Old Age

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningGenesis 15:15Genesis 47:9Deuteronomy 34:72 Samuel 19:34–371 Chronicles 29:28Job 5:26Job 11:17Job 12:12Job 32:4–9Job 42:17Psalms 71:9Psalms 71:18Psalms 90:10Psalms 92:14Psalms 148:12Psalms 148:13Proverbs 16:31Ecclesiastes 6:3Ecclesiastes 6:6Ecclesiastes 12:1–7
• See Longevity
• See Infirmities

The passages, in Bible order (25)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 15:15

   You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 15:152 voices

   “The former helps to take off the terror of death, the latter puts comfort into it. Thou shalt be buried in a good old age - Perhaps mention is made of his burial here, where the land of Canaan is promised him, because a burying-place was the first possession he had in it.

   “Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace - This verse strongly implies the immortality of the soul, and a state of separate existence. He was gathered to his fathers - introduced into the place where separate spirits are kept, waiting for the general resurrection. Two things seem to be distinctly marked here: 1. The soul of Abram should be introduced among the assembly of the first-born; Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 15:15→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 47:9

   “My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 47:91 voice

   “The days of the years of my pilgrimage - מגורי megurai, of my sojourning or wandering. Jacob had always lived a migratory or wandering life, in different parts of Canaan, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, scarcely ever at rest; and in the places where he lived longest, always exposed to the fatigues of the field and the desert. Our word pilgrim comes from the French pelerin and pelegrin, which are corrupted from the Latin peregrinus, an alien, stranger, or foreigner, from the adverb peregre, abroad, not at home.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 47:9→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Deuteronomy 34:7

   Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished.

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 2 Samuel 19:34–37

   But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 1 Chronicles 29:28

   He died at a ripe old age, full of years, riches, and honor, and his son Solomon reigned in his place.

   ›Commentary on 1 Chronicles 29:282 voices

   “And he died in a good old age,.... Being seventy years of age: full of days, riches, and honour; had as much of either of them as he could wish for; and having enough, he sought after, and was taken to the possession of, eternal life, durable riches, and honours, and glory, that fade not away: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead; in full power and authority.

   “And he died - David, at his death, had every thing that his heart could wish. 1. A good old age, having lived as long as living could be desirable, and having in the main enjoyed good health. 2. Full of days; having lived till he saw every thing that he lived for either accomplished or in a state of forwardness. 3. Full of riches; witness the immense sums left for the temple.

   Everything gathered on 1 Chronicles 29:28→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Job 5:26

   You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.

   ›Commentary on Job 5:262 voices

   “WE DO NOT BELIEVE all that Job’s friends said. They spoke very often as uninspired men, for we find them saying many things that are not true; and if we read the book of Job through, we might say with regard to them, “miserable comforters are ye all,” for they did not speak concerning God’s servant, Job, the thing that was right.

   “Thou shalt come to thy grave in fulness, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. For what is denoted by the name of the grave, saving a life of contemplation? which as it were buries us, dead to this world, in that it hides us in the interior world away from all earthly desires. For they being dead to the exterior life, were also buried by contemplation, to whom Paul said, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

   Everything gathered on Job 5:26→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Job 11:17

   Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

   Verse page →Original language →

8. Job 12:12

   Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

   ›Commentary on Job 12:122 voices

   “With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days understanding. For these sayings are set fast in the root of wisdom, which by continuance in living, are also made strong by the practice of deeds. But because there are many to whom at once longer life is given, and yet no grace of wisdom vouchsafed, it is further shewn with propriety on whose decision the gifts themselves depend.

   “With the ancient is wisdom - Men who have lived in those primitive times, when the great facts of nature were recent, such as the creation, fall, flood, confusion of tongues, migration of families, and consequent settlement of nations, had much knowledge from those facts; and their length of days - the many hundreds of years to which they lived, gave them such an opportunity of accumulating wisdom by experience, that they are deservedly considered as oracles.

   Everything gathered on Job 12:12→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. Job 32:4–9

   Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

   ›Commentary on Job 32:4–92 voices

   “Elihu therefore waited while Job was speaking, because they who were speaking were his elders. But when he had seen that the three were not able to answer, he was very wroth. Though Holy Church is unquestionably older than her adversaries, (for they went forth from her, not she from them, as is said of them by John, They went out from us, but they were not of us,) yet Eliu is properly described as having been younger than these same adversaries.

   “Now Elihu had waited - Margin, as in Hebrew, expected Job in words. The meaning is plain, that he had waited until all who were older than himself had spoken. Because they were elder than he - Margin, as in Hebrew, older for days. It appears that they were all older than he was. We have no means of determining their respective ages, though it would seem probable that Eliphaz was the oldest of the three friends, as he uniformly spoke first.

   Everything gathered on Job 32:4–9→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. Job 42:17

    And so Job died, old and full of years.

    ›Commentary on Job 42:172 voices

    “We are to understand that this prosperity lasted until his death, and so the text says, "and he died an old man," which expresses his duration of life, "and full of days," which expresses the prosperity of his life. He indicated his adversity already when …

    “So Job died, being old and full of days - Having filled up the ordinary term of human life at that period of the world. He reached an honored old age, and when he died was not prematurely cut down. He was “regarded” as an old man.

    Everything gathered on Job 42:17→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. Psalms 71:9

    Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 71:92 voices

    “Cast me not off in the time of old age. David was not tired of his Master, and his only fear was lest his Master should be tired of him. The Amalekite in the Bible history left his Egyptian servant to famish when he grew old and sick, but not so the Lord of saints; even to hoar hairs he bears and carries us. Alas for us, if we were abandoned by our God, as many a courtier has been by his prince!

    “The fourth judgment of God is the judgment of abandonment, namely when God abandons man and exposes him to every temptation and sin. "When my strength shall fail, do not forsake me, O Lord. Depart not from me." It is a great peril when a …

    Everything gathered on Psalms 71:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. Psalms 71:18

    Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 71:182 voices

    “Now also when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not. There is something touching in the sight of hair whitened with the snows of many a winter: the old and faithful soldier receives consideration from his king, the venerable servant is beloved by his master. When our infirmities multiply, we may, with confidence, expect enlarged privileges in the world of grace, to make up for our narrowing range in the field of nature. Nothing shall make God forsake those who have not forsaken him.

    Hear now also the Son's statements about the Father: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." He speaks of himself likewise to the Father in the psalm: "Forsake me not, until I have declared the might of your arm to all the generations that are to come." Also with the same substance in another psalm: "O Lord, how many are they that trouble me!"

    Everything gathered on Psalms 71:18→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. Psalms 90:10

    The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 90:101 voice

    “Threescore years and ten - See the note on the title of this Psalm 90 (note). This Psalm could not have been written by Moses, because the term of human life was much more extended when he flourished than eighty years at the most. Even in David’s time many lived one hundred years, and the author of Ecclesiasticus, who lived after the captivity, fixed this term at one hundred years at the most (Sirach 18:9); but this was merely a general average, for even in our country we have many who exceed a hundred years.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 90:10→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. Psalms 92:14

    In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

    ›Commentary on Psalms 92:141 voice

    “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age. Nature decays but grace thrives. Fruit, as far as nature is concerned, belongs to days of vigour; but in the garden of grace, when plants are weak in themselves, they become strong in the Lord, and abound in fruit acceptable with God.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 92:14→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. Psalms 148:12

    young men and maidens, old and young together.

    Verse page →Original language →

16. Psalms 148:13

    Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

    ›Commentary on Psalms 148:131 voice

    “Let them praise the name of the Lord. All that is contained in the name or character of Jehovah is worthy of praise, and all the objects of his creating care will be too few to set it forth in its completeness. For his name alone is excellent. It alone deserves to be exalted in praise, for alone it is exalted in worth. There is none like unto the Lord, none that for a moment can be compared unto him. His unique name should have a monopoly of praise.

    Everything gathered on Psalms 148:13→

    Verse page →Original language →