God’s Word Translation
Job 32:6
6So Elihu, son of Barachel, the descendant of Buz, replied ⌞to Job⌟, “I am young, and you are old. That’s why I refrained from speaking and was afraid to tell you what I know.
Job 32:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
- New International Version (NIV)So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid, And dared not declare my opinion to you.
Context of Job 32:6
4Elihu waited as they spoke to Job because they were older than he was. 5When Elihu saw that the three men had no further responses, he became very angry. So Elihu, son of Barachel, the descendant of Buz, replied ⌞to Job⌟, “I am young, and you are old. That’s why I refrained from speaking and was afraid to tell you what I know. 7I thought, ‘Age should speak, and experience should teach wisdom.’ 8However, there is in humans a Spirit, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
Read all of Job 32Job 32:6 word by word
וַיַּ֤עַן׀ אֱלִיה֖וּא בֶן־בַּֽרַכְאֵ֥ל הַבּוּזִ֗י וַיֹּ֫אמַ֥ר צָ֘עִ֤יר אֲנִ֣י לְ֭יָמִים וְאַתֶּ֣ם יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֖ן זָחַ֥לְתִּי וָֽאִירָ֓א׀ מֵחַוֹּ֖ת דֵּעִ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Elihuאֱלִיהוּ'ĕlîyhû 'ĕlîyhû' · ElihuH453
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Barachelבָּרַכְאֵלbârak'êl · BarachelH1292
- the Buziteבּוּזִיbûzîy · BuziteH940
- answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- youngיוֹםyôm · day: yearH3117
- youngצָעִירtsâ‛îyr tsâ‛ôr · littleH6810
- very oldיָשִׁישׁyâshîysh · agedH3453
- wherefore I was afraidזָחַלzâchal · to fearH2119
- and durstיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- not shewחָוָהchâvâh · to explainH2331
- you mine opinionדֵּעַdêa‛ · knowledgeH1843
Cross-references for Job 32:6
- Leviticus 19:32“Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people. In this way you show respect for your God. I am the Lord.
- Romans 13:7Pay everyone whatever you owe them. If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe tolls, pay them. If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone honor, honor that person.
- 1 Timothy 5:1Never use harsh words when you correct an older man, but talk to him as if he were your father. Talk to younger men as if they were your brothers,
- 1 Peter 5:5Young people, in a similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual leaders. Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the humble.
- Job 15:10Both the old and the gray-haired are among us. They are older than your father.
- Job 15:7“Were you the first human to be born? Were you delivered before the hills ⌞existed⌟?
- 1 Samuel 17:28Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard David talking to the men. Then Eliab became angry with David. “Why did you come here,” he asked him, “and with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how overconfident and headstrong you are. You came here just to see the battle.”
Commentaries on Job 32:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6I am young - How young he was, or how old they were, we cannot tell; but there was no doubt a great disparity in their ages; and among the Asiatics the youth never spoke in the presence of the elders, especially on any subject of controversy.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And Elihu - “said, I am young” Margin, few of days. The Hebrew is, “I am small (צעיר tsâ‛ı̂yr ) of days;” that is, I am inexperienced. We have no means of ascertaining his exact age, though it is evident that there was a considerable disparity between them and him. And ye are very old - ישׁישׁים yâshı̂yshiym The word used here is probably derived from the obsolete root שוש, “to be white, hoary”; and hence, to be hoary-headed, or aged; compare 2…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. 1-37Job 32:1-37:24. Speech of Elihu. 1-6. Prose (poetry begins with "I am young"). because, &c.--and because they could not prove to him that he was unrighteous.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 32:6
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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