Job 32:21

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

Job 32:21 (KJV)

Context

In Job 32, Elihu speaks for the first time. He is younger than Job and his three friends, and he has listened quietly to their long debate. Job suffers deeply, and his friends have given answers that show their own limits. Now Elihu promises to speak without favor or flattery.

Meaning

To “accept any man’s person” means to show partiality or to judge by a person’s rank, wealth, or suffering. Elihu refuses to do this. He also refuses to give “flattering titles,” which are words of praise used to win approval or to bend the truth. He will not let a person’s status change what he says. His words are a pledge to be honest and fair. This is not a rejection of all titles of civil honor, which are proper and due, but a refusal to use flattering speech to win favor or to pervert judgment.

Biblical connections

This promise agrees with the law that judges must not favor the poor or the rich (Exodus 23:3; Leviticus 19:15). Elihu knows that flattery is serious. In the next verse he says that if he flattered, his Maker would take him away. Jesus also refused to receive glory from men (John 5:41), showing that pleasing God matters more than pleasing people.

Application

We often praise others to gain something or to avoid conflict. This verse calls us to speak truthfully, even when it is hard. We should judge ideas by their soundness, not by the speaker’s reputation. In daily conversations, we can choose honesty over flattery and respect every person without partiality. Elihu’s example challenges us to examine our own speech and motives, avoiding flattery for personal gain and being people of integrity who speak the truth in all circumstances.

Reflection

Elihu’s resolve challenges us to examine our own motives. Do we use words to build up or to manipulate? Speaking with integrity honors God and builds trust. When we refuse flattery, we open the way for genuine understanding and justice in our relationships.