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Who Was Elihu in the Book of Job

Elihu is a figure in the Book of Job who emerges as a new voice in the debate between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar [15]. He is identified as "Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram" [6]. His name, Elihu, means "He is my God" or "God is Jehovah" [3, 12].

Elihu's appearance marks a significant shift in the narrative of the Book of Job. After three cycles of speeches where Job and his friends have debated the nature of Job's suffering, the three friends cease to answer Job because they perceive him as righteous in his own eyes [13, 15]. It is at this point that Elihu, who has been listening to the entire discussion, steps forward [2, 15]. He is described as a younger man who has observed the arguments of both Job and his friends [13, 15].

Elihu's anger is kindled against Job because he believes Job has justified himself rather than God, and against Job's three friends because they have failed to answer Job effectively, yet have condemned him [6, 10, 11]. Adam Clarke notes that Elihu's anger signifies a strong desire to vindicate God's justice and providence against the "aspersions of Job and his friends" [10]. John Gill emphasizes that Elihu is not to be confused with Balaam, nor should he be exalted to the status of Christ, but rather understood as a "holy good man" [11].

The specific lineage of Elihu is detailed in the text. He is called a "Buzite," which connects him to Buz, the second son of Nahor, who was Abraham's brother [10, 12]. This lineage places him in a region of Arabia-Deserta, where a city named Buz is mentioned in Jeremiah 25:23 [10, 12]. His connection to "Ram" is also noted, with some sources suggesting Ram (Aram) was a nephew of Buz [10, 12]. This detailed genealogy suggests a non-Israelite origin, placing him within the broader ancient Near Eastern context of the Book of Job.

Elihu's role in the Book of Job is to offer a new perspective on Job's suffering and God's justice. He criticizes Job for his self-righteousness and his friends for their inability to provide a satisfactory explanation for Job's plight [10, 15]. Elihu's speeches, found in Job chapters 32-37, precede God's direct intervention in the narrative [2]. Some interpretations suggest that Elihu functions as a "messenger" or "interpreter" between God and Job, foreshadowing Christ in his role of vindicating God's righteousness and showing humanity God's uprightness [12, 14]. He is seen as fulfilling a role that Eliphaz had denied Job could find, and for which Job himself had longed—an umpire or "daysman" between him and God [14].

Beyond the Book of Job, the name Elihu appears in other biblical contexts, referring to different individuals:

These multiple individuals bearing the name Elihu highlight that while the name itself means "He is my God," the specific person in the Book of Job is distinct from these other biblical figures [3, 4, 5]. The Elihu of Job is uniquely characterized by his detailed lineage as a Buzite and his specific role in the theological discourse of the book [2, 6]. The particularity with which Elihu's background is given in Job 32:2 suggests an intention to distinguish him and his contribution to the narrative [12].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Elihu — (whose God is he (Jehovah)). + One of the interlocutors in the book of Job. [[469]Job, [470]Job, Book Of] He is described as the "son of Baerachel the Buzite." + A forefather of Samuel the prophet. (1 Samuel 1:1) + In (1 Chronicles 27:18) Elihu "of the brethren of David" is mentioned as the chief of the tribe of Judah. + One of the captains of the thousands of Manasseh, (1 Chronicles 12:20) who followed David to Ziklag after he had left the Philistine army on the eve of the battle of Gilboa. + A Korhite Levite in the time of David. (1 Chronicles 26:7)”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Elihu — Whose God is he. (1.) "The son of Barachel, a Buzite" (Job 32:2), one of Job's friends. When the debate between Job and his friends is brought to a close, Elihu for the first time makes his appearance, and delivers his opinion on the points at issue (Job 32-37). (2.) The son of Tohu, and grandfather of Elkanah (1 Sam. 1:1). He is called also Eliel (1 Chr. 6:34) and Eliab (6:27). (3.) One of the captains of thousands of Manasseh who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:20). (4.) One of the family of Obed-edom, who were appointed porters of the temple under David ”
  3. STEPBible TBESG “[H0453] H0453H = (H0453H) — A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.20<BR> § Elihu = "He is my God"<br>1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends<br>2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather<br>3) a Manassite warrior chief for David<br>4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper<br>5) David's brother”
  4. STEPBible TBESG “[H0453] H0453G = (H0453G) — A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1; <br> son of: Tohu (H8459); <br> father of: Jeroham (H3395); also called Eliab at 1Ch.6.27; Eliel at 1Ch.6.34; <BR> § Elihu = "He is my God"<br>1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends<br>2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather<br>3) a Manassite warrior chief for David<br>4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper<br>5) David's brother”
  5. STEPBible TBESG “[H0453] H0453K = (H0453K) — A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Job.32.2; <br> son of: Barachel (H1292)<BR> § Elihu = "He is my God"<br>1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends<br>2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather<br>3) a Manassite warrior chief for David<br>4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper<br>5) David's brother”
  6. Job “Job 32:2 (BBE) — And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was angry, burning with wrath against Job, because he seemed to himself more right than God;”
  7. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H0453I — Levite living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.26.7; <b)”
  8. STEPBible TBESG “[H0453] H0453I = (H0453I) — A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.26.7; <br> son of: Shemaiah (H8098I); <br> brother of: Othni (H6273), Rephael (H7501), Obed (H5744J), Elzabad (H0443H) and Semachiah (H5565)<BR> § Elihu = "He is my God"<br>1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends<br>2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather<br>3) a Manassite warrior chief for David<br>4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper<br>5) David's brother”
  9. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H0453G — Levite living at the time of United Monarchy (refs: #A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1; <br)”
  10. Job (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Job 32:2: Then was kindled the wrath - This means no more than that Elihu was greatly excited, and felt a strong and zealous desire to vindicate the justice and providence of God, against the aspersions of Job and his friends. Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite - Buz was the second son of Nahor, the brother of Abram, Gen 22:21. Of the kindred of Ram - Kemuel was the third son of Nahor; and is called in Genesis (see above) the father of Aram, which is the same as Ram. A city of the name of Buz is found in Jer 25:23, which probably had its name from this family; and, as it is me”
  11. Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 32:2: Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite,.... Both against Job and his three friends, for reasons after given; who this person was is not easy to say; they debase him too much, who make him to be Balaam the soothsayer, according to the tradition of the Jews (g); for neither the time he lived in, nor his character, will agree with him; this man living before the times of Balaam; and being also a holy good man, which all his discourses show: and they too much exalt him who make him to be Christ; for though some phrases, being strained, may seem to”
  12. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 32:2: Elihu--meaning "God is Jehovah." In his name and character as messenger between God and Job, he foreshadows Jesus Christ (Job 33:23-26). Barachel--meaning "God blesses." Both names indicate the piety of the family and their separation from idolaters. Buzite--Buz was son of Nahor, brother of Abraham. Hence was named a region in Arabia-Deserta (Jer 25:23). Ram--Aram, nephew of Buz. Job was probably of an older generation than Elihu. However, the identity of names does not necessarily prove the identity of persons. The particularity with which Elihu's ”
  13. Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 32:1: Usually young men are the disputants and old men the moderators; but here, when old men were the disputants, as a rebuke to them for their unbecoming heat, a young man is raised up to be the moderator. Divers of Job's friends were present, that came to visit him and to receive instruction. Now here we have, I. The reason why his three friends were now silent. They ceased to answer him, and let him have his saying, because he was righteous in his own eyes. This was the reason they gave why they said no more, because it was to no purpose to argue with a man that was so”
  14. Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 33:23: Elihu refers to himself as the divinely-sent (Job 32:8; Job 33:6) "messenger," the "interpreter" to explain to Job and vindicate God's righteousness; such a one Eliphaz had denied that Job could look for (Job 5:1), and Job (Job 9:33) had wished for such a "daysman" or umpire between him and God. The "messenger" of good is antithetical to the "destroyers" (Job 33:23). with him--if there be vouchsafed to the sufferer. The office of the interpreter is stated "to show unto man God's uprightness" in His dealings; or, as UMBREIT, "man's upright course toward”
  15. Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 32:1: 32:1–37:24 Having completed three cycles of speeches between Job and his three friends, we now hear from a new voice. Elihu has not been previously introduced, but he is a young man who has listened to everything the others have said. 32:1 Job’s three friends (see 2:11) failed to comfort him (6:14-30; 13:4; 16:2; 19:21; 42:10).”
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