Albert Barnes Commentary Job 33

Therefore, Job, I ask you— 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 Aramaic 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.

My tongue hath spoken in my mouth - Margin, “palate.” The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would utter only that which was worthy to be heard. This is properly the commencement of his argument, for all that he had before said was merely an introduction. The word palate - “in my palate” (בחכי b^echêkiy) is used here because of the importance of that organ in the act of speaking. Perhaps also, there may be reference to the fact that the Hebrews made much more use of the lower organs of enunciation - the palate, and the throat, than we do, and much less use of the teeth and lips. Hence, their language was strongly guttural.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart - I will speak in sincerity. I will utter nothing that will be hollow and hypocritical. What I speak will be the real suggestion of my heart - what I feel and know to be true.

Perhaps Elihu was the more anxious to make this point entirely clear because the three friends of Job might be thought to have exposed themselves to the suspicion that they were influenced by passion or prejudice; that they had maintained their opinions from mere obstinacy and not from conviction; and that they had sometimes been inclined to make petty objections. Elihu claims that all that he was about to say would be entirely sincere.

Shall utter knowledge clearly - He will state things just as they are and give the true solution of the difficulties that have been felt regarding the divine dealings. His object is to guard himself wholly from the suspicion of partiality.

The Spirit of God hath made me; see the notes on Job 32:8. There is an evident allusion in this verse to the mode in which man was created, when God breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living being (Genesis 2:7). But it is not quite clear why Elihu refers here to the fact that God had made him, or what is the bearing of this fact on what he proposed to say. The most probable supposition is that he means to state that he is, like Job, a man; that both were formed in the same way—from the same breathing of the Almighty, and from the same clay (Job 33:6); and that although he had undertaken to speak to Job in God’s place (Job 33:6), Job had no occasion to fear that he would be overawed and confounded by the Divine Majesty.

He had dreaded that, if he should be permitted to bring his case before him (see notes on Job 33:7), but Elihu says that now he would have no such thing to apprehend. Though it would be in fact the same thing as carrying the matter before God—since he came in his name, and meant to state the true principles of his government—Job would also be really conducting the cause with a man like himself, and might, unawed, enter with the utmost freedom into the statement of his views.

If you can answer me - The meaning of this verse is this: “The controversy between you and me, if you choose to reply, will be conducted in the most equitable manner and on the most equal terms. I will not attempt, as your three friends have done, to overwhelm you with reproaches; nor will I attempt to overawe you as God would do, so that you could not reply. I am a man like yourself, and desire that if anything can be said against what I have to advance, it should be offered with the utmost fairness and freedom.”

Stand up - That is, “maintain your position, unless you are convinced by my arguments. I wish to carry nothing by mere authority or power.”