Job 33:8-13

Elihu Rejects Job’s Plea of Innocence

8 “Indeed, you have said in my hearing ^{▼▼ Heb “in my ears.”}
(I heard the sound of the words!):
9 ^{▼▼ See Job 9:21; 10:7; 23:7; 27:4; ch. 31.} ‘I am pure, without transgression;
I am clean ^{▼▼ The word is a hapax legomenon; hap is from חָפַף (khafaf). It is used in New Hebrew in expressions like “to wash” the head. Cognates in Syriac and Akkadian support the meaning “to wash; to clean.”} and have no iniquity.
10 ^{▼▼ See Job 10:13ff.; 19:6ff.; and 13:24.} Yet God ^{▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} finds occasions ^{▼▼ The Hebrew means “frustrations” or “oppositions.” The RSV has “displeasure,” NIV “faults,” and NRSV “occasions.” Rashi chose the word found in Judg 14:4 – with metathesis – meaning “pretexts” (תֹּאֲנוֹת, to’anot); this is followed by NAB, NASB.} with me;
he regards me as his enemy!
11 ^{▼▼ See Job 13:27.} He puts my feet in shackles;
he watches closely all my paths.’
12 Now in this, you are not right – I answer you, ^{▼▼ The meaning of this verb is “this is my answer to you.”}
for God is greater than a human being. ^{▼▼ The LXX has “he that is above men is eternal.” Elihu is saying that God is far above Job’s petty problems.}
13 Why do you contend against him,
that he does not answer all a person’s ^{▼▼ The MT has “all his words.” This must refer to “man” in the previous verse. But many wish to change it to “my words,” since it would be summarizing Job’s complaint to God.} words?