For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
The verse stands within the instructive discourses of Elihu found in Job chapters 32 to 36. More fully, it belongs to Elihu's speeches in Job chapters 32 to 37, which form the third of the four parts of the book, coming after the prologue and the debate between Job and his three friends and before the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
Elihu resolves that he will not give flattering titles to anyone. One who knows he is accountable to his Maker refuses such flattery because it is wrong before Him and brings the speaker under His judgment. The reason given is that the speaker cannot engage in flattery because his Maker would soon take him away. Taken with the preceding verse, the passage teaches showing no partiality to people and giving no flattering titles, from a desire not to offend the Maker.
The flattery condemned includes false praise, and it is dishonest. The warning applies to the use of academic and religious titles that can obscure the worth of a plain, godly Christian. The warning applies to calling ministers Reverend, since such titles flatter human beings while reverence belongs to God alone.
The verse stands within the instructive discourses of Elihu found in Job chapters 32 to 36. More fully, it belongs to Elihu's speeches in Job chapters 32 to 37, which form the third of the four parts of the book, coming after the prologue and the debate between Job and his three friends and before the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
Elihu resolves that he will not give flattering titles to anyone. One who knows he is accountable to his Maker refuses such flattery because it is wrong before Him and brings the speaker under His judgment. The reason given is that the speaker cannot engage in flattery because his Maker would soon take him away. Taken with the preceding verse, the passage teaches showing no partiality to people and giving no flattering titles, from a desire not to offend the Maker.
The flattery condemned includes false praise, and it is dishonest. The warning applies to the use of academic and religious titles that can obscure the worth of a plain, godly Christian. The warning applies to calling ministers Reverend, since such titles flatter human beings while reverence belongs to God alone.