Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 32:22

"For I know not to give flattering titles; [Else] would my Maker soon take me away." — Job 32:22 (ASV)

In so doing my maker would soon take me away. —Or perhaps the meaning may be, “My Maker will almost have to forgive me:” that is, for being too candid, frank, and straightforward; for speaking too plainly.

Some commentators regard Elihu’s character with great disfavour, and consider him to be an empty and arrogant talker, mainly, perhaps, from Job 32:18-19. Others accept him as a wise and pious friend of Job, who not only gave him good advice, but perhaps more closely than any other of the disputants hit the truth about Job’s afflictions.

We are probably more right in this latter view, because at the climax of the poem we do not read that Elihu had any share in the condemnation that God passed on the three friends of Job. He is not noticed for either praise or blame.

It should be observed that the last eight verses of this chapter are a kind of soliloquy, unlike the former part of it, which was addressed to the friends, or the next chapter, which is addressed to Job.