Old Testament Commentary - Job 33

by Don R. Hender

Though Job has been stated to be 'perfect' and 'righteous', Elihu, the learned judge in Israel, is going to preach and teach Job a thing or two about God. This is done though it is likely that Job knows God more personally than does this judge in Israel who stands in authority. The Judge will ramble on through much of his 'high learning' of the precepts, principles and laws of God and generally accuse Job according to his personal accessment, though without exercising the spirit of discernment into the particulars of Job's case. It is the concept that if one is learned in the Lord as a judge, then they 'know' and they will be he who preaches and teaches whether or not it is the mind and will of the Lord. The Lord will intervien beginning about chapter 38.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

                  CHAPTER 33
Elihu says: God is greater than man—He speaks to man in dreams and visions—He ransoms those cast into the pit—He delivers their souls and gives them life.

1 WHEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

4 The ^aSpirit of God hath made me^a, and the ^bbreath of the Almighty hath given me life.
5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 4^a The Spirit of God hath made me Elihu, in his surmon, includes the creation of man, that the Spirit of God has made man, including himself, that he is a man though he speaks for God (verse 6). Elihu is acting as God's judge in Israel. Though stated as an aside, the fact that Jesus Christ as Jehovah did create or form man, Adam, in the flesh while he himself was yet a spirit is confirmed in the Book of Mormon is Ether 3:14-16. 4^a TG God, Spirit of
   ^b TG Breath of Life;
     TG Man, a Spirit Child
     of Heavenly Father

7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is ^agreater than man. 12^a Isa. 55:9 (8-9)

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a ^adream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
15^a TG Dreams

18 He keepeth back his soul from the ^apit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
18^a TG Hell

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ^aransom.
25 His ^aflesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall ^apray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
24^a 1 Tim. 2:6
25^a 2 Kings 5:14
26^a 2 Ne. 32:9; D&C 75:11

27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 33 Elihu says: God is greater than man—He speaks to man in dreams and visions—He ransoms those cast into the pit—He delivers their souls and gives them life.
1 WHEREFORE, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The ^aSpirit of God hath made me^a, and the ^bbreath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.	4^a The Spirit of God hath made me Elihu, in his surmon, includes the creation of man, that the Spirit of God has made man, including himself, that he is a man though he speaks for God (verse 6). Elihu is acting as God's judge in Israel. Though stated as an aside, the fact that Jesus Christ as Jehovah did create or form man, Adam, in the flesh while he himself was yet a spirit is confirmed in the Book of Mormon is Ether 3:14-16.	4^a TG God, Spirit of ^b TG Breath of Life; TG Man, a Spirit Child of Heavenly Father
7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. 8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is ^agreater than man.		12^a Isa. 55:9 (8-9)
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. 14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a ^adream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.		15^a TG Dreams
18 He keepeth back his soul from the ^apit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.		18^a TG Hell
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ^aransom. 25 His ^aflesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall ^apray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.		24^a 1 Tim. 2:6 25^a 2 Kings 5:14 26^a 2 Ne. 32:9; D&C 75:11
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.