איוב, פרק ל״ב, פסוק ד׳

Elihu stood as a silent witness throughout the fierce debates between Job and his companions. Despite having his own prepared arguments ready, he held them back and chose not to intervene. The primary approach among commentators is that Elihu remained quiet purely out of respect for age. Because Job's three friends were older, Elihu granted them the right to speak first. This deference was maintained even though Elihu actually surpassed the older men in wisdom [מלבי״ם]. He was determined not to interrupt, waiting patiently until the friends had completely exhausted their arguments and fallen silent [רש״י, מצודת דוד, תקות אנוש]. To be absolutely certain, he continued to wait even after they stopped talking, just to ensure they had nothing more to add [אלשיך].

The nature of Elihu's waiting is understood in two distinct ways. One perspective suggests that he simply stood by in silence at Job's side while the others spoke [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another approach notes a subtle shift in the action of waiting, viewing it not just as a passive state but as a direct action upon Job. According to this view, Elihu's silence was active; by holding his tongue, he was intentionally making Job wait for his response [מלבי״ם].