Funksie van Elihu (Job 32-37) in die boek Job

Abstract

The Elihu speeches (Job 32-37) in the design of the book of Job are usually evaluated either totally redundant or literary fitting and functional. Why were they integrated in the book of Job, without adding anything new or profound? A literary-pragmatic analysis was done on these speeches to determine their function in Job. The text was analysed narratologically and poetically. This was complemented with insights from reception-criticism ("implied author", "implied reader") and pragmatics (politeness strategies) in order to also read "between the lines". The exigency for the integration of the Elihu speeches in the book of Job seems to be the ironic exposure of the doctrine of retribution.