Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 32:3
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.
3. had found no answer, and yet had condemned ] Rather, had not found an answer and condemned, i. e. found no answer wherewith to condemn Job. Elihu’s anger was kindled against the three friends because they had not found such an answer as effectively to put Job in the wrong in his charges against God; comp. Job 32:5 ; Job 32:12. Elihu is more deeply pained and offended by Job’s charges against God than even the three friends were (ch. Job 34:7 seq., Job 34:35 seq.); he is far from blaming them for condemning Job; neither does he hold the balance between Job and them and blame them for condemning him without good reasons; he blames them for not finding such good reasons as effectively to condemn him, as he deserves. Coverdale: because they had found no reasonable answer to overcome him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job – They held Job to be guilty, and yet they were unable to adduce the proof of it, and to reply to what he had said. They still maintained their opinion, though silenced in the argument. They were in that state of mind, not uncommon, in which they obstinately held on to an opinion which they could not vindicate, and believed another to be guilty, though they could not prove it.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. They had found no answer] They had condemned Job; and yet could not answer his arguments on the general subject, and in vindication of himself.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They had found no answer to Jobs allegations and arguments, as to the main cause.
Had condemned Job as a hypocrite or ungodly, man.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. Though silenced in argument,they held their opinion still.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled,…. He did not take part with either side, but blamed both, and took upon him to be a moderator between them, and deal impartially with them: what highly displeased him, and raised his spirit against the three friends of Job, was,
because they had found no answer; they were at a loss for one, for a sufficient one; they had all of them been answering him in their turns again and again, but with nothing to the purpose, not with anything conclusive and convincing; and particularly they could find and give no answer to Job’s last vindication of himself:
and [yet] had condemned Job; as a very wicked man, and an hypocrite, for no other reason but because he was afflicted; and they still persisted in their sentiment, though Job had so fully cleared himself, and put them to entire silence; this exasperated Elihu, to observe these men to retain so unreasonable a sentiment, to pronounce such a rash sentence, and yet could make no reply to Job’s defence of himself. Jarchi says, this place is one of the corrections of the Scribes, it having been formerly written “God” instead of “Job”; as if the sense was, that Elihu was provoked with them, because by their silence they had condemned the Lord, not vindicating his honour and glory as became them; but Aben Ezra declares his ignorance of that correction, and observes, that they that say so knew what was hid from him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) They had found no answer.They could not reply unto Job, nor deny that he had been in conduct such as he said he had been, and yet they concluded that he must be wicked because God had smitten him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Condemned Job The only way they could justify God’s ways was to condemn Job.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 32:3. Because they had found no answer, &c. Because they had found no answer whereby they might convict Job.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(3) Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Jobadiah
Certainly Elihu’s anger was well founded against Job’s three friends: for they came forth to comfort him, and had added to his affliction. They charged him with being an hypocrite, but neither could make good the charge. Elihu stood as the umpire, and condemned the whole. So far he acted impartially.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 32:3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.
Ver. 3. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled ] True zeal is of a most masculine, disengaged, courageous nature; like fire, it catcheth on every side, and is impartial. Elihu was a man made all of fire, walking among stubble, as Chrysostom saith of Peter. And, surely, he that is not angry against sin, whether in himself or others, it is because either he knows it not or hates it not as he ought. He also kept within the bounds of modesty and moderation, and expressed himself without bitterness. We read of Idacius, that he would needs be doing with Salvianus and Instantius, both Priscillianists. But by his passionate and intemperate language he not only did not convert them, but made them worse (Sulp. Sever. l. ii., p. 171).
Because they had found no answer
And yet had condemned Job
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
condemned Job. The primitive text reads “condemned God”, but was altered from motives of false reverence by the Sopherim to “Job”. See App-33.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
because: Job 32:1, Job 24:25, Job 25:2-6, Job 26:2-4
and yet: Job 8:6, Job 15:34, Job 22:5-30, Act 24:5, Act 24:13
Reciprocal: Job 6:25 – what doth Job 16:3 – what emboldeneth Job 21:27 – ye wrongfully Job 21:34 – seeing Job 27:5 – justify Job 32:12 – behold Job 42:7 – My Mat 12:7 – condemned Joh 9:3 – Neither Act 17:16 – his spirit