu feared.