Job 34: Elihu's Speech on God's Justice

Short answer: In Job 34, Elihu addresses Job and his friends, arguing that God is perfectly just and does not pervert justice. He accuses Job of speaking without knowledge and of adding rebellion to his sin, and he calls for humility before God.

What Job 34 says

Elihu begins by inviting the wise and knowledgeable to test his words, just as the ear tries words and the palate tastes food. He proposes that they together choose what is right and know what is good. Then he quotes Job's claims: that Job is righteous but God has taken away his right, that Job is considered a liar though without disobedience, and that it profits nothing to delight in God. Elihu also accuses Job of drinking scorn like water and associating with the wicked. This opening sets the stage for Elihu's rebuttal, as he presents Job's words as dangerous and worthy of examination.

Elihu then directly refutes the idea that God could do wickedness or pervert justice. He asserts that God repays each person according to their work and that no one appointed God over the earth, for if He withdrew His spirit, all flesh would perish. He challenges Job: should one who hates justice govern? Will Job condemn the righteous and mighty God, who shows no partiality to princes or the rich, and who can strike down the mighty without human hand? Elihu emphasizes that God's justice is absolute and that He is not accountable to anyone.

Elihu continues by highlighting God's omniscience: His eyes are on all human ways, and no darkness can hide the workers of iniquity. God does not need to examine a man further before judging; He breaks mighty men without inquiry and overturns them in the night. He strikes them for turning away from Him and ignoring His ways, yet He also hears the cry of the poor and afflicted. When God gives quietness, no one can condemn; when He hides His face, no one can see Him. He rules over nations and individuals alike, preventing the godless from reigning and ensnaring the people.

Finally, Elihu addresses the proper response to God. He asks if anyone has said to God, I am guilty, but I will not offend anymore; teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. He challenges Job: shall God's recompense be as you desire? You must choose, not I. He calls on men of understanding to declare that Job speaks without knowledge and that his words lack wisdom. Elihu wishes Job were tried to the end because he answers like wicked men, adding rebellion to his sin and multiplying words against God. This conclusion underscores Elihu's call for Job to humble himself before the Almighty.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right:” (Job 34:5) — This verse summarizes Job's claim that he is righteous but God has denied him justice, which is the central issue Elihu addresses.
• “Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.” (Job 34:12) — This verse affirms the foundational truth that God will not do wickedly or pervert justice, which is the core of Elihu's argument.
• ““For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.” (Job 34:21) — This verse declares God's omniscience, that His eyes are on all human ways, reinforcing the idea that no one can hide from His judgment.
• “For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”” (Job 34:37) — This verse accuses Job of adding rebellion to his sin, showing Elihu's conclusion that Job's words are not only ignorant but defiant.

Gospel connection

Elihu's defense of God's justice points forward to the gospel, where God's righteousness and mercy meet. In Job 34, Elihu insists that God cannot do wickedness and that He repays each person according to their ways. This seems to leave no room for sinners, yet the gospel reveals that God's justice was satisfied in Christ, who bore the penalty for sin. Where Job struggled to understand his suffering, the cross shows that God can be both just and the justifier of those who have faith. Elihu's call for repentance and humility anticipates the greater call to turn to Christ, who perfectly reveals God's justice and love.

Application

This chapter asks readers to examine their own words about God, especially in suffering. It challenges the impulse to accuse God of unfairness or to demand that He explain Himself. Instead, it calls for humility, acknowledging that His ways are beyond our understanding. Like Job, we may not see the reason for our trials, but we can trust that God is just and that He hears the cry of the afflicted. The proper response is repentance and a willingness to learn, not self-justification. This passage invites us to submit to God's wisdom, even when we cannot trace His hand.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Elihu's speech is God's final verdict; God later speaks and does not fully endorse Elihu's words. It does not say that Job's suffering was directly due to specific sin, nor does it provide a solution to the problem of suffering. The text is silent on Job's inner thoughts and on whether Elihu's accusations are entirely accurate. It also does not claim that God always gives immediate quietness or that the wicked are always visibly punished in this life. The chapter presents Elihu's perspective, which is part of the larger dialogue but not the final word.

Questions for study

1. What does Elihu accuse Job of saying about God, and how does he respond to those claims?
2. How does Elihu describe God's justice and impartiality in verses 10 through 20?
3. What does Elihu say about God's knowledge of human actions and the hiddenness of sin?
4. In verses 31 and 32, what attitude does Elihu say a person should have before God?
5. Why does Elihu conclude that Job speaks without knowledge, and how does that fit with the rest of the book?

Keep reading

Related studies: Job 1 Bible Study, Job 10 Bible Study, Job 11 Bible Study, Job 12 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Who is Elihu and why is he speaking?

Elihu is a younger man who has been listening to Job and his three friends. He speaks because he is angry that Job justifies himself rather than God, and that the friends have failed to refute Job.

What is the main point of Job 34?

The main point is that God is perfectly just and impartial, and that Job's words accusing God of injustice are wrong. Elihu calls for humility and repentance before the Almighty.

Does God later confirm Elihu's words?

No, when God speaks in later chapters, He does not affirm Elihu's speech. Instead, God challenges Job directly and later says that Job has spoken rightly, while Elihu and the friends have not.