What does Job Chapter 33 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Eliu invites Job to answer as one formed from the same clay and reports Job’s claims. He describes dreams, sorrow in bed and an angel speaking for a man as parts of his argument. He speaks of mercy, prayer and confession, says three times within every one, and invites Job’s response.

Chapter breakdown

Eliu calls Job to hear all his words, describing his heart as upright and his sentence pure. God's spirit made him and the Almighty's breath gave him life. He invites Job to answer and stand against him, says both were formed from the same clay, and asks that his wonder and eloquence not terrify or burden Job. He reports hearing Job say he is clean and unspotted, while God finds complaints, counts him an enemy, stocks his feet and observes his paths. Eliu says Job is not justified in this and God is greater than man, asking why he strives because God has not answered all words.

In Eliu’s speech, eliu says God speaks once and does not repeat the same thing a second time. He describes dreams and night visions when men sleep, with ears opened for instruction to withdraw a man from his actions and pride, saving soul from corruption and life from the sword. He also speaks of sorrow in bed, withering bones, repulsive food, consumed flesh and uncovered bones, near corruption and destroyers.

In Eliu’s speech, if an angel, one among thousands, speaks for the man to declare uprightness, Eliu says there will be mercy and deliverance: 'I have found wherein I may be merciful to him.' He says the flesh is consumed with punishments and to let him return to youthful days, followed by prayer, grace, joy before God's face and justice. The man confesses sin and not receiving what he deserved and speaks of deliverance to light. Eliu says God works these things three times within every one to withdraw souls from corruption. He calls Job to silence while he speaks, but invites an answer because he would have Job appear just; otherwise he will teach wisdom. The separate heading identifies this as Eliu blaming Job for asserting innocence.

The story inside

Opening: Eliu invites Job to answer as one formed from the same clay and reports Job’s claims. Development: He describes dreams, sorrow in bed and an angel speaking for a man as parts of his argument. Conclusion: He speaks of mercy, prayer and confession, says three times within every one, and invites Job’s response.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Eliu invites Job to answer as one formed from the same clay and reports Job’s claims.
2
He describes dreams, sorrow in bed and an angel speaking for a man as parts of his argument.
3
He speaks of mercy, prayer and confession, says three times within every one, and invites Job’s response.

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 56857–56861
33:6. Behold God hath made me as well as thee, and of the same clay I also was formed. 33:7. But yet let not my wonder terrify thee, and let not my eloquence be burdensome to thee.
Lines 56866–56876
33:9. I am clean, and without sin: I am unspotted, and there is no iniquity in me. 33:10. Because he hath found complaints against me, therefore he hath counted me for his enemy. 33:11. He hath put my feet in the stocks, he hath observed all my paths. 33:12. Now this is the thing in which thou art not justified: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
Lines 56908–56916
33:23. If there shall be an angel speaking for him, one among thousands, to declare man’s uprightness, 33:24. He shall have mercy on him, and shall say: Deliver him, that he may not go down to corruption: I have found wherein I may be merciful to him. 33:25. His flesh is consumed with punishments, let him return to the days of his youth.