Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.
Job 33:31 stands where Job's answer concludes and Elihu begins to speak. It is part of Elihu's instructive discourses in chapters 32-36, which come before God speaks to Job in chapters 38-41. It belongs to Elihu's speeches in chapters 32-37, which form the third of the book's four parts, following the debate between Job and his three friends in chapters 4-31 and preceding the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
In this section Elihu argues to convince Job that Job himself is not very great while God is everything. Job makes no answer to Elihu's plea, and no comment on it is recorded. The Lord then answers in chapter 38 by pointing to His mighty works in creation to show His infinite power and wisdom and by contrast how exceedingly small Job is, teaching that what is true in material things which Job can only partly comprehend is also true in God's moral dealings with men where eternal life is at stake.
Job 33:31 stands where Job's answer concludes and Elihu begins to speak. It is part of Elihu's instructive discourses in chapters 32-36, which come before God speaks to Job in chapters 38-41. It belongs to Elihu's speeches in chapters 32-37, which form the third of the book's four parts, following the debate between Job and his three friends in chapters 4-31 and preceding the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud.
In this section Elihu argues to convince Job that Job himself is not very great while God is everything. Job makes no answer to Elihu's plea, and no comment on it is recorded. The Lord then answers in chapter 38 by pointing to His mighty works in creation to show His infinite power and wisdom and by contrast how exceedingly small Job is, teaching that what is true in material things which Job can only partly comprehend is also true in God's moral dealings with men where eternal life is at stake.