Job 34

34:3-4 ear tests . . . mouth distinguishes: Elihu echoed Job’s earlier complaint about the other counselors’ weak argument that “wisdom belongs to the aged” (12:11-12; see 6:30; Heb 5:14).

34:5-6 Job had claimed to be innocent: See 9:20-21; 13:18; 27:6.

34:6 Eliphaz had accused Job of being a liar (15:5), fulfilling Job’s earlier worry (6:28-29). • My suffering (literally My arrow): For the link with the Lord’s arrows, see 6:4; 16:13; Jer 10:19; 15:18; 30:12, 15; Lam 3:12; Mic 1:9; Nah 3:19.

34:9 Elihu later repeated this accusation (35:3; cp. Ps 73:13; Zeph 1:12; Mal 3:14), but he misrepresented Job’s words (Job 9:22-23; 21:15). Job had actually condemned those who held this view (21:14-16).

34:10-15 The passage attaches three ideas to the truth that God can do no wrong (34:10, 12): (1) God pays back all people according to their behavior (34:11); (2) as the Creator, God is not answerable to anyone (34:13); and (3) every living being depends upon God for its existence, and God can withdraw that gift without doing anything wrong (34:14-15; cp. Rom 9:19-29).

34:11 according to their deeds: Cp. Ps 62:12; Prov 24:12; Jer 32:19; Ezek 33:20; Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6; Gal 6:7-8; 1 Pet 1:17. The ultimate harvest will take place at the end of time (2 Cor 5:10; Rev 2:23; 22:12).

34:17 The implied answer was that God could not govern if he hated justice (cp. Rom 3:4-7; 7:7, 13; 9:14; Gal 2:17; 6:14). • Later, God also asked if Job was going to condemn the almighty judge (Job 40:8).

34:19 doesn’t care how great a person may be: Impartiality flows from God’s justice (Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17).

34:22 The wicked might try to hide in darkness (Jer 23:24), but they will fail (Ps 139:11-12; cp. Amos 9:2-3). God brings everything to light (1 Cor 4:5).

34:23 We don’t set the time: Elihu rejected Job’s wish for a quick (21:19), published time of judgment (24:1).

34:24 God knows everything without asking anyone (34:25). • sets up others in their place: Dan 2:21; 5:28-30.

34:26 When God renders justice openly, it leads to proper fear among the wicked (Deut 21:21; 1 Tim 5:20) and to public rejoicing among the righteous (cp. Exod 14:30-31).

34:31 Why don’t people say? Elihu was indirectly asking, “Job, why won’t you admit it?”

34:36 deserve the maximum penalty: Zophar had also said that Job was being punished less than he deserved (11:6).