New English Translation
Job 32:7
7I said to myself, ‘Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.’
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
5But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry. 6So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: “I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know. I said to myself, ‘Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.’ 8But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand. 9It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men 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 now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors;
- Job 12:12Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
- 1 Kings 12:6King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
- Psalms 34:11Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.
- Proverbs 1:1The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
- Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.
- Hebrews 5:12For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing 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
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Commentaries