Job 33 — Tyndale Study Notes
Job.33.1
Listen: Elihu begged to be heard (33:1; 34:2, 16), which is what Job had also sought (13:6).
Job.33.5
By inviting Job to make his case, Elihu acted as though he were God, or at least the arbiter that Job had been seeking (9:32-35).
Job.33.7
you don’t need to be afraid of me (literally my terror shall not make you afraid): God’s terrors (6:4; 7:14; 9:34; 13:21; 23:15) had been thrown in Job’s face by Eliphaz (15:21, 24; 22:10), Bildad (18:11, 14), and Zophar (20:25).
Elihu promised not to come down hard on Job, but later he broke his word (34:7-9, 33-37).
Job.33.9
You said: Job claimed to be pure and without sin, using various terms (9:21; 10:6-7; 11:4; 13:23-24; 15:14-16; 16:17; 31:1-40).
Job.33.11
Job frequently complained about God’s surveillance (7:20; 10:14; 13:27); he wanted relief from having his every move scrutinized (14:16; 29:2).
Job.33.13
Job’s central complaint was that God does not respond (9:16; 19:7; 23:2-7).
Job.33.15
He speaks in dreams: See, e.g., Gen 15:12; 20:3; 31:24; 40:1–41:36; Dan 2:1-45; Joel 2:28; Acts 16:9-10.
Job.33.18
from crossing over the river of death: This phrase may also be translated from passing [i.e., dying] by the sword. Both translations fit the context (cp. 36:12).
Job.33.22
angels of death wait for them: Cp. Exod 12:23; 2 Sam 24:16; 1 Cor 10:10.
Job.33.23
An angel from heaven would intercede, taking the role of the mediator Job longed for (see 5:1; 9:33-34; 16:18-21).
Job.33.24
The ransom is ultimately found in Christ (Matt 20:28; Rom 3:24-25; 1 Tim 2:6; 1 Pet 1:18-19).
Job.33.26
God will receive him with joy: Cp. Num 6:24-26; Ps 67:1; Acts 2:28; Jude 1:24.
Job.33.32
For Elihu to say that he was anxious to see Job justified sounds ironic; he had entered the discussion in the first place “because Job refused to admit that he had sinned” (32:1-5).