New Living Translation
Job 32:9
9Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It is not the old who are wise, nor 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.
Context of Job 32:9
7I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’ 8But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice. 10So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think. 11“I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words.
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 5:5So I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they know the ways of the Lord and understand God’s laws.” But the leaders, too, as one man, had thrown off God’s yoke and broken his chains.
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
- John 7:48“Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him?
- 1 Corinthians 1:26Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
- 1 Corinthians 2:7No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.
- James 2:6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
- Job 12:20He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders.
- Ecclesiastes 4:13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all 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
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