Job 32:21

_LET ME NOT, I PRAY YOU, ACCEPT ANY MAN'S PERSON, NEITHER LET ME GIVE FLATTERING TITLES UNTO MAN._ 'May I never accept,' etc. Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 13:8; Job 13:10), wherein be complains that the friends plead for God partially, "accepting His person." Elihu says he will not do so, but act impartially between God and Job. 'And I will not give flattery,' etc. (Proverbs 24:23, "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.")...

15-22 If we are sure that the Spirit of God suggested what we are about to say, still we ought to refrain, till it comes to our turn to speak. God is the God of order, not of confusion. It is great refreshment to a good man, to speak for the glory of the Lord, and to edify others. And the more we consider the majesty of God, as our Maker, and the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less shall we sinfully fear or flatter men. Could we set the wrath Lord always before us, in his mercies and his terrors, we should not be moved from doing our duty in whatever we are called to do....

Verse Job 32:21. _LET ME NOT - ACCEPT ANY MAN'S PERSON_] I will speak the truth without fear or favour. _NEITHER LET ME GIVE FLATTERING TITLES_] I will not give epithets to any man that are not descriptive of his true state. I will not beguile him by telling him he _is_ what he _is not_. אכנה acanneh, from כנה _canah_, is generally supposed to signify to _surname_, to put a name _to_ or _upon_ a name, as the French word _surnom_ implies. It means to give proud titles to persons who are worthless. It is well known that the Arabs make court to their superiors by carefully avoiding to address them by their proper names, instead of which they salute them with some title or epithet expressive of respect. - SCOTT. See below. Titles expressive of _office,_ _ecclesiastical, civil_, or _military_, are always proper, and ne

LET ME NOT, I PRAY YOU - This is not to be regarded as an address to them, or a prayer to God, but as an expression of his determination. It is similar to the phrase which we use when we say, “may I never do this;” implying the strongest possible purpose not to do it. Elihu means to say that on no account would he use partiality or flattery in what he said. ACCEPT ANY MAN’S PERSON - Treat any with partiality. That is, “I will not be influenced by rank, age, wealth, or personal friendship, in what I say. I will state the truth impartially, and will deliver my sentiments with entire freedom;” see the phrase explained in the notes at Job 13:8. NEITHER LET ME GIVE FLATTERING TITLES UNTO MAN - The word used here (כנה _kânâh_ - not used in the Qal, but fo

EXPOSITION A new personage is now introduced upon the scene, who speaks in a new style and almost in a new language. No previous mention has been made of him; no subsequent notice is taken of his arguments; and nothing is said of him in the historical section wherewith the work concludes (Job 42:7). It is therefore scarcely surprising that some exception has been taken to the genuineness of the entire passage (Job 32-37), or that it has been regarded by many excellent critics as an interpolation into the Book of Job, made by one who was not the original author, at a date considerably later than the rest of tile composition. A modification of this extreme view is suggested by M. Renan, who thinks that the original author may have added the passage in his old age. This view is entitled to consideration. The subject has been discussed at some length in the Introduction, so that no mor

LET ME NOT, I PRAY YOU, ACCEPT ANY MAN'S PERSON,.... Neither the person of Job, because of his poverty and affliction, indulging too much to pity and commiseration, and affecting to get a good name from others for it; nor the persons of his three friends, on account of their wealth and grandeur; for neither the persons of the poor, nor of the rich, are to be regarded in judgment, or in the decision of any matter between them, but truth and justice are to be attended to; see Exodus 23:3. Elihu was determined with himself not to respect the person of any, and he hopes that Job and his friends would bear with him, and excuse him on that account: NEITHER LET ME GIVE FLATTERING TITLES UNTO MEN; he does not mean titles of civil honour and respect, which belong to men, and are in common use among men, according to the different stations of life, men are in; for honour i

CHAPTER S 32--33:7 _ 1. Elihu introduced (Job 32:1)_ 2. I waited, but now must speak (Job 32:6) 3. His address to Job (Job 33:1) Job 32:1. As Elihu had listened to the different addresses his wrath was stirred up. His name is very suggestive. Elihu means “my God is He”; Barachel--”the Blessed God”; the Buzite, “the rejected One” of Ram, and Ram means “exalted.” These are names which find their fullest application in the person of our Lord, whom Elihu in his mediatorial work represents. But why was his wrath kindled? Because Job justified himself rather than God and because Job's friends had found no solution of the problem, yet they c

If the friends have nothing to say, that is no reason for Elihu's silence. He is full of words, and must give them vent. The fear of God will prevent his showing partiality....

Turning from the three friends Elihu seems to speak in soliloquy and present to his own mind the singular situation: the three friends are discomfited before Job and reduced to silence; this should not be; therefore he will express his convictions. His breast is filled with thoughts and emotions that will not be repressed: he must speak, that he may find relief. And he will speak fearlessly and in sincerity, not regarding the person of any man....

LET ME NOT, I PRAY YOU— Elihu's apology for himself is, that he would not presume to interpose in the debate till they who were his elders had done speaking: _I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom,_ Job 32:7. But however, as God had given to every one their share of understanding, and as he then found in himself a strong impulse to speak, he would deliver his opinion with all freedom, and without flattery, or a partial inclination to either side. _Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person. Let me not be partial to any man; for know I not, if I should be partial, that my Maker would destroy me in a moment?_ Heath and Peters. REFLECTIONS.—1st, The warm dispute was closed. A silent pause ensued: Job's friends ceased to answer; counting him obstinate against conviction, and righteous in his own eyes, they forebore to reply: but now a new perso