“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is asking the "wise" and "knowledgeable" not just to listen, but to engage their minds as if they were tasting food, ready to discern truth and seek a righteous judgment together. He’s not simply demanding attention, but inviting them to partner with him in examining the difficult matters between Job and God.
“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu, having finished addressing Job directly, now turns to the listeners present, including Job's friends, to consider his case. He asks those who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable to pay close attention as he continues his argument to uncover the truth about Job's suffering and God's justice. Elihu wants a fair judgment, not a victory, seeking to examine the matter together with all present to determine what is right.
Elihu steps in with a fresh perspective, but who is he actually talking to? It's not quite who you might expect.
Elihu addresses "wise men" and those with "knowledge." While some commentators suggest he's speaking directly to Job's three friends (the wise men of the day, in their own eyes), others point out that Elihu's earlier rebukes of their flawed arguments might make this an ironic address. A more likely view is that Elihu is speaking to the bystanders – the crowd gathered who are capable of reasoned thought and discernment. He appeals to their intellect, inviting them to be impartial judges of the weighty matters being discussed between Job and his friends. This isn't just a debate; it's a call for thoughtful evaluation.
Elihu asks people to 'give ear,' but he means so much more than just physical hearing. What's the deeper meaning?
The ancient understanding of 'giving ear' went beyond passively receiving sound. It implied active listening with the intent to understand, to discern, and to judge. Elihu uses this metaphor to convey that true wisdom involves the mind engaging with what is heard. He wants his audience not just to hear his words, but to process them, to test them against truth and reason, much like tasting food to discern its quality. This is an invitation to critical thinking and a plea for thoughtful deliberation.
In the heat of debate, it's easy to focus on winning. Elihu calls for something far more noble.
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Elihu's appeal isn't just to the wise bystanders but also implicitly to Job and his friends. He urges them all to move beyond personal pride or the desire to merely defeat the other side. The goal, he emphasizes, is to 'choose what is right' and to 'know among ourselves what is good.' This highlights a core biblical principle: truth and justice are paramount, even above personal vindication or the satisfaction of winning an argument. Elihu desires a collective pursuit of righteousness, where all parties are willing to examine the evidence and arrive at a just conclusion.
Understand the original words
chakam · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Refers to individuals possessing discernment, insight, or moral understanding, often associated with the ability to apply God’s truth to life’s complexities. Biblically, wisdom is not merely intellectual capacity but a lifestyle rooted in the fear of the Lord.
azan · Hebrew Verb
The act of listening with attention, discernment, and obedience. In a biblical context, it often implies not just hearing an audible sound, but receiving a message into one’s heart for the purpose of responding rightly to God.
This proverb highlights the danger of acting impulsively without seeking wisdom, mirroring Elihu's plea for careful consideration of his words by those deemed wise.
1 Corinthians 1:20Paul echoes the sentiment by questioning the wisdom of the world, suggesting that true knowledge and understanding often come from unexpected sources, much like Elihu, a younger man, addressing esteemed elders.
James 1:5This verse speaks to the importance of asking God for wisdom, aligning with Elihu's desire for the wise listeners to discern the truth in the difficult situation between Job and his friends.
Jeremiah 8:9This passage critiques those who claim wisdom but reject God's word, offering a contrasting example to Elihu's earnest appeal to genuinely wise individuals to attend to his message.
pooleJob 34:2: "Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge."
O ye wise men, who are here present, do you judge of the truth and reason of what I have said, and am further to say; for I am willing to submit all to the judgment of the truly wise.
cambridgeJob 34:2: "Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge."
2 . The wise men are not the three friends, but the bystanders who hear Elihu; cf. Job 34:34 . 2–4 . Elihu invites the wise among those who listen to him to attend to what he further says, and to unite with him in seeking to discover the right in this cause between Job and God.
Elihu is asking the "wise" and "knowledgeable" not just to listen, but to engage their minds as if they were tasting food, ready to discern truth and seek a righteous judgment together. He’s not simply demanding attention, but inviting them to partner with him in examining the difficult matters between Job and God.
Elihu, having finished addressing Job directly, now turns to the listeners present, including Job's friends, to consider his case. He asks those who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable to pay close attention as he continues his argument to uncover the truth about Job's suffering and God's justice. Elihu wants a fair judgment, not a victory, seeking to examine the matter together with all present to determine what is right.
Elihu, having finished addressing Job directly, now turns to the listeners present, including Job's friends, to consider his case. He asks those who consider themselves wise and knowledgeable to pay close attention as he continues his argument to uncover the truth about Job's suffering and God's justice. Elihu wants a fair judgment, not a victory, seeking to examine the matter together with all present to determine what is right.
"“Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;" — Elihu is asking the "wise" and "knowledgeable" not just to listen, but to engage their minds as if they were tasting food, ready to discern truth and seek a righteous judgment together. He’s not simp…
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Last reviewed October 2026