who is elihu in the bible

Full Answer

What is Elihu in the Bible?

Elihu, also spelled Eliu, in the Hebrew Bible, a comforter of Job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering.

What does the name Elihu mean?

my God is HeOrigin:Hebrew. Meaning:my God is He.

Who is speaking in Job 33?

Now, Elihu tells Job to hear his speech; his words will demonstrate his uprightness. The spirit of God compels him to speak, and Job must answer him if he can. Elihu summarizes Job's claim to be sinless and unjustly persecuted by God.

Who was the fourth friend of Job?

ElihuJob 32–37 contains the words of a man named Elihu. We are not sure when he joined the group, but apparently he listened to the conversation between Job and the other three men. He did not speak up because he was younger and had respect for his elders (see Job 32:4).

What does the word Job mean in Hebrew?

PersecutedIn Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Job is: Persecuted. In the Old Testament, Job was remembered for his great patience ('the patience of Job').

Who is Elihu in the comforters?

In a statement that is unique for the comforters, Elihu also refers to a superhuman intermediary who will help restore Job to God. Elihu ends his arguments by stressing God’s omnipotence and justice. This article was most recently revised and updated by Matt Stefon, Assistant Editor.

What does Elihu say about Job's sinful reaction to his undeserved suffering?

Job, he says, reacts by questioning the justice of God’s ways and, indeed, takes a perverse pride in so doing.

What is the Hebrew Bible?

Hebrew Bible. Hebrew Bible, collection of writings that was first compiled and preserved as the sacred books of the Jewish people. It also constitutes a large portion of the Christian Bible. A brief treatment of the Hebrew Bible follows. For full treatment, see biblical….

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Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...

Who is Elihu in the Bible?

Elihu ( Hebrew: אֱלִיהוּא ‎ ’Elihu) is a man in the Hebrew Bible 's Book of Job. He is said to have descended from Guz who may be from the line of Abraham ( Genesis 22:20–21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).

What chapter does Elihu speak in?

He is mentioned late in the text (chapter 32), and opens his discourse with more modesty than displayed by the other antagonists. Elihu differs from the others in that his monologues discuss divine providence, which he insists are full of wisdom and mercy.

What does Elihu say in the prologue?

The speeches of Elihu (who is not mentioned in the prologue) contradict the fundamental opinions expressed by the 'friendly accusers' in the central body of the text, that it is impossible that the righteous should suffer, all pain being a punishment for some sin.

What does Elihu say in chapter 32?

Elihu's preface in chapter 32 indicates that he has been listening intently to the conversation between Job and the other three men.

Why is suffering decreed for the righteous?

Elihu states that suffering may be decreed for the righteous as a protection against greater sin, for moral betterment and warning, and to elicit greater trust and dependence on a merciful, compassionate God in the midst of adversity.

What does Job teach about God?

He teaches that God is supreme, and that one must acknowledge and submit to that supremacy because of God's wisdom. He draws instances of benignity from, for example, the constant wonders of creation and of the seasons. Chapter 32 of the Book of Job is directed at Job's three friends.

Who wrote the Book of Job?

According to Albert Barnes, John Lightfoot and others believed that the Book of Job was written by Elihu.

Who is Elihu in Job 32?

Elihu. whose God is he. "The son of Barachel, a Buzite" ( Job 32:2 ), one of Job's friends. When the debate between Job and his friends is brought to a close, Elihu for the first time makes his appearance, and delivers his opinion on the points at issue ( Job 3237 -37). The son of Tohu, and grandfather of Elkanah ( 1 Samuel 1:1 ).

How many chapters does Elihu take up?

His four speeches take up chapters 32-37. Some critics have considered that the Elihu portion of the Book of Job was added by a later hand, and urge obscurities and prolixities, as well as a different style, to prove that it was the work of an inferior writer.

Who was the chief of Judah?

In ( 1 Chronicles 27:18 ) Elihu "of the brethren of David" is mentioned as the chief of the tribe of Judah. One of the captains of the thousands of Manasseh, ( 1 Chronicles 12:20 ) who followed David to Ziklag after he had left the Philistine army on the eve of the battle of Gilboa.

Who was Elihu in Job?

Answer. Elihu was one of Job’s friends —not one of the three who had come to comfort Job at the beginning of the book, but one who arrives later and offers the last and longest single speech to Job. Elihu is identified only as the “son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram” ( Job 32:2 ).

What is Elihu's response to Job?

In Job 32—37 Elihu offers a response to Job that lifts up the Lord, condemns Job’s three friends, and rightly confronts Job. In Job 32 Elihu focuses his response on rebuking Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. In verse 12 he notes, “I gave you my full attention.

What does Elihu say about the empty plea?

In verses 13–14 Elihu says, “Indeed, God does not listen to [the arrogant person’s] empty plea; / the Almighty pays no attention to it. / How much less, then, will he listen / when you say that you do not see him, / that your case is before him / and you must wait for him .”. In Job 36—37 Elihu highlights God’s greatness.

Why does Elihu speak up in Job 33?

But he could finally take no more. Elihu speaks up because he is “very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God” and with Job’s three friends, “because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him” ( Job 32:2–3 ). In Job 33 Elihu turns his attention to Job.

Who is rebuked in Job 42:7?

In Job 42:7 the Lord condemns Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Elihu is not mentioned again after he finishes his speech, but, significantly, he is not rebuked by God. Elihu’s life and speech offer many insights for today.

What is Elihu's response to Christ?

Elihu is our “bridge” to Christ. His is a theological response that unites justice and mercy — not by conflating them, but by employing them as part of a single grand plan.

What does Elihu mean by "Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself"?

Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself.”. Instead of a “despised mankind” narrative, Elihu crafts a narrative in which God has an instrumental purpose for all he does: “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.”.

What does Elihu say about justice?

Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”. Elihu further defines justice (“He repays everyone for what they have done”) and rejects the notion that God would pervert justice. So, Elihu joins Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad against Job’s claim of innocence.

What does Elihu reject?

He rejects the idea that God’s goodness and justice are completely inscrutable, as if something without human-appreciable meaning.

Why is Elihu on the scene?

Elihu is on the scene to resolve the dispute, chastising both prior groups and offering the correct theological perspective.

How great is God beyond our understanding?

How great is God — beyond our understanding!”. It’s less about “vengeance,” but instead about correction, forebearing as long as that purpose has hope: “He tells [the sinner] what they have done — that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.”.

What is the book of Job the Hero about?

In Sunday School as a child, the Book of Job was presented to me as the story of: Satan’s challenge to God, Job’s suffering as a result, Job courageously refusing to curse God through the suffering, and God rewarding that fortitude with recompense and a happy ending.

What does Elihu say about Job?

Furious at the stalemate and their inability to answer Job, Elihu promises he has something new to say: “[Job] has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches ” (Job 32:14). The poet likewise distances Elihu from the other three. In one of the few narrative and evaluative statements of the book, he declares that Elihu “burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong” (Job 32:3).

Why was Elihu made in God's likeness?

Elihu was made in God’s Likeness (sonship because Love breathed into that earthen vessel which Love sustains for His Praise). Elihu LIVING IN THAT CONSCIOUSNESS was then able to correct Iyov, and by that same SPIRIT from Elihu, Iyov came to that same consciousness (repentance, internal realization and acknowledgment).

How many speeches does Elihu get?

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar get no more than three speeches apiece, with the speeches growing shorter as the book progresses. Elihu gets four speeches.

Why does Elihu say that judgment is upon Job?

Elihu is stating that judgement is upon Job because of his response to the suffering. In Job’s defense to his three friend’s he declared that he is righteous and does not deserve this trial. Elihu is merely pointing out Job’s self righteousness that he acquired in his attempt to shut down his friend’s accusations.

Why was Elihu not called to repent?

Elihu was not called to repent, because he said nothing wrong.

Why did Elihu burn with anger at Job's friends?

In one of the few narrative and evaluative statements of the book, he declares that Elihu “burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong” (Job 32:3). Conclusion.

How many chapters does Elihu speak?

The author does not ignore Elihu. He speaks for six chapters. Is so much written for no purpose.

Overview

Elihu (Hebrew: אֱלִיהוּא ’Elihu) is a critic of Job and his three friends in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Job. He is said to have been the son of Barachel and a descendant of Buz, who may have been from the line of Abraham (Genesis 22:20–21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).

Elihu's monologues

Possible pseudonymity of the character

Possible authorship

See also