The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Parallel translations
- WEB Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
- BSB Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- NKJV The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.
- NASB A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.
- NLT Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.
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
Gray hair is an honorable crown when gained through a righteous life. It matters because a long life lived in godliness is worthy of honor.
Overview
This proverb dignifies old age as a crown of glory, especially when attained through righteousness. It links the honor of age to a life well-lived before God, not merely to years. Scripture commands respect for the aged and sees godly longevity as a blessing (Leviticus 19:32).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 20:29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
- Lev 19:32Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
- Prov 3:1–2My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
- Prov 17:6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
- 1 Sam 12:2–5And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
- Phlm 1:9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
- Eccl 4:13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
- Gen 47:7–10And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
- Luke 2:29–38Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
- Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
- Job 32:6–7And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
- 1 Chr 29:10–25Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 16:31 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.