Elihu Character Analysis in Book of Job

Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, mysteriously appears after Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar quit arguing with Job. Elihu is angry—both at Job for insisting upon his own righteousness, and at Job’s three friends for failing to answer him adequately. He says that until now, he’s refrained from speaking up out of respect for the older men in the group, but after listening to everyone else, he can no longer contain himself. Elihu argues that God afflicts people in order to bring them back from the brink of Sheol. In some ways, his arguments are similar to the three friends’ arguments, in that he claims that God always repays people according to their deeds and therefore it isn’t right for evildoers to claim they’re righteous in God’s sight; that, indeed, it’s arrogant for anyone to defend themselves before him. In another way, Elihu shifts the debate somewhat, focusing less on human righteousness or wickedness and more on God’s mighty works and unsearchable greatness (setting the stage for God himself to speak after Elihu says his piece).

Elihu Quotes in Book of Job

The Book of Job quotes below are all either spoken by Elihu or refer to Elihu. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God; he was angry also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.

Related Characters: Job, Elihu, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite, God

Page Number and Citation: 32:1-5

Explanation and Analysis:

After many chapters of poetry, the book briefly switches back to prose in order to introduce a new character. Job’s friends have given up at this point—whether or not they accept his arguments, they can see that there’s no point in trying to persuade Job any further, because he’s convinced that he’s “righteous.” Somebody else wants a turn, though—a previously unmentioned figure named Elihu. It’s not clear whether Elihu’s full name (“son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram”) is given because it would be familiar to the book’s original audience, or in order to show that this Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qu

Elihu Character Timeline in Book of Job

The timeline below shows where the character Elihu appears in Book of Job. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Human Wisdom vs. Divine Wisdom Theme Icon

Then Eliphaz the Temanite speaks up. Eliphaz points out that in the past, Job has taught and... (full context)

Eliphaz goes on to describe a frightening “spirit” he saw in a nighttime vision. The vision... (full context)

Eliphaz continues speaking, saying that distress and envy kill a person. The children of fools are... (full context)

...He blesses them with many descendants and grants them old age. These things are true; Eliphaz encourages Job to believe them for himself. (full context)

Job replies to Eliphaz. He complains that if his calamities were weighed on a scale, they would be heavier... (full context)

Eliphaz the Temanite speaks up in reply. He asks if the wise should answer with “windy... (full context)

Eliphaz continues that he will tell Job wisdom. The wicked suffer all their lives, constantly threatened... (full context)

Next, Eliphaz the Temanite speaks up. He asks Job if even the wisest person can be of... (full context)

God is in the heavens, Eliphaz points out, beyond the highest stars—so Job probably assumes that God can’t see him and... (full context)

Eliphaz urges Job to “agree with God, and be at peace.” If he does this, spurning... (full context)

...stop answering him, because Job is “righteous in his own eyes.” Then, another man speaks up—Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite. Elihu is angry at Job for “justifying[] himself rather than... (full context)

Elihu had refrained from speaking up because the other men are older than him. But, angry... (full context)

Elihu says that he’s listened to the other men for a long time, but that nobody... (full context)

Now, Elihu tells Job to hear his speech; his words will demonstrate his uprightness. The spirit of... (full context)

Elihu continues that God speaks to humans in two special ways, though people don’t usually perceive... (full context)

Elihu continues speaking, saying that the group of men must determine among themselves what’s right. Elihu... (full context)

God’s eyes, Elihu continues, are always upon mortals, and he misses nothing; evildoers can’t find darkness deep enough... (full context)

Elihu continues speaking. It’s not right, he says, for Job to assert his righteousness and to... (full context)

Elihu says that the oppressed cry out because of their suffering, seeking the strong’s help. But... (full context)

Elihu keeps talking; he still has something to say on God’s behalf. God, he says, is... (full context)

Elihu urges Job to praise God’s work. God is great, and mortals can’t fully know him;... (full context)

Elihu says that God’s thundering voice causes his heart to tremble. God unleashes lightning across the... (full context)

Elihu urges Job to stop and consider God’s wonderful works. Does Job know, he asks, how... (full context)

Elihu Character Analysis

Elihu Quotes in Book of Job

Chapter 32 Quotes

Elihu Character Timeline in Book of Job