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In Job 32, the youngest of Job’s “friends,” Elihu, speaks. He begins by explaining that he has waited to interject out of respect for his elders, believing they should speak first. Elihu rightly acknowledges that true wisdom does not come from age but from God:

"But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand” (Job 32:8).

However, Elihu’s credibility is obliterated when we learn that he speaks from a heart of anger (Job 32:2). This anger clouds cautions the reader that his diatribe—that spans several chapters (32–37)—is at best questionable. Despite his claims of offering fresh insights, Elihu ultimately brings nothing new to the discussion. His arguments repeat what Job’s other friends have already said: Job must be wrong because God is always right, and Job’s suffering is evidence of God’s judgment against sin.

Elihu’s speech serves as a cautionary tale against speaking out of frustration rather than wisdom. His motivation for speaking seemed to be the anger that was brewing throughout the other’s failed attempts at righting Job’s wrong. However, once his lengthy rationale for speaking is completed it’s obvious he has no other purpose other than to hear himself talk. The repeated logic from Elihu and Job’s other friends reveals a critical lesson: we must be careful in how we judge others, especially in their suffering, lest we ourselves be judged by the same harsh standards.

This reminder is found throughout the book of Job: humility, empathy, and reliance on God’s wisdom are essential when offering counsel to those in pain. Before speaking, we should pause and ask ourselves if our words truly reflect God’s grace and understanding—or if they are merely self-serving opinions spoken out of frustration.