Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 35 is Elihu's third speech — challenging Job's-claim that-righteousness-doesn't-profit (vv. 1–8) and explaining why-prayers-go-unanswered: pride and superficial-cries (vv. 9–13). Verses 6–7 — 'if you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? … If you are righteous, what do you give to him?' — challenge anthropocentric-piety.
Notable Variants
35:5 'look at the heavens, and see' creation-perspective counsel; 35:7 'if you are righteous, what do you give him?' anthropocentric-piety challenge; 35:10 'where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.'
Structural Notes
MT Job 35 = LXX Job 35. 16 verses. Elihu's third speech.
Then Elihu answered and said:
'And Elihu answered and said' tracks MT.
Do you consider this a just claim — when you say, 'My righteousness exceeds God's'?
'Do you think this to be just? Do you say: It is my right before God' tracks MT.
For you ask, 'What good does it do me? What do I gain by not sinning?'
'That you ask: What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?' tracks MT.
I will answer you with words — you, and your friends along with you.
'I will answer you and your friends with you' tracks MT.
Look up at the heavens and see — gaze at the skies, how high they tower above you.
'Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you' tracks MT. LOOK-AT-HEAVENS perspective-counsel. Romans 1:20 ('what can be known about God is plain to them … through the things that have been made') extends.
If you sin, what do you do to him? If your offenses multiply, what does it cost him?
'If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?' tracks MT. ANTHROPOCENTRIC-PIETY CHALLENGE — God-is-not-affected by-human-sin/righteousness as-if-needing-them.
If you are righteous, what do you give him? What does he receive from your hand?
'If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?' tracks MT. Romans 11:35 ('who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?,' citing Job 41:11 LXX) shares the same theological-instinct: God receives-no-prior-gift requiring-repayment.
Your wickedness affects only someone like you; your righteousness benefits only a fellow human.
'Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man' tracks MT. SIN-AND-RIGHTEOUSNESS-AFFECT-FELLOW-HUMANS. Horizontal-effects of-ethics. Matthew 25:40, 45 (what-you-do-to-the-least extends to-Christ) Christologically-extends but inverts: Christ-is-affected through-fellow-humans.
Under the weight of oppression, people cry out; they call for help against the arm of the powerful.
'Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty' tracks MT.
But no one asks, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?'
'But none says: Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night' tracks MT. SONGS-IN-THE-NIGHT — Acts 16:25 (Paul-and-Silas singing in prison) extends. Job's-and-Elihu's poetic-theology of-divine-music-in-darkness.
He teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky.
'Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?' tracks MT.
There they cry out, but he does not answer — because of the arrogance of the wicked.
'There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men' tracks MT.
Surely God does not hear an empty cry; the Almighty does not regard it.
'Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it' tracks MT. SURFACE-CRIES-NOT-HEARD. Matthew 6:7 ('do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do') extends.
How much less when you say you cannot see him — the case is before him; wait for him!
'How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!' tracks MT.
But now — because his anger has not yet struck, he does not know the full extent of it.
'And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not take much note of transgression' tracks MT.
So Job opens his mouth for nothing — he piles up words without knowledge.
'Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge' tracks MT.