The Meaning of Job 32:4 Explained

Job 32:4

KJV: Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

YLT: And Elihu hath waited earnestly beside Job with words, for they are older than he in days.

Darby: But Elihu had waited till Job had finished speaking, because they were older than he.

ASV: Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now Elihu  had waited  till Job  had spoken,  because they [were] elder  than he. 

What does Job 32:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 32:1-22 - Elihu Enters
The controversy between Job and his counselors is now at an end. They have failed in making out their case; but before God Himself takes up the argument there is another side of the case to be presented by the fervid life of a younger generation. The name Elihu means, "My God is He." He had preserved a respectful silence while his elders were speaking; but he was so conscious of the uprising of the divine that he could refrain no longer.
Elihu was greatly indignant, first with Job for not justifying God, Job 32:2; and then with his friends for their inability to cope with him, Job 32:5. But in addition to these criticisms, he has some positive contribution to make to the debate, and must needs make it. Silence is golden, but there is a time to speak. Be sure in inbreathe the Spirit of God as one long imprisoned in a close chamber inhales the breath of the salt sea. Do not speak, as John Woolman says, beyond the divine openings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 32

1  Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends
6  Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth
11  He reproves them for not satisfying Job
16  His zeal to speak

What do the individual words in Job 32:4 mean?

Now Elihu had waited - to Job to speak because older they [were] than he years
וֶֽאֱלִיה֗וּ חִכָּ֣ה אֶת־ אִ֭יּוֹב בִּדְבָרִ֑ים כִּ֤י זְֽקֵנִים־ הֵ֖מָּה מִמֶּ֣נּוּ לְיָמִֽים

וֶֽאֱלִיה֗וּ  Now  Elihu 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִיהוּ 
Sense: the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends.
חִכָּ֣ה  had  waited 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָכָה  
Sense: to wait, wait for, await.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אִ֭יּוֹב  to  Job 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִיּׄוב  
Sense: a patriarch, the subject of the book of Job.
בִּדְבָרִ֑ים  to  speak 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
כִּ֤י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
זְֽקֵנִים־  older 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
הֵ֖מָּה  they  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
מִמֶּ֣נּוּ  than  he 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
לְיָמִֽים  years 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.

What are the major concepts related to Job 32:4?

Loading Information...