Albert Barnes Commentary Job 34:36

"Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men." — Job 34:36 (ASV)

My desire is - Margin, “or, ‘my father, let Job be tried.’” This variation between the text and the margin arises from the different interpretations given to the Hebrew word אבי 'âbiy. The Hebrew word commonly means “father,” and some have supposed that this sense is to be retained here. If so, it would be a solemn appeal to God as his Father, expressing Elihu’s earnest prayer that Job might be fully tried. But the difficulties in this interpretation are obvious:

1. Such a mode of appeal to God occurs nowhere else in the book, and it is hardly in the spirit of the poem. No particular reason can be assigned why that solemn appeal should be made here, rather than in many other places.

2. The name “Father,” though often given to God in the Scriptures, is not elsewhere given to Him in this book.

The probability is, therefore, that the word is from אבה 'âbâh - “to breathe after, to desire,” and means that Elihu “desired” that Job should have a fair trial. No other similar form of the word, however, occurs. The Vulgate renders it, “Pater mi, my father;” the Septuagint, “But learn, Job, no more to make reply like the foolish;” the Chaldee, צבינא - “I desire.”

May be tried - That his views may be fully canvassed and examined. He had expressed sentiments which Elihu thought should not be allowed to pass without the most careful examination into their truth and bearing. “Unto the end.” In the most full and free manner; that the matter should be pursued as far as possible, so that it might be fully understood. Literally, it means “forever” - עד־נצח ‛ad-netsach.

Because of his answers for wicked men - Because of the views he has expressed, which seem to favor the wicked. Elihu refers to the opinions advanced by Job that God did not punish people in this life, or did not deal with them according to their characters, which “he” interpreted as giving encouragement to wickedness, or as affirming that God was not the enemy of impiety. The Vulgate renders this, “My Father, let Job be tried to the end; do not cease from the man of iniquity;” but the true meaning doubtless is, that Job had uttered sentiments which Elihu understood to favor the wicked, and he was desirous that every trial should be applied to him which would tend to correct his erroneous views.