Bible Commentaries
Job 34

Introduction

Job Chapter 34

Job 34:1 "Furthermore Elihu answered and said,"

Job 34:2 "Hear my words, O ye wise [men]; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge." Elihu was speaking in this chapter to the wise men. This was, possibly, the three friends of Job, and possibly, others who had come to hear the debate. These men were supposed to be the learned men. Notice, his arrogance, in telling them to pay attention to his words.

Job 34:3 "For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat." Job had previously made this statement himself. The ears of the wise men could determine whether something was to be retained that they heard or not. Anything they heard that they knew did not line up with the Word of God, they would discard.

Job 34:4 "Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what [is] good." This was a very bold statement. He had corrected Job for judging, and now, he said that he and these other men would judge this matter for themselves.

Job 34:5 "For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment." Job had maintained from the beginning his innocence of all charges made against him. He had known that God would eventually acquit him. Job had not judged unfairly. Job felt that God had brought this trouble on him, but would eventually turn this around and bless him. The only thing Job had asked God to do was review the facts of his life.

Job 34:6 "Should I lie against my right? my wound [is] incurable without transgression." In this, Job was a type and a shadow of Jesus. Jesus was crucified for sins He did not commit. Job was being punished for sins he did not commit. Even Elihu believe that Job was guilty as charged.

Job 34:7 "What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?" Elihu believed that Job was paying no attention at all to the scorning of his friends and even of him. He was absorbing them, without them affecting him at all.

Job 34:8 "Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men." This was a total untruth. His accusation is found in Scripture in Psalms 1:1 "Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." He was trying to say, that Job was walking in the counsel of the ungodly and sitting in the seat of the scornful. I guess, in a sense he was, because he was sitting with Elihu and his friends. They were definitely sinful in accusing Job.

Job 34:9 "For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God." This was exactly the opposite of what Job believed. Job had said, that his righteousness had not saved him from the calamities that had come upon him. That was a true statement. He had not been spared, even though he was righteous in God’s sight.

Job 34:10 "Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity." It was very obvious that Elihu did not understand God to the fullest. He was blaming God for what had happened to Job. He was not aware, that God had allowed this to happen to Job, to prove to Satan and the angels in heaven that Job was a righteous man, and would remain righteous under terrible circumstances.

Job 34:11 "For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to [his] ways." Even though they could not settle on just what sin Job had committed, they believed that Job’s problems were a judgement upon him from God.

Job 34:12 "Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment." This was the very same thing he said in verse 10. Whether he was trying to convince himself, or the wise men he was speaking to, was uncertain. God will not do iniquity, and the Almighty will not pervert judgement. This was neither of those things. This was a test to see, if Job would falter under pressure. Satan had brought the calamity, not God. God had allowed it for a purpose, however.

Job 34:13 "Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?" God is in charge of the earth and everything in it, because it is His creation. God is the only one who could dispose of the earth.

Job 34:14 "If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;" It is only God who can remove His breath from man, and cause him to die. We remember in the beginning of this great trial, that God told Satan he could not take Job’s life. The only way man stops existing, is for God to take His breath away.

Job 34:15 "All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust." When the breath of man {spirit} is removed from the body of man, the body decays and turns to dust.

Job 34:16 "If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words." Elihu was a very conceited young man to assume that these wise men did not know of God, and he would have to teach them. He believed he was the only one who had the truth.

Job 34:17 "Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?" Elihu was trying to defend God. He was asking, if it was possible that God, who was King of all, could be unjust?

Job 34:18 "[Is it fit] to say to a king, [Thou art] wicked? [and] to princes, [Ye are] ungodly?" In the earthly realm, a person could get in serious trouble by saying such a thing. He might even get killed for such a remark. In a sense, he was saying, that Job deserved to die for questioning God.

Job 34:19 "[How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands." Elihu said, "if it was dangerous to say that to an earthly king, how much more dangerous was it to say to the Creator of the universe?"

Job 34:20 "In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand." Whenever God chose they would die. It did not make any difference what their station in life was. When God chose they died. He kept threatening Job with death, and Job would welcome death. He did not dread death.

Job 34:21 "For his eyes [are] upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." God knows everything man does, thinks, and even is. He knows the heart of man, which is what man really is.

Job 34:22 "[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." This is true, but the people who believe themselves to be right with God cannot hide their secret sins either. God knows everything about everyone. We have no secrets from God.

Job 34:23 "For he will not lay upon man more [than right]; that he should enter into judgment with God." Even though this was not spoken directly to Job, it was a derogatory statement made about Job. He was saying that Job was wrong in asking God to consider his situation.

Job 34:24 "He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead." Job had been a mighty man. He had, in fact, been a judge. Elihu and Job’s so-called friends, probably, would like to take Job’s place as judge. They were all jealous of Job. Elihu said, that God had destroyed Job to set one of them up as governor.

Job 34:25 "Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed." He had made a true statement that God rules the earth by elevating one man to be a ruler, and tearing another down. He was pointing this to Job, and that was an error, however.

Job 34:26 "He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;" Elihu said that public embarrassment went with the tearing down that God did.

Job 34:27 "Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:" This was a strong statement. They turned away from God, and would not consider His ways. This would be a serious sin. It was not a sin that Job had committed.

Job 34:28 "So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted." Elihu was saying that Job had offended the poor and the afflicted. This was the exact opposite of the truth. Job had been the champion of the poor and the afflicted.

Job 34:29 "When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth [his] face, who then can behold him? whether [it be done] against a nation, or against a man only:" Most of the statements that Elihu was making, were the same statements Job had made himself. Job was not only aware that these things were wrong, but had made absolutely sure that he was not guilty of any of these things.

Job 34:30 "That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared." A hypocrite was a man who pretended to love God, and really was just making a show for the people around him. People who believed a hypocrite were in for a bad surprise. Job was not a hypocrite.

Job 34:31 "Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:" The three friends and Elihu tried to get Job to say, that the chastisement from God was because of some sin he had committed. They wanted him to ask God to forgive him. Job knew of no sin that he had committed. He could not ask for forgiveness, without knowing what he had done wrong.

Job 34:32 "[That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Job had already asked God to reveal to him where he had failed. Job was a man of a pure heart.

Job 34:33 "[Should it be] according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest." Elihu believed that Job wanted God to listen to him and do it his way. He, also, was saying that it would not matter what Job wanted, God would do it His way, anyhow. God would not be influenced by anyone’s explanation. Elihu wanted Job to answer this.

Job 34:34 "Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me." Since Job would not answer him, now he asked the wise men he had addressed this to, to answer him. He was just sure they understood.

Job 34:35 "Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words [were] without wisdom." The attack by Satan on Job was terrible. These men who should have known Job well enough to know he was not a practicing sinner, were making things worse, and not better for Job. This young Elihu was judging Job, who was a much stronger man of God than he was.

Job 34:36 "My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men."

Job 34:37 "For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth [his hands] among us, and multiplieth his words against God." This young man had judged Job severely. He was wishing for God to do even more terrible things to Job, than Satan had already done. Just the fact that Elihu wanted this for Job, was a sin on Elihu’s part. Elihu believed that Job had rebelled against all authority. The truth was that it was Elihu who had rebelled against his elders.

Job 33 Questions

1. Who did Elihu address this to?

2. How do we know he was arrogant?

3. The ear _________ words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

4. What was Elihu setting himself up as in Job 34:4?

5. Job had maintained his __________ of the charges.

6. Who was Job a type and shadow of in Job 34:6?

7. What was Job accused of in Job 34:7?

8. Quote Psalms 1:1.

9. Quote Job 34:10.

10. They believed Job’s problems were a __________ from God. 11. Surely God would not do ___________.

12. Neither will the ____________ pervert judgement.

13. Why is God in charge of the earth?

14. It is only ________ who can remove His breath from a person.

15. When the breath is removed from the body of flesh, what happens to the body?

16. Why does the author believe Elihu was conceited?

17. Who chooses the time of death for everyone?

18. God knows everything man does, ________, and even ___.

19. God knows the _________ of man, which is what he really is.

20. Elihu and Job’s so-called friends would like to take Job’s place as ________.

21. What was Elihu saying about Job that was untrue in Job 34:28?

22. Who was a hypocrite?

23. What were Elihu and Job’s three friends trying to get Job to do and say?

24. When Job would not answer Elihu, he tried to get an answer from whom?

25. What did Elihu want to happen to Job?

Verses 1-9

Job 34:1-9

Introduction

Job 34

ELIHU’S SECOND SPEECH:

ELIHU’S BRUTAL ATTACK ON JOB

The whole cycle of speeches in Job is a marvel of human failure to understand. The relation between sin and suffering Job never for a moment disputed. The thing that confronted Job was that, in spite of his integrity toward God and the absence of any gross wickedness that could possibly have deserved the terrible misfortunes that had overtaken him, he was judged by his friends, and everyone else, as a wicked sinner who was getting exactly what his wicked conduct deserved.

It appears to this writer that one of the primary purposes of this book was that of contradicting that nearly universal fallacy. The false idea that wickedness is at once punished by God with retribution in kind is not true. It was not true in the days of Job; it was not true in the days of Christ; and it is not true today.

In Luke 13:1-5, Christ pointed out that those men whose blood Pilate had mingled with the sacrifices, and that those men upon whom the tower of Siloam fell were not any worse sinners than other citizens of Jerusalem; and in John 9:2-3, even the apostles of Christ had to be told that neither the blind man nor his parents had committed sins that resulted in his being born blind. The relevance of these New Testament passage is seen in the fact that people supposed the victims of those tragedies were being punished for their sins.

Since it was this very fallacy that was so vigorously alleged against Job by the instruments of Satan in this terrible campaign to compel him to renounce his integrity, we must conclude that the doctrine itself is a primary weapon of Satan, invented by him and continually advocated by evil men.

"Elihu continued to ignore the particular situation of Job and dealt only in generalities. Whereas Job had argued from the particular to the general, from his own case, to the character of God, as confirmed by other injustices around him, Elihu dealt only with his concept of theology (which was in error), concluding from it that Job was wicked."

"There are three charges which Elihu brought against Job: (1) he said he was righteous (Job 9:21; Job 13:18); (2) this was an implication (in the sight of Elihu) that Job was accusing God of injustice; and (3) he even claimed that religion brought no profit to man. "It is impossible to justify this third charge from anything that Job had said. It was only a deduction made by Elihu from the general drift of what Job was saying."

It was the erroneous views of Elihu and Job’s other accusers that led to their false judgment of him.

"This second speech of Elihu is not addressed primarily to Job, but to a group called `wise men’; and Elihu is no longer reasoning with Job with a view to helping him. He is attacking Job."

Job 34:1-9

ELIHU’S FALSE CHARGES AGAINST JOB

"Moreover Elihu answered and said,

Hear my words, ye wise men;

And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

For the ear trieth words,

As the palate tasteth food.

Let us choose for us that which is right:

Let us know among ourselves what is good.

For Job said, I am righteous,

And God hath taken away my right:

Notwithstanding my right, I am accounted a liar;

My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.

What man is like Job,

Who drinketh up scoffing like water,

Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,

And walketh with wicked men?

For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing

That he should delight himself with God."

"Hear my words, ye wise men" (Job 34:2). The break at the beginning of this chapter means that Job had completely ignored Elihu, and that here Elihu turned to address the crowd that is imagined to have assembled to hear the speeches. Kelly pointed out that the crowd of onlookers here is "imagined," there being no reference whatever to it in the text. However, the idea that the wise men here are a different group from the three friends is supported by the fact that, "The tone of reproof Elihu used in addressing the three friends (Job 32:7 ff) is no longer present in this chapter."

"Notwithstanding my right, I am accounted a liar" (Job 34:6). We protest the evil rendition of Job 34:6 by Pope in the Anchor Bible. He rendered it, "Concerning my case, he (God) lies, wounded with his dart, yet sinless." Many of the greatest scholars reject such a rendition. Atkinson translated it, "Although I am right, I am considered a liar," which without any doubt is the true meaning of the place. The noted Albert Barnes gave it as, "In respect to my cause, I am regarded a liar. The arrow in me is fatal, though I am free from transgression." Noyes, as quoted by Barnes, rendered it this way: "Though I am innocent I am made a liar."

"What man is like Job, who drinketh up scoffing like water" (Job 34:7). "In this Elihu repeats the slander of Eliphaz, replacing `iniquity’ with `scoffing,’ and adding a totally groundless accusation that Job is a companion of evildoers (Job 34:8)." The word here rendered `scoffing,’ according to Keil, carries the meaning of `blasphemy.’"[11]

"For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself in God" (Job 34:9). "Again it must be remarked that Job had not said this." The nearest approach to anything like this that Job has said is in Job 9:22, where he stated that "God destroyeth the perfect and the wicked," with the meaning that fatal accidents happen to good and bad alike.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 34:1-2. Men is not in the original; the paragraph was meant for general use.

Job 34:3. The adaptation of the ear to language is as natural as food to taste.

Job 34:4. This was a suggestion to use the faculty of hearing to determine what is good. It implied that if that were done the words of Elihu would be accepted.

Job 34:5-6. It will help to clarify this paragraph if we enclose all of it in quotation marks after the word said. It misrepresents Job, for he never contended that he had no transgression. He maintained all the while that the afflictions were not connected with any sin that he may have committed.

Job 34:7. Job paid such little attention to the scorning or derision that was thrown at him that Elihu used the illustration of a man drinking water freely.

Job 34:8-9. This was a direct false accusation. The intimation that Job was a sinner was far enough from the real issue; but this wild statement was false almost to the extent of being vicious. Job never dignified it even with a denial.

Verses 10-15

Job 34:10-15

Job 34:10-15

IMPERTINENT REMARKS CONCERNING GOD

"Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:

Far be it from God that he should do wickedness,

And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

For the work of a man, will he render unto him,

And cause every man to find according to his ways.

Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,

Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.

Who gave him a charge over the earth?

Or who hath disposed the whole world?

If he set his heart upon himself,

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

All flesh shall perish together,

And man shall turn again unto dust."

"The work of a man he (God) will render unto him" (Job 34:11). Elihu here repeats, "In crass individualistic terms the doctrine that God requites every man according to his behavior." In context, this was merely Elihu’s way of saying that, "Job is getting exactly what he deserves." The great error of Elihu’s bombastic words here is that, "He says a lot about God’s justice but not a word about divine grace."

"God will not do wickedly" (Job 34:12). "Elihu said this as an effort to refute that which he (erroneously) supposed that Job had said." "Job had not accused God of injustice, nor was he inclined to do so."

"Who gave him a charge over the earth" (Job 34:13)? "The thought here is that God rules the earth and is answerable to no one for his actions, a thought repeated again by Elihu in Job 36:23; but this truth Job had already stated emphatically in Job 9:12."

"All flesh shall perish together" (Job 34:15). "If God Chose, he would have a right to cut down the whole race of mankind. How then should men complain of loss of health, comforts, friends, or anything else, and presume to arraign God as if he were unjust"? This was Elihu’s answer to what he conceived as Job’s accusation against God. Although Job’s persistent affirmation of his integrity seemed to his friends to be an accusation against God, they had totally misunderstood Job’s position. Job was not affirming that God was wicked or unjust; but that it could not have been his personal wickedness that led to his sufferings. Not God, but his sufferings were unjust; but since that contradicted the false theology of his friends, they erroneously concluded that Job was wicked.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 34:10. This verse is addressed to men in general as was the 2nd verse. The implication is that if God were to let Job "get by" with his wickedness he would himself be guilty of wickedness.

Job 34:11. This verse states a truth, that God will give every man what his deeds deserve. Job believed that doctrine as firmly as anyone.

Job 34:12. This verse has the same meaning as Job 34:10.

Job 34:13. No man gave God his control over the earth, but rather God has disposed or arranged the universe himself.

Job 34:14-15. If God should withdraw his support from man he would utterly perish and return to dust.

Verses 16-20

Job 34:16-20

Job 34:16-20

THE FACT OF GOD’S RULE PROVES ITS JUSTICE

"If now thou hast understanding, hear this:

Hearken to the voice of my words.

Shall even one that hateth justice govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty? -

Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,

Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

That respecteth not the persons of princes,

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;

For they all are the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, even at midnight;

The people are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without hand."

"Shall even one that hateth justice govern" (Job 34:17)? The thought here is that, "The very continuation of the rule of God implies its justice."

"Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile" (Job 34:18). "The charge of injustice is serious enough if made only against an earthly ruler, but how much more serious is such a charge against God"? However, Elihu was not logical in bringing in the matter of earthly rulers here; because, "Fools may be set in high places (Ecclesiastes 10:5), and addressed with noble titles (Isaiah 32:5)."

"The mighty are taken away without hand" (Job 34:20). Both these verses (Job 34:19-20) deal with the doom of persons who accuse rulers (especially God) of injustice. Driver noted that, "The reason why God does not excuse wickedness in the rich and powerful is that they are his creatures with whom he has no cause to curry favor; and the proof that they are wicked is the fact that such persons die early." It is not hard to discern Elihu’s intended application of these words to Job. According to Elihu, Job was an example of how God would not excuse the wickedness of the rich and powerful. Yes, Job was not yet dead; but Elihu expected him to die at any time. Elihu was a very effective instrument of Satan.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 34:16-17. Elihu asked Job to give him close attention as if he were going to make some important statement. It turned out to be the same false accusation that has been made against Job by the three friends and now by Elihu.

Job 34:18-19. It would be highly improper to charge even a human being with wicked conduct. It would be much more so to charge such against God.

Job 34:20. If any man should be so rash as to charge God with wickedness, he will utterly perish.

Verses 21-30

Job 34:21-30

Job 34:21-30

"For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,

And he seeth all his goings.

There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,

Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

For he needeth not further to consider a man,

That he should go before God in judgment.

He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,

And setteth others in their stead.

Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;

And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.

He striketh them as wicked men

In the open sight of others;

Because they turned aside from following him,

And would not have regard to any of his ways:

So that they caused the cry of the poor to come upon him,

And he heard the cry of the afflicted.

When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?

And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?

Alike, whether it be done unto a nation or unto a man:

That the godless man reign not,

That there be none to ensnare the people."

Elihu here continues his cruel, unjust and relentless attack upon Job. Job had longed for an `umpire’ who might plead his case before God; but Elihu declares that God needs no such assistance, because he is omniscient (Job 34:22-23).

"He breaketh in pieces mighty men" (Job 34:24). No one could avoid knowing whom Elihu was speaking of.

"In the open sight of others" (Job 34:24). Just look how public Job’s disasters were!

And why did God do all this to Job? (1) He would not regard any of God’s ways (Job 34:27); (2) he abused the poor and the afflicted (Job 34:28); when God finally sends quietness (when Job dies) who could condemn God for such a judgment? This of course, was merely Elihu’s analysis of the situation; and he was totally in error.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 34:21-22. God sees all the actions of man. There is no darkness dense enough to hide man from the divine Being.

Job 34:23. He means God and the thought is that he will not impose on man; therefore man will have no reason for contending with God.

Job 34:24-26. I trust the reader will not lose sight of the real issue. Job was being terribly afflicted and Elihu claimed it was a special punishment for his sins. In order to show it to be just, a great many sentences were spoken to describe the greatness of God and his mighty treatment of sinners. Job admitted the greatness of God as freely as did his accusers, so there was no difference of opinion there.

Job 34:27. Turned back means they backslid and did sinfully. Job 34:28. The backslider misused the poor people and caused them to cry unto God; when they did so their cry was heard,

Job 34:29. It is in vain to oppose the works of God. This is true whether attempted by a nation or an individual.

Job 34:30. God will not suffer a hypocrite to reign lest the people be misled. It is true that God takes some notices of the kind of men who rule. (Daniel 4:17.)

Verses 31-37

Job 34:31-37

Job 34:31-37

ADMIT YOU ARE A DIRTY SINNER; OR DIE!

In these final verses of the chapter, in spite of several of them being very obscure, or even unintelligible, it is clear enough that Elihu’s prescription for Job is simple enough: "Either admit your wickedness, or we hope God will punish you to death." It is quite obvious that in Elihu, Satan played his last card against Job, ... AND LOST!

"For hath any said unto God, I have borne chastisement,

I will not offend anymore:

That which I see not, teach thou me:

I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?

Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refuseth it?

For thou must choose, and not I:

Therefore speak what thou knowest.

Men of understanding will say unto me,

Yea, every wise man that heareth me:

Job speaketh without knowledge,

And his words are without wisdom.

Would that Job were tried unto the end,

Because of his answering like wicked men.

For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;

He clappeth his hands among us,

And multiplieth his words against God."

" Job 34:28-33 are replete with difficulty, and the LXX omitted them entirely." Also, Driver noted that, "These verses, as a whole, are unintelligible, or at least very ambiguous; and, in view of the extreme uncertainty of the remainder, insoluble."

Taking our text as it stands in our version, it teaches that Elihu blasts Job: "because he has not admitted his sin" (Job 34:31-32); and also because he has not allowed his friends to prescribe his punishment, but has insisted on refusing it (Job 34:33). Elihu in Job 34:34 moves to rally the whole community (that assembly of onlookers flattered by Elihu as `wise men’) against Job, calling upon them to approve his verdict that Job is not only a terrible sinner but an ignoramus also (Job 34:34-35).

"Would that Job were tried to the end" (Job 34:36), Elihu by this is calling on the assembly to ratify his verdict that Job must either confess his wickedness, or they favor God’s putting him to death. He even gave three reasons to support his appeal: (1) Job answers like a wicked man (Job 34:36); (2) he has added rebellion against God to his sin (Job 34:37); and (3) he multiplies his words against God (Job 34:37).

With the whole community coming together under Elihu’s extremely bitter and antagonistic speech, and presumably favoring Elihu’s evil accusations against Job, we may well presume that the greatest pressure that Satan could possibly have brought against Job reached its climax in this vituperative, disgusting, egotistical and satanic assault upon Job’s integrity. We praise God that Job found the grace to sit in silent contempt and repudiation of his evil speech, not deigning to take the slightest notice of it.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 34:31. This verse was a direct challenge to Job to confess his sins and promise to do them no more. It was the real issue of all the controversy.

Job 34:32. Elihu intimated that Job should seek enlightenment so that he would know to do iniquity no more.

Job 34:33-34. This means that God would not operate according to the opinion of Job. Regardless of whether he was favorable or not the Lord’s plans will go through.

Job 34:35-36. Job has been accused of sin, now he was charged with ignorance in his speeches. Elihu then prayed that Job would be given a complete test for his likeness to wicked men. The whole attitude was erroneous and cruel against Job.

Job 34:37. This means that Job had sinned against God at the beginning. When he was punished for it he stubbornly refused to repent.