Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 32:4

"Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he." — Job 32:4 (ASV)

Now Elihu had waited until Job had spoken. —Literally, Had waited in words for or regarding Job; that is, as some understand it, had waited to speak to Job, or, more probably, had waited until the argument was closed to declare his opinion with reference to Job. The line taken by Elihu is an intermediate one, and is neither that of Job nor his friends.

He admits the integrity of Job—or, at least, he does not deny it—although he uses very strong expressions as to the course which Job has adopted (Job 34:7–9; Job 34:35–37); but he considers that Divine afflictions have a disciplinary purpose, and that they may be sent because God has discerned the seeds of unfaithfulness and defection in the sufferer; and this may serve to explain their purpose in Job's case. He has very lofty ideas of the righteousness of God (Job 34:10 and following), and of His power and majesty (Job 37:22). He holds that with regard to the Almighty we cannot find Him out, but that we may safely trust His mercy and His justice. This is the position to which he leads Job when the Lord answers him out of the whirlwind.