איוב, פרק ל״ד, פסוק ט״ז

Elihu directly challenges Job to engage his mind and pay close attention to the arguments about to be presented. The ultimate goal of this confrontation is to guide Job toward recognizing the internal contradictions within his own complaints regarding God's justice and the way He governs the world [מלבי״ם, תקות אנוש].

Elihu's appeal to Job's intellect can be understood in two distinct ways. The primary approach among commentators suggests a conditional plea: if Job truly possesses wisdom and an open heart, he should carefully absorb the forthcoming message [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, תקות אנוש]. Alternatively, the call is viewed as an active command rather than a mere condition. In this light, Elihu is urging Job that if he genuinely desires clarity, he must actively observe, engage his mind, and seek to understand [רש״י, תקות אנוש].

The plea is further emphasized through a repeated request to hear and listen. This repetition naturally serves as a broad urging to pay close attention to the upcoming arguments and the lessons they contain [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. At the same time, this dual phrasing addresses two different levels of readiness within the listener. If Job already possesses deep insight, a simple and light hearing is entirely sufficient for him to grasp the profound implications of the message. But if he lacks that immediate clarity, he is required to listen with deep, focused attention to the exact logic being presented, ensuring he does not dismiss the message simply because the speaker is young [אלשיך].