I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
Parallel translations
- KJV I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
- BSB I thought that age should speak, and many 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 by a life of righteousness.
- Job 12:12With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
- Heb 5:12For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.
- Job 8:8–10“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
- Prov 1:1–4The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
- Ps 34:11–12Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
- 1 Kgs 12:6–8King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, “What counsel do you give me to answer these people?”
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
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