Job 33:29-33

5. This God does to save man from destruction. (Job 33:29-33)

TEXT 33:29-33

29 Lo, all these things doth God work,

Twice, yeathrice, with a man,

30 To bring back his soul from the pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken onto me:

Hold thy peace, and I will speak.

32 If thou hast anything to say, answer me:

Speak, for I desire to justify thee.

33 If not, hearken thou onto me:

Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

COMMENT 33:29-33

Job 33:29Elihu repeats that this is the way God relates to man. Job does not respond, and thus we are left to infer that he was reduced to silence. Elihu, like Job's three friends, fails to come to grips with Job's problem. Perhaps the twice, three times is similar to God's action found in Amos 1:3; Amos 1:6, etc.

Job 33:30If a man repents, he is restored from pangs of death. Probably the idiom A. V. that he may be enlightened means the same as in Job 33:28to look upon with great satisfaction. A similar phrase is found in Ps. 56:14, where it beautifully suggests that one's life is illumined by God's presence, in radical contrast to the gloom of the grave.[338]

[338] For suggestions from this Psalm, see M. Dahood, Psalms, Vol. I, note 3 on Psalms 36:10; and compare with Job 33:30.

Job 33:31Since the words have ultimate significance, Elihu once more demands attention. I sat through prolonged debate in silence; now you listen to me. The LXX omits Job 33:31 b - Job 33:33, thus reducing the length of Elihu's speech.

Job 33:32After telling Job to be silent, he now asks that if he has anything to say that he speak up. But Elihu thinks that his speech if unanswerable, thus not expecting any Jobian response. I desire to justify you finds no concrete support in Elihu's speech.

Job 33:33Elihu must believe that his words are final, even if fatal, to Job's need. If you want wisdom, come to me, neither your friends, nor God.