What does Job Chapter 32 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Eliu waits because Job and the others are older and is angry at their exchange. He argues that inspiration gives understanding and asks to be heard after the others cease answering. He compares his constrained speech to wine and rejects levelling God with man; the note records his interpretation.

Chapter breakdown

The three men cease answering Job because he seems just to himself. Eliu, son of Barachel the Buzite of Ram's kindred, is angry with Job for calling himself just before God, and with the friends because they have no reasonable answer and only condemn him. He waits while Job speaks because they are older. The separate heading describes Eliu's anger and boast of wisdom.

In Eliu’s speech, eliu says youth made him fearful, hanging his head and hesitating to show his opinion; he hoped age would teach wisdom. He says inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding and aged men are not necessarily wise, then asks to be heard. He has listened to their reasonings but none has convinced Job. He warns against saying they found wisdom and that God, rather than man, cast him down. Job has said nothing against him, and he will not use their words.

In Eliu’s speech, eliu says they were afraid, left off answering and stood without reply. He too will answer and show his knowledge, being full of matter and constrained by the spirit in his bowels. His belly is like wine without a vent that will burst new vessels. He will speak to breathe, open his lips and answer, without accepting a person's cause or levelling God with man. He does not know how long he will continue or whether his Maker may take him after a while. The separate note explains that Eliu regards Job as speaking with God as an equal and fearing punishment for that; it records Eliu's interpretation, not an independent verdict.

The story inside

Opening: Eliu waits because Job and the others are older and is angry at their exchange. Development: He argues that inspiration gives understanding and asks to be heard after the others cease answering. Conclusion: He compares his constrained speech to wine and rejects levelling God with man; the note records his interpretation.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Eliu waits because Job and the others are older and is angry at their exchange.
2
He argues that inspiration gives understanding and asks to be heard after the others cease answering.
3
He compares his constrained speech to wine and rejects levelling God with man; the note records his interpretation.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 56768–56773
32:2. And Eliu the son of Barachel the Buzite of the kindred of Ram, was angry and was moved to indignation: now he was angry against Job, because he said he was just before God. 32:3. And he was angry with his friends, because they had not found a reasonable answer, but only had condemned Job.
Lines 56788–56792
32:8. But, as I see, there is a spirit in men, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding. 32:9. They that are aged are not the wise men, neither do the ancients understand judgment.
Lines 56818–56822
32:18. For I am full of matter to speak of, and the spirit of my bowels straiteneth me. 32:19. Behold, my belly is as new wine which wanteth vent, which bursteth the new vessels.