Job 32:9

Job 32:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
• New International Version (NIV)It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.

Context of Job 32:9

7I thought age should speak, And a multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8But there is [a vital force and] a spirit [of intelligence] in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise, Nor may the elders [always] understand justice. 10Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I also will give you my opinion [about Job’s situation] and tell you plainly what I think.’ 11“You see, I waited for your words, I listened to your [wise] reasons, While you pondered and searched out what to say.

Job 32:9 word by word

לֹֽא־רַבִּ֥ים יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים יָבִ֥ינוּ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Great menרַבrab · manyH7227
• wiseחָכַםchâkam · be wiseH2449
• neither do the agedזָקֵןzâqên · oldH2205
• understandבִּיןbîyn · to understandH995
• judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941

Cross-references for Job 32:9

• Jeremiah 5:5I will go to the great [men] And speak to them, For they [must] know the way of the Lord, The ordinance of their God.” But [I found the reverse to be true, that] they too had all alike broken the yoke [of God’s law] And had burst the bonds [of obedience to Him].
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].
• John 7:48Has any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?
• 1 Corinthians 1:26Just look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many of high and noble birth.
• 1 Corinthians 2:7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom once hidden [from man, but now revealed to us by God, that wisdom] which God predestined before the ages to our glory [to lift us into the glory of His presence].
• James 2:6But you [in contrast] have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress and exploit you, and personally drag you into the courts of law?
• Job 12:20He deprives the trusted ones of speech And takes away the discernment and discretion of the aged.
• Ecclesiastes 4:13A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction and counsel (friendly reproof, warning)—

Commentaries on Job 32:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Great men are not always wise - This is a true saying, which the experience of every age and every country increasingly verifies. And it is most certain that, in the case before us, the aged did not understand judgment; they had a great many wise and good sayings, which they had collected, but showed neither wisdom nor discretion in applying them.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Great men are not always wise - Though wisdom may in general be looked for in them, yet it is not universally true. Great men here denote those who are distinguished for rank, age, authority. Neither do the aged understand judgment - That is, they do not always understand it. The word judgment here means right, truth. They do not always understand what is the exact truth in regard to the divine administration. This is an apology for what he was about to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 Elihu professes to speak by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and corrects both parties. He allowed that those who had the longest experience should speak first. But God gives wisdom as he pleases; this encouraged him to state his opinion. By attention to the word of God, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, young men may become wiser than the aged; but this wisdom will render them swift to hear, slow to speak, and disposed to give others a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9The spirit in a man might not be God's Spirit of prophecy that Elihu later mentions, as Eliphaz had done (33:14–15; 4:12–17; compare 32:18–20). This spirit might simply exist because of creation (33:4; Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Great--rather, "old" (Job 32:6). So Hebrew, in Ge 25:23. "Greater, less" for the older, the younger. judgment--what is right.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 32:9

• Old Age
• Pride
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Age
• Constrain
• Elihu
• Understanding
• Age; Old Age
• Elihu (2)
• Job, Book of
• Wisdom

Commentaries on Job 32

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings