Watchtower Study, How the Book of Job Helps Us to Give Good Counsel, Week of February 9-15, 2026, Comments and Answers.

Watchtower Study, How the Book of Job Helps Us to Give Good Counsel, February 9-15, 2026, Comments and Answers.

“Now, Job, hear my words, please” (JOB 33:1).

1, 2. In what difficult situation are Elihu and Job's three acquaintances?

Elihu and Job's three acquaintances are in a very difficult situation because Job, a very rich and famous man, has been left with practically nothing. All his camels, sheep, cattle, and donkeys have died or been stolen. Almost all his servants have also been murdered, and all his children perished when the house they were in collapsed on them.

Furthermore, he is very ill, his body covered in painful ulcers, sitting among ashes and completely despondent. The scene is so shocking that they remain silent for seven days, at a loss for words.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

These three men had seen Job's situation, how he was completely desolate, and they wondered what they could do to help him in this very difficult situation.

They were shocked to see Job, who had been a very rich man who had everything, fall into such a state. Seeing him like this, these three supposed friends and Elihu were understandably devastated, because they saw him broken.

The situation was so serious that Job 2:13 says that no one said a single word for seven days, because of how shocking it was to see Job in that state.

Paragraph one explains how they learned the news: word spread throughout the region, for it was a significant event. When they arrived, they didn't even ask Job what had happened; they simply accepted what they had heard. And we know what sometimes happens: stories get blown out of proportion. So they stayed there for seven days without telling him anything.

The situation was dire. Elihu and Job's three supposed friends saw the man in his condition and were paralyzed, unsure what to do. Then, Job broke his silence, cursing the day of his birth and wishing for death. If we imagine ourselves facing someone who even expresses a desire to die, we can understand how difficult the situation was for Elihu and Job's three acquaintances.

Elihu and Job's three supposed friends will demonstrate through their actions and words whether they are good friends or not.

3. What are we going to see in this article?

In this article, we will see how the story of Job can help us when we need to give advice to someone. First, we will analyze the bad example of Job's three acquaintances, whose words, in some cases, were influenced by an evil spirit. Then we will examine the good example of Elihu, whose words were inspired by Jehovah. In each case, we will see how the Israelites benefited and how we can benefit today.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Let's see how this story can help us when we need to give advice to someone. First, we'll analyze the bad example of Job's three acquaintances, and then the good example of Elihu.

Furthermore, we will see how the Israelites were able to benefit and how we can benefit today.

Although the book of Job is long and we may sometimes feel a little lost, the information it contains will be very useful. For example, by identifying when Eliphaz speaks, we see that he included ideas that came from demons, since he claimed to have had a vision.

In the Book of Job, we find some excellent advice, but also some that seems good but isn't, because it uses language that distorts the truth. We can learn a great deal from all of it, even from the subtle nuances. When we give advice, we must be careful how we express it so that it doesn't include negative ideas, but rather is truly positive and uplifting.

Elihu's counsel was good because he was respectful, encouraging, hopeful, and spoke truthfully about Jehovah. Elihu was able to properly assess the situation, not by his own wisdom, but by Jehovah's holy spirit.

THE COUNCILS OF ELIFAZ, BILDAD, AND ZOFAR

4. Why were Job's three acquaintances unable to comfort him? (See also the picture.)

Job's three acquaintances failed to comfort him because they jumped to conclusions. For example, they mistakenly assumed that God was punishing Job for some sin.

Furthermore, much of their advice was insensitive, even hurtful, and of little help. At times, they said things that sounded good but ultimately proved empty. They frequently spoke to her with an air of superiority and in an overbearing, sarcastic, and judgmental tone.

This shows that, deep down, what these men were trying to do was not to comfort Job or strengthen his faith, but to prove him wrong.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

First, they jumped to conclusions. For example, they mistakenly assumed that God was punishing Job for some sin.

Much of their advice was unhelpful and even hurtful, as they offered words that sounded good but were ultimately meaningless. Furthermore, they were inconsiderate and told her she talked too much.

Although they may not have shouted at him, they often spoke to him with words and airs of superiority, in an overbearing, sarcastic, and condemning tone.

The note explains that an evil spirit convinced Eliphaz that, in Jehovah's eyes, no human being can be righteous and that, therefore, it is impossible to please Him. This idea stuck with him so deeply that he repeated it to Job three times in his speeches.

Based on our analysis, it is normal that in the paragraphs they are not even called "the three friends", but "acquaintances", because their objective was not to console Job or strengthen him, but to demonstrate that he was wrong.

The image teaches us a great deal, because at first they appear far from him. This makes us think of the contrast with Jesus, who approached the leper. They, on the other hand, keep their distance, which shows that their motives were neither to help Job nor to build his faith. Throughout their discourses, this same idea is perceived: the image reflects that they were far from him in every sense.

This teaches us that when we have to help someone or give them advice, our main objective should be to provide help and do it with care.

When we see the image of Job in his condition, a true friend would naturally approach him. But the three acquaintances not only failed to approach him to offer advice, but they looked down on him, displaying an air of superiority—something that should certainly be avoided whenever giving advice.

It's interesting that Job 2:11 says they went there to share Job's pain and comfort him. That's what's mentioned at the beginning. But, upon arriving, everything changed, as the end of the paragraph points out. In reality, what they wanted was to prove Job wrong.

The image shows Job there, covered in sores, scraping himself with a piece of mud among the ashes. The initial intention of Job's three acquaintances was to share his pain and comfort him, but upon their arrival, their intentions changed completely.

ILLUSTRATION

One of Job's supposed friends speaks harshly to him while the other two watch. Job, whose body is covered in painful sores, sits on the ground listening to their advice.

When giving advice to someone, let's not make them feel superior; our goal should be to help them. (See paragraph 4).

5. What did Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar achieve with their advice?

By expressing ideas that did not reflect God's viewpoint and treating Job without compassion, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar made Job feel crushed. Therefore, it is understandable that he felt the need to defend his reputation, which led him to lose his composure and say inappropriate things. By acting in this way, they became tools in the hands of Satan.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They managed to sink him even further, to the point that in Job 19:2 he says that they were embittering his soul and crushing him with words.

One of the things they accomplished was becoming puppets of Satan. They were supposed to encourage Job, but in the end, they discouraged him even more than he already was.

They also succeeded, through the poor comfort they gave him, in causing Job to speak inappropriately. As he himself says in Job 6:3, his words were very rash, the expressions of a desperate man, and perhaps he did not speak in the right way.

They proved to be instruments of Satan. That is, what Satan wanted to do, after all he had done to Job, was to destabilize him mentally and emotionally, so that he could not think clearly and, in this way, say inappropriate things or even turn away from Jehovah.

By analyzing the advice Job received from his acquaintances, we understand why it is so important to strive to give good advice. In Job, we see the painful effect that bad advice can have. Job was already suffering greatly, but because of everything he was told, his situation worsened even more. Surely none of us would want to cause this to any brother or sister.

6. What might the elders of Israel have learned from the bad example of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar?

It is possible that the elders of Israel learned from the bad example of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar the importance of not drawing hasty conclusions or judging without knowing all the facts.

The story of Job could teach them that, before giving advice or passing judgment, they should listen carefully, investigate matters thoroughly, and ask questions, without assuming they already knew everything that had happened. They could also learn that it was essential to speak with kindness and compassion, not harshness, so that the person would feel comfortable and open their heart.

In this way, the bad example of those three men reminded the elders of Israel that they should reflect Jehovah's righteous standards, acting with patience, justice, and empathy when helping others.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They learned that they should listen very carefully before giving advice or making a judgment.

They may have learned that they should investigate before giving any advice, understand the causes of things, and ask questions that would not harm the person, because otherwise, the person would not accept the help they wanted to offer.

In Deuteronomy 1:15-18, we can see the guidelines that Jehovah gave to these experienced men. In verse 17, they are instructed not to be partial in their judgment, but to treat the small and the great alike. Even if a case was very complicated, they were to present it to Jehovah. Thus, we can see that they learned from Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar that they should not judge as they had done.

2 Chronicles 19:6 highlights the importance of making a sound judgment. Judgment is not being made for human purposes, but for Jehovah, and the sentence comes from Him. Therefore, it is necessary to take the time to listen and thoroughly understand the situation before rushing to judgment.

Deuteronomy 19:16-18 states that a man might make a false accusation against a brother. This underscores the importance of thoroughly investigating the situation and asking questions before making any assumptions.

7. Besides the elders, who in Israel could advise others, and what could they learn from the account of Job? (Proverbs 27:9).

Besides the elders, anyone—young or old, male or female—could give advice to someone who needed it to draw closer to Jehovah or to correct some aspect of their conduct, for that is what is expected of a true friend.

The Israelites could learn from the story of Job by reflecting on the bad example of his three acquaintances and thus understand what they should not say or do when advising others.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Anyone, whether young or old, male or female, could give advice to someone in need, whether to draw closer to Jehovah or to correct some aspect of their conduct.

Psalm 141:5 says, “If a righteous person were to strike me, it would be an act of faithful love; if they were to rebuke me, it would be like oil on my head, which my head would never refuse.” That is, it says “a righteous person,” without specifying whether they were young, old, male, or female; it could be a friend, a relative, or someone from the congregation. From the example of Job’s three acquaintances, the Israelites could learn what not to do or say.

In Proverbs 27:9, good advice is compared to oil and incense, two precious things that bring blessing. It says that these things gladden the heart, and then compares sincere advice to them. So, when we give advice to a friend in this way—with love and respect—we can say that it is like a true blessing for him.

From good advice, a great friendship can develop, as Proverbs 27:9 says: “a sweet friendship.” It truly becomes something very valuable and appealing. What a sad and stark contrast to what happened in Job's case: that friendship never arose; on the contrary, they grew even more distant.

8. What mistakes should we avoid when giving advice? (See also the images).

Before saying anything, we must make sure we know all the facts and avoid jumping to conclusions. We should always base our decisions on the truth of God’s Word, not on our own opinion or experience. We should never use a harsh or critical tone. When giving advice, we should never make the person feel that Jehovah is unreasonable or that it is impossible for him to love them.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As you can see in the first image, the brother has his Bible closed and is listening to how the other brother is expressing himself and what is troubling him. That is the first thing to do: listen.

As we see in the second photo, advice should always be based on the word of God and not on our own opinion or experience.

One thing we should never do when giving advice to others is to use a harsh or critical tone.

Regarding the arguments and content of the advice given by Job's acquaintances, Job 4:8 says, "I have seen," and in verse 9 repeats, "I have seen." Job 5:27 says, "Things are this way. Listen to it and accept it." What a way to argue! We can't imagine receiving advice like that; certainly, it wouldn't be easy to listen to. Therefore, the key is that the advice be based on the Bible, which is what truly matters.

In Job 42:7-9, Jehovah tells these so-called friends that he was angry with them because they had behaved very badly in what they said. This makes us realize that when giving advice, the giver has a great responsibility, since Jehovah will notice what you say and how you say it. Therefore, we should pay attention to what this article teaches and apply it.

Sometimes, when we give advice, what we say may be true, but it may not apply to the person. For example, in Job 5:13, it says that Job was told that God traps the wise in their own craftiness to ruin the plans of the schemers. These words were later used by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians. However, in Job's case, they were not applicable.

Misusing the Bible also has consequences. They were accused of twisting the Scriptures or using them for their own benefit. If we use the Bible to build up others, fantastic! Because Jehovah will help us. But if we use it to criticize or crush others, as these so-called comforters did, we distance ourselves from Jehovah.

First, we must make sure we know all the facts; second, use God's word; and third, express ourselves with love.

ILLUSTRATION

Images of a brother lovingly counseling a brother who is upset. 1. The two are sitting at an outdoor table having refreshments. The upset brother vents his frustrations, and the other brother listens patiently. 2. The listening brother opens his Bible. 3. He lovingly shares some advice from the Bible with the other brother, who listens calmly.

When we talk to someone, 1) let's make sure we know all the facts, 2) let's use God's Word, and 3) let's express ourselves with kindness. (See paragraph 8.)

THE COUNSELS OF ELIHU

9. Why did Job continue to need help, and how did Jehovah provide it?

Job still needed help because, throughout the debate with his three supposed friends, they mostly gave in to anger and frustration. As a result, Job continued to feel very discouraged and in need of comfort and correction.

To help him, Jehovah used Elihu, who, although young, listened patiently and respectfully before speaking. At first, he remained silent out of consideration for the older men, but after hearing them all, he realized that he could no longer remain silent. So he intervened to advise Job. Thus, Jehovah gave him the help he needed through Elihu’s balanced and timely words.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Job still needed help because throughout the debate with his three supposed friends, far from comforting him, they had only left him more discouraged. His words were marked by anger and frustration, and instead of receiving support, Job ended up even more dejected and in need of correction.

Because of everything that had happened to him, Job was already in a dark place in his life, and these three acquaintances only intensified that darkness. Now he was even more discouraged and in greater need of comfort, and it was at this critical moment that Elihu decided to help him.

We know that Elihu remained silent out of respect, letting the three older men speak. But a moment came when they had said so many wrong things that he spoke up and affirmed that age does not make someone wise; what truly makes a person wise is basing their actions on the word of God.

Elihu proved to be a respectful man and, despite his youth, very wise, because he allowed himself to be guided by Jehovah. He was a spiritual man.

10. What did Elihu do before he advised Job? (Job 33:6, 7).

Before advising Job, Elihu made sure to calm the atmosphere and prepare the ground. First, he controlled his own emotions. Although he was initially very angry, he did not allow that feeling to influence his speech and avoided using a harsh or cruel tone; rather, he spoke with kindness and affection.

Furthermore, he spoke to him with humility, acknowledging that before the true God he was equal to him. He also demonstrated that he had been listening attentively, for he summarized the main points of six of Job's speeches. Later, he did the same when giving him further advice.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Elihu made sure to calm the atmosphere and prepare the ground, controlling his emotions, for he was angry, but at no point did he speak cruelly. On the contrary, he spoke with great kindness and affection, because he saw that Job was just like him, made of the same clay. What Elihu wanted was for Job not to feel terrified or crushed by his words.

As Job 33:6 says, Elihu begins by approaching Job, telling him that he is just like him. In this way, he sets the stage: he doesn't consider himself superior to Job, but rather shows humility by saying that they are equals, which is a suitable way to begin giving advice.

In Job 32:11, Elihu says that he had been listening to Job's reasoning, and then, in verse 33:8, he tells Job, "You said in my presence..." He had listened to Job's words many times and demonstrated this by summarizing and repeating what Job had said. In this way, he made it clear to Job that the advice he was about to receive did not come from hasty conclusions, but that Elihu had listened to him to fully understand his thoughts and feelings, and, based on that understanding, could now advise him according to his needs.

Elihu was very patient with Job, because in Job 34:5 Job again says that he is right, that God has denied him justice: "I have done no wrong." Elihu could have said, "But how can you say that again?" However, in verse 35 he responds, "Are you so sure you are right that you would say, 'I am more righteous than God'?" In this way, he lovingly made him reflect, showing patience and without losing his temper.

Elihu was very angry. In fact, Job 32:2 says that he was furious with Job. However, he knew that if he wanted to accomplish anything positive with the advice he was about to give Job, he had to control his own emotions. So he first calmed himself down and then approached the matter calmly, with kindness, and with Job's best interests in mind.

Elihu was not only angry with Job for his actions against Jehovah, but, as stated in Job 32:3, he was also very angry with Job's three friends because they had not found a good way to comfort him, especially one that came from Jehovah. Therefore, he had to calm down.

11. How did Elihu advise Job? (Job 33:1).

Elihu advised Job with great respect and without humiliating him. From the beginning, he addressed him by name, which reflected closeness and consideration. Furthermore, he kindly offered Job the opportunity to respond, for he surely remembered that he himself had wanted to intervene on several occasions while Job and his acquaintances were speaking.

With kindness, he helped Job see that he should be careful with some of his arguments and reminded him of Jehovah’s qualities: his wisdom, power, justice, loyalty, and love. In this way, Elihu’s kind words made Job willing to receive further correction, this time directly from Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

When Elihu began to counsel Job, he did so with great respect, never intending to humiliate him. He addressed Job by name, which gave him value. When we are addressed by name, it makes us feel valued, something the other acquaintances had not done. Thus, we see that Elihu's intentions toward Job were very good.

The detail of calling him by name might seem minor, but social psychology experts attribute many benefits to addressing someone by name, as it reinforces personal identity, generates a sense of recognition and respect, and increases emotional connection. In this way, Elihu was preparing the ground for communicating with Job, and it's something we should emulate when addressing our dear brothers and sisters.

We see how, in Job 33:32, Elihu gave Job the opportunity to respond and speak. We observe that Job's acquaintances did not give him that same opportunity.

Thanks to Elihu’s wise counsel and the respect and compassion he showed Job, he was able to calm Job’s temper and make him more willing to accept the correction that came from Jehovah. Unlike his companions, who became instruments of Satan, Elihu allowed himself to be used by Jehovah, reflected his qualities, and helped Job correct his viewpoint without causing him further pain.

Elihu showed respect, humility, and kindness, highlighting Jehovah's qualities so that the counsel would be perceived as coming from Him.

12. How did Jehovah use the prophets to help his people, and what could the Israelites learn from Elihu’s good example?

Jehovah used prophets to teach his purpose and correct the Israelites. During the period of the Judges, he used the prophetess Deborah and the young Samuel to guide and instruct the nation. Later, in the time of the kings, he sent prophet after prophet to spiritually strengthen the people and correct those who strayed from pure worship.

By reflecting on Elihu’s good example, the Israelites could learn how to correct and counsel others. They would understand the importance of speaking with respect, humility, and kindness, of listening carefully before responding, and of basing their words on the Word of Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah used various individuals during the period of the judges, including a prophetess, Deborah, a woman. He also used Samuel, who was very young and corrected the high priest. In this way, these counselors gradually learned from Jehovah’s good example and were able to speak, act, and correct others appropriately.

Jehovah used prophets, as we see in 2 Samuel 12, during the time of King David. In this instance, Jehovah used the prophet Nathan, and as we examine the account, we see how he was able to help and guide him.

13. How can we imitate Elihu's example in encouraging our brothers?

We can imitate Elihu's example by encouraging our brothers and sisters, sharing God's will, and always basing our words on the Bible. Furthermore, when we offer advice, we should use words that encourage and build up.

We must also remember that when someone is upset or going through a difficult time, they may say things without thinking. Instead of reacting harshly, we should show understanding and speak in a caring and comforting way.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We must remember that advice should always be meant to encourage and build up our brothers and sisters. To do this, it's important to express it lovingly, in a way that encourages them, even if they are upset or don't like what we say. Our words should be encouraging, positive, and comforting.

Our advice should always be based on the word of God, and in this way we can give it a positive focus.

The article emphasizes that this is especially important for the elders in the congregation: to encourage and strengthen the brothers. Even, as 1 Thessalonians 5:14 mentions, when the brothers are not so obedient to us, or as seen in Job 6:3, when they speak rashly, even in those situations, the counsel and words should always be encouraging and comforting.

Our words and actions must be carefully chosen, because our brothers and sisters need comfort: they are already suffering, enduring hardships, calamities, or torment. Therefore, they need us to give them words that reach their hearts, soften them, and comfort them.

14, 15. How can an old man imitate Elihu?

First, she will try to understand the situation well before speaking. She will ask tactful questions and listen carefully to understand the reasons, without jumping to conclusions.

Second, he will look for positive aspects. For example, he may commend the brother for continuing to attend meetings and participate in the preaching work, helping him to see his effort and faithfulness.

And finally, when he has a complete picture of what is happening, he will use the Bible to strengthen his faith and help convince himself that Jehovah loves him.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Elihu handled this matter very well in his approach to counseling and dealing with it. When we see a brother who is depressed, the elders notice it, and the first thing they try to do is understand why he has reached that state.

What the elderly should also do is always be positive and look for aspects that they can highlight to praise the person, such as the consistency in the routine they maintain, despite going through a difficult situation.

When the elders have a complete understanding of the situation, that is, what is happening to the brother or sister, the Bible should be used to help and comfort him or her, reminding him or her that Jehovah loves him or her.

These words can help someone feel that Jehovah loves them personally, because Paul said that the Son of God loved him and gave himself up for him. These verses can be used to help someone who feels that Jehovah does not value them to understand that the ransom is a gift that affects us individually.

LET US CONTINUE LEARNING FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

16. What should we do to continue learning from the book of Job?

To continue learning from the book of Job, we must frequently review the lessons it teaches us and strive to apply them in our lives.

When we have to give advice to someone, we can remember what we learned: avoid the bad example of Job's three acquaintances and copy the good example of Elihu.

Furthermore, if it's been a while since we last read this book, we can set ourselves the goal of rereading it. This way, we'll discover that it remains as valuable today as when it was written.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Last week we saw how the book of Job helps us when we suffer, and today it offers us good ideas for giving good advice. So, to continue learning from this wonderful book, we should imitate Elihu's good example and remember it when we need to help a brother or sister in need.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What things that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did should we avoid when giving advice?

We must avoid jumping to conclusions and giving unhelpful, insensitive, or even hurtful advice. We must also avoid speaking with an air of superiority or in a condescending, sarcastic, or judgmental tone. When giving advice to someone, we shouldn't make them feel superior.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We must avoid speaking in a superior tone, saying insensitive or hurtful things, and also avoid drawing hasty conclusions because we haven't heard all the facts properly.

The three acquaintances gave long speeches, but they didn't understand Job's heart and drew hasty conclusions. This reminds us that when we give advice, we should listen carefully before speaking.

We must always base our decisions on God’s word, not on our own opinions, as they did. Furthermore, we must never give the impression that Jehovah is unreasonable or that it is impossible to please him.

How can we imitate Elihu when giving advice?

We can imitate Elihu by proclaiming God's will and basing our teachings on the Bible. Furthermore, when offering counsel to our brothers and sisters, we should use words that encourage and edify them.

Both we and the elders must remember the importance of speaking in a loving and comforting way to all brothers and sisters, including those who are upset or tend to say things without thinking when going through a difficulty.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

What we must do is control our own emotions, pay close attention to what the person or brother tells us about the problems he or she has, and treat him or her with kindness and affection.

We must be caring and loving, and avoid jumping to conclusions when giving advice. We should always ensure our advice is based on the Bible, so that we can help our brother and not make him feel worse than he already is.

We should all be careful when giving good advice, because our friendship with our brother may be at stake. But especially, elders must care for Jehovah's sheep when they truly need that loving care, so that they can feel that affection and love from Jehovah.

What should we do to continue learning from the book of Job?

To continue learning from the Book of Job, the next time we need to give someone advice, we can review the lessons this story teaches us, avoid the bad example of Job's three acquaintances, and imitate the good example of Elihu. And, if it's been a while since we've had the opportunity to read this book, we can set ourselves the goal of doing so again.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We should continue to reflect on the lessons we have learned and also set ourselves the goal of rereading the book of Job. Since the revision of the New World Translation in Spanish, it must be acknowledged that the book of Job is more understandable and easier to read. It is even available in audio format, so we can listen to it and meditate on it.