Home People Barakel Barakel is known from the book of Job as the father of Elihu, the young man who spoke to Job and his three friends. He was of the line of Buz, which connects him to Abraham's lineage through Nahor. Barakel is mentioned only as the father of Elihu and has no independent role in the story.
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Key events Elihu, son of Barakel from Buz, is introduced as the fourth and youngest speaker in the book of Job after Job's three friends failed to answer him.
1 So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Heb וַֽיִּשְׁבְּת֡וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָ֭אֵלֶּה מֵעֲנ֣וֹת אֶת־אִיּ֑וֹב כִּ֤י ה֖וּא צַדִּ֣יק בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ פ
2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. His anger burned against Job for justifying himself rather than God, Heb וַיִּ֤חַר אַ֨ף ׀ אֱלִיה֣וּא בֶן־בַּרַכְאֵ֣ל הַבּוּזִי֮ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֢חַ֫ת רָ֥ם בְּ֭אִיּוֹב חָרָ֣ה אַפּ֑וֹ עַֽל־צַדְּק֥וֹ נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ מֵאֱלֹהִֽים׃
3 and it burned against his three friends, because they had found no answer, yet had condemned Job. Heb וּבִשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת רֵעָיו֮ חָרָ֢ה אַ֫פּ֥וֹ עַ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־מָצְא֣וּ מַעֲנֶ֑ה וַ֝יַּרְשִׁ֗יעוּ אֶת־אִיּֽוֹב׃
Barakel is identified as a Buzite, which connects him to Buz, son of Abraham's brother Nahor, placing him in an acknowledged family line.
2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. His anger burned against Job for justifying himself rather than God, Heb וַיִּ֤חַר אַ֨ף ׀ אֱלִיה֣וּא בֶן־בַּרַכְאֵ֣ל הַבּוּזִי֮ מִמִּשְׁפַּ֢חַ֫ת רָ֥ם בְּ֭אִיּוֹב חָרָ֣ה אַפּ֑וֹ עַֽל־צַדְּק֥וֹ נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ מֵאֱלֹהִֽים׃
6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite spoke up and said: I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I held back, afraid to tell you what I know. Heb וַיַּ֤עַן ׀ אֱלִיה֖וּא בֶן־בַּֽרַכְאֵ֥ל הַבּוּזִ֗י וַיֹּ֫אמַ֥ר צָ֘עִ֤יר אֲנִ֣י לְ֭יָמִים וְאַתֶּ֣ם יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֖ן זָחַ֥לְתִּי וָֽאִירָ֓א ׀ מֵחַוֺּ֖ת דֵּעִ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
Elihu, son of Barakel, begins his speech and defends God's justice toward Job, thus representing his father's lineage in this important theological discussion.
6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite spoke up and said: I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I held back, afraid to tell you what I know. Heb וַיַּ֤עַן ׀ אֱלִיה֖וּא בֶן־בַּֽרַכְאֵ֥ל הַבּוּזִ֗י וַיֹּ֫אמַ֥ר צָ֘עִ֤יר אֲנִ֣י לְ֭יָמִים וְאַתֶּ֣ם יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֖ן זָחַ֥לְתִּי וָֽאִירָ֓א ׀ מֵחַוֺּ֖ת דֵּעִ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃
7 I thought, Let age speak; let many years teach wisdom. Heb אָ֭מַרְתִּי יָמִ֣ים יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ וְרֹ֥ב שָׁ֝נִ֗ים יֹדִ֥יעוּ חָכְמָֽה׃
8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding. Heb אָ֭כֵן רֽוּחַ־הִ֣יא בֶאֱנ֑וֹשׁ וְנִשְׁמַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י תְּבִינֵֽם׃
9 It is not the many who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Heb לֹֽא־רַבִּ֥ים יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים יָבִ֥ינוּ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
10 So I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. Heb לָכֵ֣ן אָ֭מַרְתִּי שִׁמְעָה־לִּ֑י אֲחַוֶּ֖ה דֵּעִ֣י אַף־אָֽנִי׃
As the son of Barachel, Elihu conveys profound wisdom about God's justice and sovereignty, preparing the way for God's own answer to Job.
1 But now, Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. Heb וְֽאוּלָ֗ם שְׁמַֽע־נָ֣א אִיּ֣וֹב מִלָּ֑י וְֽכָל־דְּבָרַ֥י הַאֲזִֽינָה׃
2 Look, I have opened my mouth; my tongue forms words on my palate. Heb הִנֵּה־נָ֭א פָּתַ֣חְתִּי פִ֑י דִּבְּרָ֖ה לְשׁוֹנִ֣י בְחִכִּֽי׃
3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips speak sincerely what I know. Heb יֹֽשֶׁר־לִבִּ֥י אֲמָרָ֑י וְדַ֥עַת שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י בָּר֥וּר מִלֵּֽלוּ׃
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Heb רֽוּחַ־אֵ֥ל עָשָׂ֑תְנִי וְנִשְׁמַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י תְּחַיֵּֽנִי׃
Barachel's lineage from the family of Buz links him to Abraham's genealogical line through Nahor, Abraham's brother, who had a son named Buz.
20 Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah too has borne sons to your brother Nahor: Heb וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־הִ֛וא בָּנִ֖ים לְנָח֥וֹר אָחִֽיךָ׃
21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, Heb אֶת־ע֥וּץ בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־בּ֣וּז אָחִ֑יו וְאֶת־קְמוּאֵ֖ל אֲבִ֥י אֲרָֽם׃
Mentioned in the Bible (2)