Big Idea: The young Elihu claims to know the truth that has escaped Job and his friends.

Understanding the Text

After Job concludes his words in 31:40, the reader expects to hear Yahweh speak to resolve the debate between Job and his friends. Instead, a young man named Elihu bursts upon the scene, and for the next six chapters he holds the stage. In his long, uninterrupted speech, Elihu summarizes the points made by Job and the friends, often quoting or alluding to their specific words. He agrees with them that God sends suffering as his judgment on sin, but he adds that God can also use suffering to refine human character. Thus, for Elihu suffering is both punitive and formative. Elihu supposes that he has the final word in this discussion, but Yahweh will retain that prerogative in chapter…