The name Elihu means "My God is He" — an affirmation that Yahweh alone is the true God. It is borne by several individuals in the Old Testament, most notably the young man who speaks four lengthy speeches in the Book of Job (chapters 32–37), and also by an ancestor of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1).
Elihu in Job represents a bold, Spirit-filled perspective that bridges the arguments of Job's three friends and God's final answer. He argues that God speaks through suffering and visions to discipline and purify (Job 33:14–30), and that God's greatness surpasses human comprehension. Elihu's speeches prepare the reader for the divine speech in chapters 38–41. His name — "My God is He" — suggests absolute conviction that Yahweh is sovereign over all human experience.