God’s Word Translation
Job 32:7
7I thought, ‘Age should speak, and experience should 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.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
Context of Job 32:7
5When Elihu saw that the three men had no further responses, he became very angry. 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. I 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. 9People do not become wise merely because they live long. They don’t understand what justice is merely because they’re old.
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“Ask the people of past generations. Find out what their ancestors had learned.
- Job 12:12“Wisdom is with the ancient one. The one who has had many days has insight.
- 1 Kings 12:6King Rehoboam sought advice from the older leaders who had served his father Solomon while he was still alive. He asked, “What do you advise? How should I respond to these people?”
- Psalms 34:11Come, children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
- Proverbs 1:1The proverbs of Solomon, David’s son who was king of Israel, ⌞given⌟
- Proverbs 16:31Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life.
- Hebrews 5:12By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries