Job 32:16 Meaning and Explanation
“When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elihu describes waiting through the friends' complete silence before deciding to speak.
What Does Job 32:16 Mean?
Elihu lingers over the silence, noting it almost in wonder. The men did not speak, they stood still, they answered no more. He waited even through this, giving every opportunity for someone else to break the quiet before he stepped in.
His patience is striking. Even with much pressing within him, he would not rush to fill the void until it was plain that no one else would. This restraint honors others and guards against the impulsiveness that wisdom warns against. The one who can wait through silence, rather than crowd it out, often proves the more trustworthy when he finally does speak.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 32:16
What does Job 32:16 mean?
Elihu describes waiting through the friends' complete silence before deciding to speak.