Job 35:12

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

Job 35:12 (KJV)

Context

Elihu speaks in Job 35 after Job’s three friends have finished their arguments. Job suffers greatly, and his friends insist that his pain must come from hidden sin. Job maintains his innocence and questions God’s justice. Elihu offers a different view, focusing on human pride and how it affects prayer.

Meaning

In this verse, Elihu says that when people cry out, God does not answer because of the pride of evil men. The word “there” points back to the cries of the oppressed mentioned in Job 35:9. Elihu’s point is that these cries are not humble requests for God’s help. Instead, they are complaints made without faith or submission. Pride blocks the answer, not because God is unwilling, but because the heart is not turned toward Him.

Biblical connections

Elihu contrasts this with the right way to seek God. In Job 35:10-11, he says people should ask, “Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?” This shows that true prayer begins with acknowledging God as Creator and Sustainer. When people cry out without this humble recognition, their words are empty. Job 35:13 adds that God will not hear vanity, confirming that the problem is the condition of the heart.

Application

This verse warns us to examine our own hearts when we pray. Pride can make us demand answers from God as if He owes us something. Instead, we should approach Him with humility, remembering that He is our Maker and the only true helper. A humble cry, offered in faith, is very different from a proud complaint.

Reflection

Elihu’s words are not the final answer in the book of Job. When God speaks from the whirlwind in Job 38-41, He does not directly confirm Elihu’s argument. Yet this verse still teaches a lasting truth: pride hinders our relationship with God. We can learn from Elihu’s warning while also remembering that God’s ways are higher than our understanding.