Job 32:3
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Original Language Analysis
וּבִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
Also against his three
H7969
וּבִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
Also against his three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
1 of 12
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
חָרָ֪ה
kindled
H2734
חָרָ֪ה
kindled
Strong's:
H2734
Word #:
3 of 12
to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy
אַ֫פּ֥וֹ
was his wrath
H639
אַ֫פּ֥וֹ
was his wrath
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
עַ֤ל
H5921
עַ֤ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
5 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מָצְא֣וּ
because they had found
H4672
מָצְא֣וּ
because they had found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ
and yet had condemned
H7561
וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ
and yet had condemned
Strong's:
H7561
Word #:
10 of 12
to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate
Historical Context
Ancient wisdom discourse valued logical coherence and evidential support. The friends' failure to answer Job while condemning him violated standards of reasoning. Proverbs warns against answering before listening (18:13) and condemning the righteous (17:15). Elihu correctly identifies their procedural failure even if his own speeches don't fully succeed either.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we avoid the friends' error of maintaining theological positions despite inadequate evidence?
- What is the relationship between theological conviction and intellectual humility when facing mystery?
- How does Elihu's confidence in his own answers warn us about overestimating our theological insights?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Elihu's anger extends to Job's friends: "Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." The verb charah (חָרָה, "kindled") describes anger's burning. The verb matsa (מָצָא, "found") means to discover or attain. Despite failing to refute Job (ma'aneh, מַעֲנֶה, "answer"), they condemned him. Elihu recognizes a crucial flaw: condemnation without proof is unjust. From a Reformed perspective, this highlights the danger of maintaining theological positions despite contrary evidence. The friends' commitment to retribution theology blinded them to its inadequacy for Job's case. This warns against ideological rigidity that condemns when it should humbly acknowledge mystery. Yet Elihu's anger at others' failure suggests self-righteousness—he's confident he can succeed where they failed. The tension between legitimate critique and overconfidence appears throughout Elihu's speeches.