The Meaning of Job 32:2 Explained

Job 32:2

KJV: Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

YLT: and burn doth the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram; against Job hath his anger burned, because of his justifying himself more than God;

Darby: Then was kindled the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his anger kindled, because he justified himself rather than God;

ASV: Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then was kindled  the wrath  of Elihu  the son  of Barachel  the Buzite,  of the kindred  of Ram:  against Job  was his wrath  kindled,  because he justified  himself  rather than God. 

What does Job 32:2 Mean?

Study Notes

Elihu
Elihu has a far juster and more spiritual conception of the problem than Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar because he has an infinitely higher conception of God. The God of Eliphaz and the others, great though they perceive Him to be in His works, becomes in their thought petty and exacting in His relations with mankind. It is the fatal misconception of all religious externalists and moralizers. Their God is always a small God. Elihu's account of God is noble and true, and it is noteworthy that at the last Jehovah does not class him with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (cf) Job 42:7 but he is still a dogmatist, and his eloquent discourse is marred by self-assertiveness (e.g); Job 32:8 ; Job 32:9 ; Job 33:3 . Jehovah's judgment of Elihu is that he darkened counsel by words Job 38:2 the very charge that Elihu had brought against Job.; Job 34:35 ; Job 35:16 . Furthermore, the discourse of Jehovah is wholly free from the accusations of Job with which even Elihu's lofty discourse abounds.
himself Heb. his soul.

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 32:2 mean?

And was aroused the wrath of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite of the family of Ram against Job was aroused his wrath because he justified himself rather than God
וַיִּ֤חַר אַ֨ף ׀ אֱלִיה֣וּא בֶן־ בַּרַכְאֵ֣ל הַבּוּזִי֮ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֪חַ֫ת רָ֥ם בְּ֭אִיּוֹב חָרָ֣ה אַפּ֑וֹ עַֽל־ צַדְּק֥וֹ נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ מֵאֱלֹהִֽים

וַיִּ֤חַר  And  was  aroused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
אַ֨ף ׀  the  wrath 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
אֱלִיה֣וּא  of  Elihu 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלִיהוּ 
Sense: the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends.
בֶן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
בַּרַכְאֵ֣ל  of  Barachel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּרַכְאֵל  
Sense: father of Elihu.
הַבּוּזִי֮  the  Buzite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בּוּזִי  
Sense: one of the ancestors of Elihu.
מִמִּשְׁפַּ֪חַ֫ת  of  the  family 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
רָ֥ם  of  Ram 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָם  
Sense: a Judaite, son of Hezron, father of Amminadab, and ancestor of David.
בְּ֭אִיּוֹב  against  Job 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִיּׄוב  
Sense: a patriarch, the subject of the book of Job.
חָרָ֣ה  was  aroused 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
אַפּ֑וֹ  his  wrath 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
עַֽל־  because 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
צַדְּק֥וֹ  he  justified 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צָדַק  
Sense: to be just, be righteous.
נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ  himself 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
מֵאֱלֹהִֽים  rather  than  God 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).