English Standard Version
Job 32:9
9It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.
Context of Job 32:9
7I 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. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. 10Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.' 11"Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.
Read all of Job 32Job 32:9 word by word
לֹֽא־רַבִּ֥ים יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים יָבִ֥ינוּ מִשְׁפָּֽט׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 32:9
- Jeremiah 5:5I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God." But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds.
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
- John 7:48Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
- 1 Corinthians 1:26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
- James 2:6But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
- Job 12:20He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.
- Ecclesiastes 4:13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
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
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