# Job 34 đ: Elihu Defends God's Justice
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[[-Job Overview]] | [[Job 33]] | [[Job 35]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Elihuâs Second Speech
[[#Verse 01.]]Â Elihu answered:
[[#Verse 02.]]Â âListen to my words, you wise men;
hear me, you learned men.
[[#Verse 03.]] For the ear assesses words
as the mouth tastes food.
[[#Verse 04.]] Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right;
let us come to know among ourselves what is good.
[[#Verse 05.]]Â For Job says, âI am innocent,
but God turns away my right.
[[#Verse 06.]]Â Concerning my right, should I lie?
My wound is incurable,
although I am without transgression.â
[[#Verse 07.]]Â Who is there like Job,
who drinks derision like water?
[[#Verse 08.]] He goes about in company with evildoers,
he goes along with wicked men.
[[#Verse 09.]]Â For he says, âIt does not profit a man
when he makes his delight with God.â
## God is Not Unjust
[[#Verse 10.]]Â âTherefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
from the Almighty to do evil.
[[#Verse 11.]]Â For he repays a person for his work,
and according to the conduct of a person,
he causes the consequences to find him.
[[#Verse 12.]]Â Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly,
and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
[[#Verse 13.]] Who entrusted to him the earth?
And who put him over the whole world?
[[#Verse 14.]] If God were to set his heart on it,
and gather in his spirit and his breath,
[[#Verse 15.]]Â all flesh would perish together
and human beings would return to dust.
## God Is Impartial and Omniscient
[[#Verse 16.]] âIf you have understanding, listen to this,
hear what I have to say.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Do you really think
that one who hates justice can govern?
And will you declare guilty
the supremely Righteous One,
[[#Verse 18.]] who says to a king, âWorthless man,â
and to nobles, âWicked men,â
[[#Verse 19.]]Â who shows no partiality to princes,
and does not take note of the rich more than the poor,
because all of them are the work of his hands?
[[#Verse 20.]]Â In a moment they die, in the middle of the night,
people are shaken and they pass away.
The mighty are removed effortlessly.
[[#Verse 21.]]Â For his eyes are on the ways of an individual,
he observes all a personâs steps.
[[#Verse 22.]]Â There is no darkness, and no deep darkness,
where evildoers can hide themselves.
[[#Verse 23.]]Â For he does not still consider a person,
that he should come before God in judgment.
[[#Verse 24.]]Â He shatters the great without inquiry,
and sets up others in their place.
[[#Verse 25.]]Â Therefore, he knows their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night
and they are crushed.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â He strikes them for their wickedness,
in a place where people can see,
[[#Verse 27.]]Â because they have turned away from following him,
and have not understood any of his ways,
[[#Verse 28.]] so that they caused the cry of the poor
to come before him,
so that he hears the cry of the needy.
[[#Verse 29.]] But if God is quiet, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, then who can see him?
Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,
[[#Verse 30.]]Â so that the godless man should not rule,
and not lay snares for the people.
## Job Is Foolish to Rebel
[[#Verse 31.]]Â âHas anyone said to God,
âI have endured chastisement,
but I will not act wrongly any more;
[[#Verse 32.]]Â teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done evil, I will do so no moreâ?
[[#Verse 33.]] Is it your opinion that God should recompense it,
because you reject this?
But you must choose, and not I,
so tell us what you know.
[[#Verse 34.]]Â Men of understanding say to meâ
any wise man listening to me saysâ
[[#Verse 35.]] that Job speaks without knowledge
and his words are without understanding.
[[#Verse 36.]] But Job will be tested to the end,
because his answers are like those of wicked men.
[[#Verse 37.]] For he adds transgression to his sin;
in our midst he claps his hands,
and multiplies his words against God.â
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
###### Verse 28.
###### Verse 29.
###### Verse 30.
###### Verse 31.
###### Verse 32.
###### Verse 33.
###### Verse 34.
###### Verse 35.
###### Verse 36.
###### Verse 37.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Elihu's saying that the ear tests words as the palate tastes food (34:3) quotes Job's own proverb from 12:11.
2. Elihu addresses "wise men" (34:2), perhaps the three friends or a wider audience listening to the debate.
3. Elihu summarizes Job's complaint that he is righteous but God has denied him justice (34:5-6; 27:2).
4. Elihu says God repays each person according to his deeds (34:11), a truth repeated in Psalm 62:12 and Romans 2:6.
5. The idea that all flesh would return to dust if God withdrew His breath (34:14-15) echoes Genesis 3:19 and Psalm 104:29.
6. Elihu says God shows no partiality to princes or the rich (34:19), as Peter later says in Acts 10:34.
7. The Hebrew word for "deep darkness" in 34:22, *tsalmaveth*, is the same word often translated "the shadow of death" in Psalm 23:4.
8. Elihu says that Job speaks without knowledge (34:35). God later asks who darkens counsel with words without knowledge (38:2).
9. Elihu asks who can condemn God if He chooses to be quiet (34:29).
10. Elihu, like the friends, assumes Job's words reveal rebellion (34:37), even though God later affirms Job (42:7).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the righteous Judge who sees every path and repays each person according to their deeds (34:11, 21). The Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:22), and in Him the guilty can find mercy.
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. Elihu insists God never does wickedness or perverts justice (34:10-12). Why is it important to hold on to God's goodness when life feels unfair?
2. God's eyes are on every person's ways, and there is no darkness where evildoers can hide (34:21-22). Is that a comfort or a warning to you, and why?
3. If God withdrew His breath, all flesh would perish (34:14-15). How does knowing that every breath depends on God change the way you live?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 10: It is unthinkable that God would do wickedness.
- đ verses 14-15: If God took back His spirit and breath, all people would perish together.
- đ verses 21-22: God's eyes are on everyone's ways, and there is no darkness where evildoers can hide.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[John 05#Verse 22.|John 5:22]] - The Father has given all judgment to the Son.
- đ [[Romans 02#Verse 06.|Romans 2:6-11]] - God repays each one according to his deeds and shows no partiality.
- đ [[Hebrews 04#Verse 13.|Hebrews 4:13]] - Nothing in creation is hidden from God's sight.
- đ [[Psalm 139#Verse 11.|Psalm 139:11-12]] - Darkness is not dark to God.
- đ [[Genesis 18#Verse 25.|Genesis 18:25]] - Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Job 34 - SOAP|God Sees It All]]
## đ Internal Notes