Job 32:4

Job 32:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
• New International Version (NIV)Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.

Context of Job 32:4

2But Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became indignant. His indignation was kindled and burned and he became upset with Job because he justified himself rather than God [and even expressed doubts about God’s character]. 3Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s three friends because they had found no answer [and were unable to determine Job’s error], and yet they had condemned Job and declared him to be in the wrong [and responsible for his own afflictions]. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were years older than he. 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he burned with anger. 6Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite said, “I am young, and you are aged; For that reason I was anxious and dared not tell you what I think.

Job 32:4 word by word

וֶֽאֱלִיה֗וּ חִכָּ֣ה אֶת־אִ֭יּוֹב בִּדְבָרִ֑ים כִּ֤י זְֽקֵנִים־הֵ֖מָּה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ לְיָמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now Elihuאֱלִיהוּ'ĕlîyhû 'ĕlîyhû' · ElihuH453
• had waitedחָכָהchâkâh · to waitH2442
• till Jobאִיּוֹב'îyôb · JobH347
• had spokenדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
• elderיוֹםyôm · day: oldH3117
• elderזָקֵןzâqên · oldH2205

Cross-references for Job 32:4

• Job 32:11“You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your [wise] reasons, While you pondered and searched out what to say.
• Proverbs 18:13He who answers before he hears [the facts]— It is folly and shame to him.

Commentaries on Job 32:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Now Elihu had waited - Margin, as in Hebrew, expected Job in words. The meaning is plain, that he had waited until all who were older than himself had spoken. Because they were elder than he - Margin, as in Hebrew, older for days. It appears that they were all older than he was. We have no means of determining their respective ages, though it would seem probable that Eliphaz was the oldest of the three friends, as he uniformly spoke first.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-7Elihu respected elders, following a common principle (see also 12:12; 15:10; Leviticus 19:32; 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Peter 5:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-37Job 32:1-37:24. Speech of Elihu. 1-6. Prose (poetry begins with "I am young"). because, &c.--and because they could not prove to him that he was unrighteous.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 32:4

• Children
• Humility
• Modesty
• Old Age
• Reverence

In the dictionaries

• Job
• Age
• Constrain
• Elihu
• Understanding
• Job, Book of
• Age, Old

Commentaries on Job 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings