Who is Elihu to Job in the Bible?
Elihu, also spelled Eliu, in the Hebrew Bible, a comforter of Job, the biblical prototype of undeserved suffering.
Who is Elihu of the family of Ram?
ELIHU (Heb. אֱלִיהוּא, once אֱלִיהוּ; "God is the one [who is to be thanked, or worshipped]"), son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, a character – first introduced, and quite unexpectedly, at Job 32:2 – who addresses Job and his three friends from 32:6 through chapter 37.
What does the name Elihu mean?
my God is HeIt is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Elihu is "my God is He". Biblical: a young man whose fiery defense of God's righteousness is written of in the Book of Job. On This Page: Popularity Trend Chart.
What does Elihu mean in Hebrew?
my God is heFrom the Hebrew word ĕlīhū literally, my God is he.
Who is Elihu son of Barakel?
Elihu (Hebrew: אֱלִיהוּא 'Elihu) is a critic of Job and his three friends in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Job. He is said to have been the son of Barachel and a descendant of Buz, who may have been from the line of Abraham (Genesis 22:20–21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).
Who were Job's 4 friends?
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.
Is Elihu male or female name?
maleThe name Elihu is primarily a male name of Hebrew origin that means He Is My God.
What does Barakel mean?
blessing of GodWhat's A 'Barakel'? Our name is from Hebrew and means “blessing of God” (see Job 32:2).
What does jeroham mean in Hebrew?
Jeroham (Hebrew: ירוחם; Yeruham) is a name which means "cherished" or "one who finds mercy". A number of people with this name are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible: The Father of Elkanah, and grandfather of the prophet Samuel — in 1 Samuel 1:1.
How many chapters does Elihu take up?
His four speeches take up chapters 32-37. Some critics have considered that the Elihu portion of the Book of Job was added by a later hand, and urge obscurities and prolixities, as well as a different style, to prove that it was the work of an inferior writer.
Who was the forefather of Samuel the Prophet?
A forefather of Samuel the prophet. (1 Samuel 1:1) In (1 Chronicles 27:18) Elihu "of the brethren of David" is mentioned as the chief of the tribe of Judah. One of the captains of the thousands of Manasseh, (1 Chronicles 12:20) who followed David to Ziklag after he had left the Philistine army on the eve of the battle of Gilboa.
Is Job 32:6-22 egotistic?
He is very egotistic, very sure of the value of his ideas; much of his alleged prolixity is due to that voluble self-deprecation which betrays an inordinate opinion of oneself (compare Job 32:6-22). This, whether inferior composition or not, admirably adapts his words to his character.
Who is Elihu in the Bible?
Elihu ( Hebrew: אֱלִיהוּא ’Elihu) is a man in the Hebrew Bible 's Book of Job. He is said to have descended from Guz who may be from the line of Abraham ( Genesis 22:20–21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).
What chapter does Elihu speak in?
He is mentioned late in the text (chapter 32), and opens his discourse with more modesty than displayed by the other antagonists. Elihu differs from the others in that his monologues discuss divine providence, which he insists are full of wisdom and mercy.
What does Elihu say about suffering?
Elihu states that suffering may be decreed for the righteous as a protection against greater sin, for moral betterment and warning, and to elicit greater trust and dependence on a merciful, compassionate God in the midst of adversity.
What does Elihu say in chapter 32?
Elihu's preface in chapter 32 indicates that he has been listening intently to the conversation between Job and the other three men.
Why is suffering decreed for the righteous?
Elihu states that suffering may be decreed for the righteous as a protection against greater sin, for moral betterment and warning, and to elicit greater trust and dependence on a merciful, compassionate God in the midst of adversity.
What does Job teach about God?
He teaches that God is supreme, and that one must acknowledge and submit to that supremacy because of God's wisdom. He draws instances of benignity from, for example, the constant wonders of creation and of the seasons. Chapter 32 of the Book of Job is directed at Job's three friends.
Is Elihu mentioned in Job 2?
He is not mentioned in Job 2:11, in which Job's friends are introduced, nor is he mentioned at all in the epilogue, 42:7–10, in which God expresses anger at Job's friends.
Who is Elihu in Job 32?
Elihu. whose God is he. "The son of Barachel, a Buzite" ( Job 32:2 ), one of Job's friends. When the debate between Job and his friends is brought to a close, Elihu for the first time makes his appearance, and delivers his opinion on the points at issue ( Job 3237 -37). The son of Tohu, and grandfather of Elkanah ( 1 Samuel 1:1 ).
How many chapters does Elihu take up?
His four speeches take up chapters 32-37. Some critics have considered that the Elihu portion of the Book of Job was added by a later hand, and urge obscurities and prolixities, as well as a different style, to prove that it was the work of an inferior writer.
Who was the chief of Judah?
In ( 1 Chronicles 27:18 ) Elihu "of the brethren of David" is mentioned as the chief of the tribe of Judah. One of the captains of the thousands of Manasseh, ( 1 Chronicles 12:20 ) who followed David to Ziklag after he had left the Philistine army on the eve of the battle of Gilboa.
Who was Elihu in Job?
Answer. Elihu was one of Job’s friends —not one of the three who had come to comfort Job at the beginning of the book, but one who arrives later and offers the last and longest single speech to Job. Elihu is identified only as the “son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram” ( Job 32:2 ).
What is Elihu's response to Job?
In Job 32—37 Elihu offers a response to Job that lifts up the Lord, condemns Job’s three friends, and rightly confronts Job. In Job 32 Elihu focuses his response on rebuking Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. In verse 12 he notes, “I gave you my full attention.
What does Elihu say about the empty plea?
In verses 13–14 Elihu says, “Indeed, God does not listen to [the arrogant person’s] empty plea; / the Almighty pays no attention to it. / How much less, then, will he listen / when you say that you do not see him, / that your case is before him / and you must wait for him .”. In Job 36—37 Elihu highlights God’s greatness.
Why does Elihu speak up in Job 33?
But he could finally take no more. Elihu speaks up because he is “very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God” and with Job’s three friends, “because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him” ( Job 32:2–3 ). In Job 33 Elihu turns his attention to Job.
Who is rebuked in Job 42:7?
In Job 42:7 the Lord condemns Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Elihu is not mentioned again after he finishes his speech, but, significantly, he is not rebuked by God. Elihu’s life and speech offer many insights for today.
What does Elihu mean by "Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself"?
Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself.”. Instead of a “despised mankind” narrative, Elihu crafts a narrative in which God has an instrumental purpose for all he does: “God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.”.
What does Elihu say about justice?
Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”. Elihu further defines justice (“He repays everyone for what they have done”) and rejects the notion that God would pervert justice. So, Elihu joins Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad against Job’s claim of innocence.
What does Zophar say about Job?
Every time Job insists that he’s innocent, his friends go the opposite direction: Job must be super wicked, and trying to hide it. Zophar says: “Though evil is sweet in [a wicked man’s] mouth, and he hides it under his tongue… [it] will turn sour in his stomach [and] become the venom of serpents within him.”.
What is Job's theodicean solution?
As such, Job’s theodicean solution — his “lamentation theology” — is to indict God’s benevolence. “There is no justice,” Job says.
What does Elihu reject?
He rejects the idea that God’s goodness and justice are completely inscrutable, as if something without human-appreciable meaning.
How great is God beyond our understanding?
How great is God — beyond our understanding!”. It’s less about “vengeance,” but instead about correction, forebearing as long as that purpose has hope: “He tells [the sinner] what they have done — that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.”.
What is the problem Zacharias sees in the story of Job?
Zacharias sees the problem of Job’s friends remedied only by God’s ultimate arrival: “So the failure we see in the story of Job is the failure of friendship. Then comes the answer of God. God’s answer was not propositional, but relational. And that is what Job most needed.
Why was Elihu made in God's likeness?
Elihu was made in God’s Likeness (sonship because Love breathed into that earthen vessel which Love sustains for His Praise). Elihu LIVING IN THAT CONSCIOUSNESS was then able to correct Iyov, and by that same SPIRIT from Elihu, Iyov came to that same consciousness (repentance, internal realization and acknowledgment).
Why does Elihu say that judgment is upon Job?
Elihu is stating that judgement is upon Job because of his response to the suffering. In Job’s defense to his three friend’s he declared that he is righteous and does not deserve this trial. Elihu is merely pointing out Job’s self righteousness that he acquired in his attempt to shut down his friend’s accusations.
How many speeches does Elihu get?
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar get no more than three speeches apiece, with the speeches growing shorter as the book progresses. Elihu gets four speeches.
Why did Elihu burn with anger at Job's friends?
In one of the few narrative and evaluative statements of the book, he declares that Elihu “burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong” (Job 32:3). Conclusion.
Is righteous living pointless?
Righteous living is not pointless, though we are insignificant next to God (Job 35). You’re in no place to criticize God; remember to fear him (Job 36-37). And God reinforces Elihu’s fourth point with some of his most aggressive and fear-inducing words in all the Bible (Job 38-41).
Overview
Elihu (Hebrew: אֱלִיהוּא ’Elihu) is a critic of Job and his three friends in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Job. He is said to have been the son of Barachel and a descendant of Buz, who may have been from the line of Abraham (Genesis 22:20–21 mentions Buz as a nephew of Abraham).
Elihu's monologues
Elihu is introduced in Job 32:2, towards the end of the book. His speeches comprise chapters 32-37, and he opens his discourse with more modesty than displayed by the other comforters. Elihu addresses Job by name (Job 33:1, 33:31, 37:14), and his words differ from those of the three friends in that his monologues discuss divine providence, which he insists is full of wisdom and mercy.
Possible pseudonymity of the character
The speeches of Elihu (who is not mentioned in the prologue) contradict the fundamental opinions expressed by the 'friendly accusers' in the central body of the text, that it is impossible that the righteous should suffer, all pain being a punishment for some sin. Elihu states that suffering may be decreed for the righteous as a protection against greater sin, for moral betterment and warning, and to elicit greater trust and dependence on a merciful, compassionat…
Possible authorship
According to Albert Barnes, John Lightfoot and others believed that the Book of Job was written by Elihu.
See also
• Bildad
• Eliphaz
• Zophar