Job 35

Elihu's Third Speech

¹Moreover Elihu answered,

²“Do you think this to be your right, or do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s,’

³that you ask, ‘What advantage will it be to you? What profit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’

⁴I will answer you, and your companions with you.

⁵Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.

⁶If you have sinned, what effect do you have against him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?

⁷If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

⁸Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit a son of man.

⁹“By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out. They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.

¹⁰But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night,

¹¹who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’

¹²There they cry, but no one answers, because of the pride of evil men.

¹³Surely God will not hear an empty cry, neither will the Almighty regard it.

¹⁴How much less when you say you don’t see him. The cause is before him, and you wait for him!

¹⁵But now, because he has not visited in his anger, neither does he greatly regard arrogance,

¹⁶therefore Job opens his mouth with empty talk, and he multiplies words without knowledge.”

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In his third speech, Elihu challenges Job's claim to righteousness before God, arguing that human actions—whether righteous or wicked—do not affect God's nature or sovereignty. He contends that God's transcendence means human righteousness cannot benefit Him, nor can human sin harm Him, though these actions do impact fellow humans. Elihu concludes by criticizing Job for speaking without knowledge and failing to recognize that God does not respond to empty, prideful complaints.

Context

This chapter continues Elihu's lengthy discourse that began in chapter 32, serving as the final human perspective before God's direct response to Job in chapters 38-41.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Elihu's Challenge to Job's Righteousness Elihu questions Job's claim that his righteousness exceeds God's and addresses the profit of righteousness versus sin.
5-8
God's Transcendence Above Human Actions Using the imagery of the high heavens, Elihu argues that human sin or righteousness cannot affect God but only impacts other humans.
9-12
The Oppressed Cry Out Without Seeking God Elihu observes that sufferers cry for help but fail to seek their Maker who gives comfort and wisdom.
13-16
God Ignores Empty and Prideful Complaints Elihu concludes that God does not answer vain cries or regard arrogance, accusing Job of multiplying words without knowledge.

Elihu's Third Speech

35:1–35:16

wisdom speech contemplative

Elihu's third speech addresses Job's claim that righteousness brings no benefit, arguing that human actions affect other humans but cannot truly benefit or harm God. He criticizes Job for speaking without knowledge and maintaining his righteousness above God's.

person_contrast

Elihu uniquely argues that human righteousness cannot benefit God (verses 6-7), inverting Job's central assumption that divine-human relationships operate on reciprocal moral economics.

Insight Character Study

Elihu uniquely argues that human righteousness cannot benefit God (verses 6-7), inverting Job's central assumption that divine-human relationships operate on reciprocal moral economics.