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Job Chapter 33

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 33 Verses

What is Job 33 about?

The suffering of a righteous man and the profound questions it raises about God's justice, sovereignty, and human understanding. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.
2Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
3My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
4The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.
6Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.
7Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
8Surely thou hast spoken in my 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, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.
13Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
14For God speaketh once, Yea twice, [though man] regardeth 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 with continual strife in his bones;
20So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.
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 pit, And his life to the destroyers.
23If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;
24Then [God] 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 returneth to the days of his youth.
26He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
27He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:
28He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
29Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, [yea] thrice, with a man,
30To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may 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 anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
33If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.
← Job 32Job 34 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, etc.] In the preceding chapter, Elihu directed his discourse to the three friends of Job chiefly, here to Job himself, and that by name; which none of his friends in all their discourses ever used; and in an humble suppliant manner entreats his attention to what he was about to deliver, and that for reasons which his address to his friends could furnish him with; and hence begins his speech with “wherefore”, seeing he took not the part of his three friends, but blamed them; and because he had the Spirit of God in him, and was full of matter, and uneasy until he had…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ADDRESS TO JOB, AS (Job 32:1-22) TO THE FRIENDS. (Job 33:1-33) mouth--rather, "palate," whereby the taste discerns. Every man speaks with his mouth, but few, as Elihu, try their words with discrimination first, and only say what is really good (Job 6:30; Job 12:11). hath spoken--rather, "proceeds to speak."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Wherefore, Job, I pray thee - In the next chapter he addresses the three friends of Job. This is addressed particularly to him. My speeches - Hebrew, “my words” - מלה millâh. This is the usual word in the Aramaen languages to express a saying or discourse, though in Hebrew it is only a poetic form. The meaning is, not that he would address separate speeches, or distinct discourses, to Job, but that he called on him to attend to what he had to say. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 3
“My words - I will not speak passionately or partially, but from a sincere desire to do thee good. Clearly - What I speak will be plain, not hard to be understood. Job 33:4”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“33:1 Listen: Elihu begged to be heard (33:1; 34:2, 16), which is what Job had also sought (13:6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“hear: Job 13:6, Job 34:2; Psa 49:1-3; Mar 4:9 Job 33:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“1 But nevertheless, O Job, hear my speeches, And hearken to all my words. 2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, My tongue speaketh in my palate. 3 Sincere as my heart are my utterances, And knowledge that is pure my lips declare. The issue of the impartial discussion which Elihu designs to effect, is subject to this one condition, that Job listens to it, and observes not merely this or that, but the whole of its connected contents; and in this sense ואוּלם, which is used just as in Job 1:11; Job 11:5; Job 12:7; Job 13:4; Job 14:18; Job 17:10, in the signification verumtamen, stands at the head of this new turn in…”
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