English Standard Version
Job 32:7
7I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'
Job 32:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
- New International Version (NIV)I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’
- New King James Version (NKJV)I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
- New Living Translation (NLT)I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’
Context of Job 32:7
5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. 6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: "I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.' 8But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. 9It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.
Read all of Job 32Job 32:7 word by word
אָ֭מַרְתִּי יָמִ֣ים יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ וְרֹ֥ב שָׁ֝נִ֗ים יֹדִ֥יעוּ חָכְמָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 32:7
- Job 8:8"For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
- Job 12:12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
- 1 Kings 12:6Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, "How do you advise me to answer this people?"
- Psalms 34:11Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Proverbs 1:1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
- Hebrews 5:12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Commentaries on Job 32:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Days should speak - That is, men are to be reputed wise and experienced in proportion to the time they have lived. The Easterns were remarkable for treasuring up wise sayings: indeed, the principal part of their boasted wisdom consisted in proverbs and maxims on different subjects.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7I said, Days should speak - The aged ought to speak. They have had the advantage of long observation of the course of events; they are acquainted with the sentiments of past times; they may have had an opportunity of conversing with distinguished sages, and it is to them that we look up for counsel. This was eminently in accordance with the ancient Oriental views of what is right; and it is a sentiment which accords with what is obviously proper, however…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. 4-7Elihu respected elders, following a common principle (see also 12:12; 15:10; Leviticus 19:32; 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Peter 5:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Days--that is, the aged (Job 15:10).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 32:7
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries