I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
- Job 12:12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
- Heb 5:12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
- Job 8:8–10For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
- Prov 1:1–4The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
- Ps 34:11–12Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 12:6–8And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this 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
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.