איוב, פרק ל״ג, פסוק ח׳

Elihu steps forward to confront the heavy accusations Job has leveled against God. Before offering his own answers, he carefully sets the stage by recalling the exact claims Job made, preparing to refute them one by one [תקות אנוש].

In describing how he absorbed these arguments, Elihu notes that he was present to hear them firsthand. Some explain that he is simply summarizing the core of Job's complaints [ביאור שטיינזלץ], specifically focusing on Job's repeated protests that he is suffering despite being completely innocent [מלבי״ם]. Others point out a more subtle dynamic: Job never actually directed his arguments to Elihu. Instead, Job was speaking to his friends, but Elihu was listening closely, catching every word that reached his ears [מצודת דוד, אלשיך].

When reflecting on the nature of the speech he heard, commentators differ on Elihu's exact meaning. One perspective views his statement as a sharp criticism, suggesting that Job's arguments were nothing more than empty noise, completely lacking in true knowledge or intellect [מצודת דוד, אלשיך]. On the other hand, a different approach suggests that Elihu is making a claim about his own deep understanding. He declares that by paying close attention to the sound of the spoken words, he was able to look past the surface and truly grasp Job's actual intentions and the underlying message behind his statements [מלבי״ם].