Job · Chapter 33 of 42

Job 33

Elihu offers to reason with Job. · Elihu blames Job for reflecting upon God. · God calls men to repentance. · God sends afflictions for good. · Elihu entreats Job's attention.

1Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 6Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

8Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

14For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26He 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. 27He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

King James Version (1769) · public domain

1“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. 2Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. 3My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know. 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me. 6I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay. 7Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

8Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: 9‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me. 10Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy. 11He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’ 12Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. 13Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

14For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices. 15In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds, 16He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings 17to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, 18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

19A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones, 20so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. 21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death. 23Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, 24to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’ 25then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth. 26He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man. 27Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved. 28He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’

29Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times, 30to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life. 31Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. 32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you. 33But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Berean Standard Bible · public domain

1“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. 2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. 3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely. 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up. 6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.

8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, 9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. 10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. 11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’ 12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man. 13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?

14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed, 16then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, 17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones, 20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. 21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers. 23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him, 24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’ 25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. 26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. 27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. 28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’

29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, 30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. 31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

World English Bible · public domain

About Job

Job 33 commentary

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706), public domain.

Verses 1-7

Job had desired a judge to decide his appeal. Elihu was one according to his wish, a man like himself. If we would rightly convince men, it must be by reason, not by terror; by fair argument, not by a heavy hand.

Verses 8-13

Elihu charges Job with reflecting upon the justice and goodness of God. When we hear any thing said to God's dishonour, we ought to bear our testimony against it. Job had represented God as severe in marking what he did amiss. Elihu urges that he had spoken wrong, and that he ought to humble himself before God, and by repentance to unsay it. God is not accountable to us. It is unreasonable for weak, sinful creatures, to strive with a God of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness. He acts with perfect justice, wisdom, and goodness, where we cannot perceive it.

Verses 14-18

God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers; of all these Elihu discourses. There was not then, that we know of, any Divine revelation in writing, though now it is our principal guide. When God designs men's good, by the convictions and dictates of their own consciences, he opens the heart, as Lydia's, and opens the ears, so that conviction finds or forces its way in. The end and design of these admonitions are to keep men from sin, particularly the sin of pride. While sinners are pursuing evil purposes, and indulging their pride, their souls are hastening to destruction. That which turns men from sin, saves them from hell. What a mercy it is to be under the restraints of an awakened conscience!

Verses 19-28

Job complained of his diseases, and judged by them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too: but Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for good to the soul. This thought will be of great use for our getting good from sickness, in and by which God speaks to men. Pain is the fruit of sin; yet, by the grace of God, the pain of the body is often made a means of good to the soul. When afflictions have done their work, they shall be removed. A ransom or propitiation is found. Jesus Christ is the Messenger and the Ransom, so Elihu calls him, as Job had called him his Redeemer, for he is both the Purchaser and the Price, the Priest and the sacrifice. So high was the value of souls, that nothing less would redeem them; and so great the hurt done by sin, that nothing less would atone for it, than the blood of the Son of God, who gave his life a ransom for many. A blessed change follows. Recovery from sickness is a mercy indeed, when it proceeds from the remission of sin. All that truly repent of their sins, shall find mercy with God. The works of darkness are unfruitful works; all the gains of sin will come far short of the damage. We must, with a broken and contrite heart, confess our sins to God, 1Jo 1:9. We must confess the fact of sin; and not try to justify or excuse ourselves. We must confess the fault of sin; I have perverted that which was right. We must confess the folly of sin; So foolish have I been and ignorant. Is there not good reason why we should make such a confession?

Verses 29-33

Elihu shows that God's great and gracious design toward the children of men, is, to save them from being for ever miserable, and to bring them to be for ever happy. By whatever means we are kept back from the we shall bless the Lord for them at least, and should bless him for them though they be painful and distressing. Those that perish for ever are without excuse, for they would not be healed.

Key verses in Job 33

Job 33:4
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
Job 33:14
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
Job 33:25
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
Job 33:12
Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.