Wisdom · Chapter 36 of 42

Job 36

Elihu continues, promising to speak on God's behalf. He portrays God as mighty yet despising no one, who disciplines even the righteous through affliction to open their ears and call them from sin. He warns Job not to prefer iniquity to correction, then turns to praise God's greatness displayed in the rain, the clouds, and the thunder no one fully understands.

What happens in Job 36

Elihu asks Job to bear with him a little more as he speaks for God. God is mighty in strength and wisdom yet despises no one; he does not preserve the wicked but gives the poor their right. He watches over the righteous and, when they are bound in the cords of affliction, shows them their faults and commands them to turn from iniquity. If they obey, they prosper; if not, they perish. Elihu warns Job that he is filling up the judgment of the wicked and must not let wrath or the lure of riches turn him away, for no great ransom could then deliver him.

He urges Job to magnify God's work rather than choose iniquity. Then Elihu lifts his eyes to the sky, marveling at how God draws up the drops of water, distills the rain from the clouds, spreads his light, and thunders in a tabernacle of storm no one can comprehend.

Job 36 in context

Elihu's speech builds toward the whirlwind that follows, shifting from argument to awe at God in nature. He develops his theme that affliction is disciplinary, meant to open the ear and turn the sufferer from sin. His warning to Job grows sharper, hinting that Job risks choosing bitterness over correction.

The closing turn to clouds, rain, and thunder anticipates the very phenomena through which God himself will soon speak from the storm.

Main themes of Job 36

Job 36 (KJV)

1Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. 3I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. 15He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 16Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. 17But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 26Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Verses to carry from Job 36

“Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.”Job 36:5

“He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.”Job 36:15

“Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?”Job 36:22

Reflection

Elihu warns against preferring iniquity to correction, choosing bitterness over the discipline that could set us free. When affliction exposes something in you, do you resist the lesson or let it open your ear? And do you still pause to wonder at the God behind the storm?

A prayer from Job 36