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Job 3:1
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

Job 33:2,8-12
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth…

Job 34:35-37
Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his wordswere without wisdom…

and multiplies words without knowledge.
Here, the emphasis is on the abundance of Job's speech and the lack of true understanding behind it. This critique is part of Elihu's argument, who believes that Job's complaints are based on a limited perspective. The idea of "words without knowledge" echoes the biblical theme of the importance of wisdom and understanding, as found inProverbs 1:7, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This phrase also foreshadows God's response to Job in chapters 38-41, where God questions Job, highlighting the vast difference between divine and human knowledge. The critique of speaking without knowledge can be seen as a call to humility before God, recognizing the limitations of human insight.

• Elihu points out that Job is speaking freely, boldly, even reflexively.

•Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, “When words are many, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise”.

• Job had begun with humble lament (Job 3) but, under prolonged pain and his friends’ accusations, his speeches have grown increasingly self-defensive (Job 27:2–6).

• The verse signals a shift from heartfelt grief to unguarded talk—something any believer can slip into when suffering seems endless.

• “In vain” tells us Job’s recent words have become empty—unable to accomplish what words should: glorify God and edify listeners (Ephesians 4:29).

•Ecclesiastes 5:7 cautions, “For many dreams bring futility; so do many words”.

• Though Job still fears God (Job 1:8), his complaints now circle without resolution, offering no fresh insight or faithful trust.

• Elihu isn’t minimizing Job’s pain; he’s exposing the emptiness produced when hurt overrules hope.

• Job’s speeches have lengthened (Job 29–31), piling assertion upon assertion. With each round he “multiplies words,” an Old Testament warning sign (Job 34:37;Proverbs 29:20).

• The more Job talks, the less he listens—to his friends, to Elihu, and most importantly to God.

• Jesus later cautions against “babbling like pagans” who think they will be heard for their many words (Matthew 6:7).

• Volume never guarantees validity. A few faith-saturated sentences outweigh paragraphs of self-justification.

• Elihu’s core charge: Job’s recent statements lack the true understanding that comes from submitting to God’s wisdom (Proverbs 2:6).

•Job 38:2 will echo this—God Himself asks, “Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?”.

• Pain can cloud perception; yet even then, believers are called to speak what they know to be true of God—His sovereignty, goodness, and justice (Romans 11:33).

•Hosea 4:6 warns, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”; Elihu wants to spare Job from that destruction by steering him back to reverent silence and trust.

Job 35:16 diagnoses a common temptation in suffering: letting our mouths outrun our understanding. Job’s torrent of words has drifted from earnest lament into empty, knowledge-lacking self-defense. Scripture invites us to check our speech, ensuring it remains purposeful, restrained, and rooted in the knowledge of God’s character.

Parallel Commentaries ...