I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
- KJV I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
- NKJV I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
- NASB “I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom.
- NLT I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Elihu says he assumed age and many years should teach wisdom. He had expected the elders to provide the answer.
Overview
Elihu recounts his earlier conviction that those advanced in days and years ought to speak and impart wisdom. This reflects the common and largely sound assumption that age brings understanding. Yet his coming words will qualify this, showing that wisdom is not automatic with age but is granted by God, a truth that finds its fullest expression in Christ, the wisdom of God offered to young and old alike.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Prov 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- Job 12:12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
- Heb 5:12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
- Job 8:8–10Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
- Prov 1:1–4These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
- Ps 34:11–12Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 12:6–8Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 32:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.