Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 36 begins Elihu's fourth-and-final speech. Elihu defends-divine-justice (vv. 1–15) and counsels-Job to-trust-divine-discipline (vv. 16–25), then transitions to-meditation-on-divine-power-in-the-storm (vv. 26–33) which-anticipates-the-storm-from-which God-will-speak in chapter 38.
Notable Variants
36:5 'God is mighty and does not despise any'; 36:15 'he delivers the afflicted by their affliction' — suffering-as-deliverance pedagogy; 36:26 'God is great, and we know him not.'
Structural Notes
MT Job 36 = LXX Job 36. 33 verses. Opens Elihu's fourth-and-final speech.
Then Elihu continued and said:
'And Elihu continued, and said' tracks MT.
Bear with me a little longer — I will show you, for there are still words to speak on God's behalf.
'Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf' tracks MT.
I will draw my knowledge from far away and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
'I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker' tracks MT.
Truly, my words are not false. One complete in knowledge stands before you.
'For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you' tracks MT.
See — God is mighty, yet he does not despise. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
'Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding' tracks MT. GOD-DOES-NOT-DESPISE — universal-divine-attentiveness.
He does not keep the wicked alive, but he grants justice to the afflicted.
'He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right' tracks MT.
He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous. He seats them with kings on thrones — he establishes them forever, and they are exalted.
'He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted' tracks MT. Revelation 5:10 ('you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth') extends Christologically.
But if they are bound in chains, caught in the cords of affliction —
'And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction' tracks MT.
then he reveals to them what they have done — their offenses, how they grew arrogant.
'Then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly' tracks MT.
He opens their ear to correction and commands them to turn back from wickedness.
'He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity' tracks MT. OPENS-EARS-TO-INSTRUCTION through suffering. Hebrews 12:11 ('for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness') extends.
If they listen and serve him, they will finish their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
'If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness' tracks MT.
But if they do not listen, they cross over into death by the sword and perish without ever understanding.
'But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge' tracks MT.
The godless in heart store up anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.
'The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them' tracks MT.
They die in their youth; their life ends among the temple prostitutes.
'They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes' tracks MT.
He rescues the afflicted through their affliction and opens their ear by means of distress.
'He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity' tracks MT. AFFLICTION-DELIVERS — Elihu's distinctive theology. Suffering-as-divine-pedagogy. Ps 119:67, 71 ('it is good for me that I was afflicted') parallel.
He would have led you too out of the jaws of distress into a wide place with no confinement, and your table would be loaded with rich food.
'He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness' tracks MT.
But you are full of the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.
'But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you' tracks MT.
Beware — let not anger lure you into mockery, and let no size of ransom lead you astray.
'Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside' tracks MT.
Can your cry for help be arranged so as to keep you from distress? Can all your strenuous efforts?
'Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?' tracks MT.
Do not long for the night when peoples are swept away from their place.
'Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place' tracks MT.
Be careful — do not turn toward wickedness, for you have preferred this over affliction.
'Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction' tracks MT.
See — God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
'Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?' tracks MT. WHO-IS-A-TEACHER-LIKE-HIM. Matthew 23:8 ('you have one teacher, the Christ') Christologically extends.
Who has prescribed his path for him? Who can say to him, 'You have done wrong'?
'Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say: You have done wrong?' tracks MT. // Romans 9:20 ('who are you, O man, to answer back to God?').
Remember to magnify his work, which humanity has sung about from old.
'Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung' tracks MT.
All humanity has gazed upon it; mortals behold it from afar.
'All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar' tracks MT.
See — God is great beyond our knowing; the number of his years is beyond searching out.
'Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable' tracks MT. GOD-WE-KNOW-HIM-NOT divine-incomprehensibility. 1 Tim 6:16 ('who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light') extends.
For he draws up the drops of water; they distill as rain from his mist —
'For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain' tracks MT. METEOROLOGICAL THEOLOGY begins (vv. 27–33). Matt 5:45's 'sends rain on just and unjust' extends.
which the clouds pour down and shower upon humanity in abundance.
'Which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly' tracks MT.
Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thundering from his pavilion?
'Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?' tracks MT.
See — he spreads his lightning over it and covers the roots of the sea.
'Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea' tracks MT.
For by these he judges peoples and gives food in abundance.
'For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance' tracks MT.
He covers his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its target.
'He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark' tracks MT.
His thunder announces his coming; even the cattle sense the rising storm.
'Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises' tracks MT. THUNDER-DECLARES-HIS-PRESENCE — anticipates the whirlwind-from-which God-speaks at chapter 38.