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Job 33

Job book home•Chapter 33 of 42•33 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Job 33 Overview

Elihu addresses Job directly, emphasizing that he too is made from clay and need not terrify Job. He challenges Job’s claim that God gives no account, arguing that God can speak through dreams, suffering, discipline, and a gracious messenger to turn a person from destruction and restore him.

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Before you read Job 33

Coming from

Chapter 32 introduced Elihu as a younger observer dissatisfied with both Job and the friends.

In this chapter

Elihu begins by answering Job’s complaint about divine silence and argues that God can communicate through means people fail to recognize.

Leads into

Chapter 34 turns to God’s justice, where Elihu rejects the idea that God can act wickedly or pervert judgment.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Elihu responds to Job’s desire for a human-level disputant by stressing his own shared creatureliness. His descriptions of dreams and affliction reflect ways God may work, but they should not be applied mechanically to every sufferer.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God is capable of communicating and correcting in ways a person may not immediately perceive.

Truth 2

Human suffering can sometimes serve corrective purposes, but Job’s case warns against assuming that explanation automatically.

Truth 3

God’s aim in correction can include preservation from destructive paths.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Hebrews 12:5-11 teaches that divine chastening can be purposeful for God’s children.

Connection 2

Psalm 32:8-9 speaks of God instructing and guiding rather than leaving people without direction.

Connection 3

1 Timothy 2:5 provides the ultimate mediator Job longed for, though Elihu himself is only a human speaker.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not turn Elihu’s descriptions of dreams into a rule that dreams today carry biblical authority.

Keep this clear 2

Do not assume every sickness is God’s corrective discipline for a hidden sin.

Keep this clear 3

The “messenger” language should not be automatically identified with Christ without textual warrant.

Read Job 33 watching for…

Elihu’s effort to speak without terrifying Job.

The ways he says God may address a person.

The purpose he assigns to correction.

The imagery of ransom and restoration.

His invitation for Job to answer if he can.

Chapter outline5 sections

1-7Elihu asks Job to hear him and says he is a man of clay like Job 8-13Elihu repeats Job’s complaint and answers that God is greater than man 14-18Elihu says God can instruct man through dreams and warnings 19-30Elihu says God can use painful chastening, instruction, mercy, and deliverance to turn man from the pit 31-33Elihu asks Job to listen or answer if he has something to say

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,

He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

He shall pray 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.

He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.

If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.

If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

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Job 33:6

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