Job 34:1 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּ֥עַן אֱלִיה֗וּא וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
BSAThen ElihuʼĔlîyhûw [moreover, furthermore, He is my God, a friend of Job] continuedʻânâh▸ [answered and said, made answer]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֥עַן | and he answered | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֱלִיה֗וּא | Elihu | Noun proper masculine |
| וַיֹּאמַֽר׃ | and he said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then Elihu continued: |
| KJV | Furthermore Elihu answered and said, |
| ASV | Moreover Elihu answered and said, |
| YLT | And Elihu answereth and saith: |
| WEB | Moreover Elihu answered, |
| BBE | And Elihu made answer and said, |
The translations agree on Elihu's response, using similar phrases to convey his actions.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by two verb phrases that detail Elihu's actions.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֱלִיהוּא
verbעָנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 34:1
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Elihu's Responsegenerated
Job 34:1 introduces Elihu's speech, where he continues the conversation about Job's plight. Elihu, who is younger than Job's other friends, seeks to address the issues raised in the previous discussions. His intention is to provide wisdom and clarity, aiming to correct misunderstandings regarding God's justice and Job's situation.
Cross References
The Key Word — עָנָה, vai.Ya.'angenerated
The verb עָנָה (*anah*) is a Qal imperfect form meaning 'to answer' or 'to respond'. It is derived from a root that conveys the idea of paying attention, and it encompasses both verbal responses and musical expressions. In this context, it indicates Elihu's role in responding to the arguments presented by Job and his friends.
This usage highlights Elihu's position as a mediator in the dialogue, as he aims to address the concerns raised by Job while also asserting his own understanding of God's righteousness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
Translations generally agree in rendering Elihu's response with phrases like 'answered and said' or 'continued'.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is straightforward, with two finite verbs: וַיַּ֥עַן (*and he answered*) and וַיֹּאמַֽר (*and he said*). The first verb indicates Elihu's response, while the second verb introduces what he is about to say.
This simple structure emphasizes Elihu's active role in the conversation, as he seeks to engage with the wisdom of his audience.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates עָנָה with ὑπολαβὼν (*having answered*), which suggests a direct engagement with the discourse. This choice indicates Elihu's role as a respondent, emphasizing the act of answering rather than merely speaking.
This translation aligns with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing Elihu's intention to address the issues at hand.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 34:1 shows Elihu continuing the dialogue with Job and his friends. He speaks up to provide his perspective, aiming to correct misunderstandings about God and righteousness. Elihu's words are meant to bring clarity and insight into the ongoing discussion.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Elihu is a younger friend of Job who speaks to provide correction and insight regarding Job's suffering and the nature of God's justice.
Elihu seeks to clarify misunderstandings and offer a fresh perspective on Job's situation, emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's righteousness.
Elihu's response is significant as it introduces new ideas and challenges the views of Job and his friends, aiming to steer the conversation towards a deeper understanding of divine justice.
Elihu's youth gives him a different viewpoint, allowing him to speak with a sense of urgency and a desire to correct the older friends' misconceptions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can I learn from Elihu's approach to addressing difficult topics?
- How do I respond when I see misunderstandings about God's nature in conversations around me?
- In what ways can I seek to bring clarity and wisdom to discussions about faith?
- How can I balance respect for elders with the need to speak truthfully, as Elihu does?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers comment on Elihu's words, discussing his role in the dialogue and the implications of his speech.
Eliu also pronounced and said these things likewise. For what is meant by this word 'pronounced' but the puffing up of pride? in order that his words, which spring from the deep root of pride,Early Church Fathers on Job 34 →
Because of the former accusations that he had brought against his hearers, Elihu soothes them now with softer words by calling them wise men who know righteousness and honesty.Early Church Fathers on Job 34 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 34:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFurthermore Elihu answered and said. It is reasonable to suppose that Elihu made a considerable pause, to see whether Job would make any reply to what he had delivered, or object to what he had said;
Read John Gill on Job 34 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFurthermore Elihu answered and said, Answered - proceeded.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 34 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 34:1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,Ver. 1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said] i.e. He prosecuted his former discourse, he thus pronounced (as the Vulgate hath it) in answer to some of Job’ s former speeches, which he here reciteth, but not so candidly; and refelleth, but not so mildly as was meet. Pronuncians itaque Eliu, Elihu going on still in his anger and speech. True it is, that Job in his heat had let fall very many lavish and inconsiderate speeches, as is to be seen almost throughout the tenth chapter; but yet it was far from him ever to say either that himself was without sin or that God was unjust, as Elihu would bear him down; very odiously taking up certain sayings of…
Read John Trapp on Job 34 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXXXIV.(1) Furthermore Elihu.—Elihu here hardly makes good the profession with which he starts, for he begins immediately to accuse Job in no measured language. Elihu makes, indeed, a great profession of wisdom, and expressly addresses himself to the wise (Job 34:2), and insists upon the necessity of discrimination (Job 34:3-4). It is to be observed that Job himself had given utterance to much the same sentiment in Job 12:11.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 34 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleCHAPTER XXXIV Elihu begins with an exhortation to Job's friends, 1-4; charges Job with accusing God of acting unrighteously, which he shows is impossible, 5-12; points out the power and judgments of the Almighty, 13-30; shows how men should address God, and how irreverently Job has acted, 31-37. NOTES ON CHAP. XXXIV
Read AdamClarke on Job 34 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFurthermore, Elihu answered and said - That is, evidently, after a pause to see if Job had anything to reply.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 34 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleELIHU’S SECOND .1. Elihu spake — Literally, answered. (See note on Job 3:2.) Elihu waits for Job to respond. The chapter is devoted to establishing the justice of God.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 34 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then Elihu continued:
Moreover Elihu answered,
Then Elihu continued:
Elihu answered:
Tyndale line
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Moreover Elihu answered and said,
Moreover Elihu answered and said,
Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
Moreouer Elihu answered, and saide,
Strictly literal
Moreover Elihu answered and said,
And Elihu answereth and saith:
And Elihu answers and says:
And Elihu commenced, and said,
Moreover, Elihu continued to speak:
From the Latin
And Eliu continued his discourse, and said:
Simplified
Then Elihu continued,
And Elihu made answer and said,
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree in the wording of this verse, with both texts presenting Elihu's response in a similar manner. The Septuagint matches the Hebrew closely, reflecting the same sequence of actions without significant variation.
וַיַּ֥עַן אֱלִיה֗וּא וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
3 of the 3 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 34:1
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.
[עוּן] vb. dwell
base
עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond
Qal
answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
money meets all demands
specif. respond as a witness, testify
less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
Niph.
make answer
be answered
Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
base
עָנָה vb. sing
Qal sing, utter tunefully
Pi. sing sweetly of it
base
H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
. money meets all demands
. . specif. respond as a witness, testify
. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
. . make answer
. be answered
. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
H6030c עָנָה sing
6030 `anah aw-naw'
a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,
i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to
begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,
announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),
(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,
hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing
(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.
See also 1042, 1043.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 01042
see HEBREW for 01043
עוּן (un) — to dwell.
(Qal) to dwell
עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.
1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to answer, respond to
1a2) to testify, respond as a witness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to make answer
1b2) to be answered, receive answer
Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)
עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.
(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אֱלִיהוּ (Eliyhuw) means "He is my God" and refers to several individuals in the Old Testament, most notably the young friend of Job who rebuked him and his companions. The entries detail Elihu's lineage, including his connections to the tribes of Levi and Judah, and mention other figures named Elihu, such as an Ephraimite and a Manassite warrior chief.
אֱלִיהוּ, אֱלִיהוּא n.pr.m. (He is (my) God)
the young friend of Job
an Ephraimite, Samuel’s great-grandfather
chief of Manasseh
a Korahite
one of the brethren of David
base
H453 אֱלִיהוּ, אֱלִיהוּא
453 'Eliyhuw el-ee-hoo'
or (fully) dEliyhuwh {el-ee-hoo'}; from 410 and 1931; God of
him; Elihu, the name of one of Job's friends, and of three
Israelites:--Elihu.
see HEBREW for 0410
see HEBREW for 01931
אֱלִיהוּ (e.li.hu) — Elihu.
A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.1.1;
son of: Tohu (H8459);
father of: Jeroham (H3395); also called Eliab at 1Ch.6.27; Eliel at 1Ch.6.34;
§ Elihu = "He is my God"
1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends
2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather
3) a Manassite warrior chief for David
4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper
5) David's brother
אֱלִיהוּ (e.li.hu) — Elihu.
A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.20
§ Elihu = "He is my God"
1) the younger man who rebuked Job and his three friends
2) an Ephraimite, Samuel's great grandfather
3) a Manassite warrior chief for David
4) son of Shemaiah and Korhite gatekeeper
5) David's brother
אֱלִיהוּ (e.li.hu) — Elihu.
N-proper — Noun proper masculineHNpm
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 (1 Chr. 26:7).
(whose God is he (Jehovah)). One of the interlocutors in the book of Job. [JOB, 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)
A native of Buz, Ge 22:21, which was probably a city of Edom, Jer 25:23, perhaps Bozrah, Jer 49:7,8,13. He came to condole with Job in his calamities. Young, ardent, sagacious, and devout, he listened attentively to the discourses of Job and his three friends; and at length broke in, with profuse apologies, to set them all right, Job 32:1-22. His address to Job he blames for condemning him as a hypocrite, in their ignorance of the wonders of God’s providence. In several sentences he beautifully expresses his faith in the pardoning and restoring grace of God towards sinners, Job 33:23,24,27-30, passages in probably the…
he is my God himself
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Hc/Vqw3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms