Job 32:9
in Job 32It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.
KJV
Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
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This verse in Job 32
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Great men are not always wise - Though wisdom may in general be looked for in them, yet it is not universally true. Great men here denote those who are distinguished for rank, age, authority. Neither do the aged understand judgment - That is, they do not always understand it. The word judgment here means right, truth. They do not always understand what is the exact truth in regard to the divine administration. This is an apology for what he was about to say, and for the fact that one so young should speak.
This site's exposition
I am young in years, while you are old
on Job 32:6-9
“I am young in years, while you are old” opens Elihu's apology. He states the rule he held, that “age should speak”, and overturns it. Henry reads the conclusion of verse 9 as true in itself and dangerous in Elihu's mouth, since it licenses the speech that follows.
This site's exposition
the elderly who understand justice
Older versions read great men here. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown render the Hebrew as old, the reading the Berean follows, and Barnes takes the word to cover rank, age and authority. Clarke says the three friends had many wise sayings yet did not understand justice.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
He shows that this inspiration is the special cause of wisdom on the basis of the fact that age does not perfectly cause wisdom. So he says, "It is not the old that are wise," as to the knowledge of divine truth, "nor the aged …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Great men are not always wise,....
Men should be preferred for their wisdom, and those that are in honour and power have most need of wisdom and have the greatest opportunity of improving in it; and yet it does not follow that great men are always wise, and therefore it is folly to subscribe to the dictates of any with an implicit faith.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Great--rather, "old" (Job 32:6). "Greater, less" for the older, the younger. judgment--what is right.
Great men are not always wise - This is a true saying, which the experience of every age and every country increasingly verifies. And it is most certain that, in the case before us, the aged did not understand judgment; they had a great many wise and good sayings, which they had collected, but showed neither wisdom nor discretion in applying them.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| רַבִּ֥ים | rabim | many [people] | H7227 → | 454 times |
| יֶחְכָּ֑מוּ | yechkamu | they are wise | H2449 → | |
| וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗ים | uzekenim | and old [people] | H2205 → | 178 times |
| יָבִ֥ינוּ | yavinu | they understand | H995 → | 170 times |
| מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
לֹֽא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
רַבִּ֥יםmany [people]
rabimH7227 →454 times
יֶחְכָּ֑מוּthey are wise
yechkamuH2449 →
וּ֝זְקֵנִ֗יםand old [people]
uzekenimH2205 →178 times
יָבִ֥ינוּthey understand
yavinuH995 →170 times
מִשְׁפָּֽט׃justice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:16
“Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
- Psalms 8:2
From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger.
- Matthew 16:17
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
- Luke 10:21–24
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them…
- 1 Corinthians 1:18–29
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Matthew 21:16
Through
Ecclesiastes 4:13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:1
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16
While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has…
- Proverbs 28:15–16
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
- Proverbs 19:1
About Job
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.