The answer is: He was younger

Job 32:4

Elihu's decision to wait before sharing his thoughts might even reflect a cultural norm of respect for elders, common in Biblical times. In Job 32:4, we see an interesting dynamic at play: while respect for age is valued, emotional expertise can sometimes come from youth. Elihu, despite being younger than Job and the three friends, juggles two crucial roles in his declarations—he is both observant and brimming with youthful passion.

What’s refreshing about Elihu is his readiness to weigh in unabashedly on the discussions, indicating he had still developed a unique insight through his experiences and relationship with the divine. This young voice introduces a twist in the dialogue by suggesting that suffering might not explicitly be connected to justice or sinful behavior as the older companions had argued.

Turn your attention also to the name "Elihu," which can be interpreted to mean "He is my God." Here’s a suggestful underline that whatever our age, we can each be vessels of deeper understanding, perhaps even divine truth! That’s a thrilling notion to chew on—God isn’t hindered by our temporal experiences of ages.

Notably, throughout Job, we find echoes of profound themes prevalent in other scriptures: the paradox of suffering, the wisdom of humility, and indeed, a reminder that insights can arise from the most unlikely sources. Elihu may have appeared sidelined yet emerges as a pivotal connector to wisdom for everyone involved in testing trials of life.