Proverbs 20:29
in Proverbs 20The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
KJV
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
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This verse in Proverbs 20
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThe glory of young men is their strength,.... That is the excellent thing in them, and it is to their honour when it is employed in the service of their king and country, and especially in the service of God and religion; though it does not become them to glory in it, Jer 9:23; and the beauty of old men is the gray head; an index of wisdom and prudence; see Job 12:
This site's exposition
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve
on Proverbs 20:28-30
The strength of young men and the gray hair of the old are paired as two seasons of life, each with its own honor. The last word turns hard, for "Lashes and wounds scour evil," correction that hurts on the way to doing good.
This site's exposition
gray hair is the splendor of the old
Adam Clarke notes that young men delight to show their strength, while the old wish to be known for wisdom and experience. John Gill calls the gray head a sign of wisdom and prudence. Each age has its own glory.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The exultation of young men is their strength, etc. He calls gray hair wisdom. Then indeed the cities of each are well-ordered, then the affairs of the holy Church are rightly conducted, when the stronger men apply themselves to the necessary works with their powers: …
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The glory of young men is their strength - Scarcely any young man affects to be wise, learned, etc.; but all delight to show their strength and to be reputed strong. Agility, one evidence of strength, their particularly affect; and hence their various trials of strength and fleetness in public exercises. And the beauty of old men is the gray head - They no longer affect strength and agility, but they affect wisdom, experience, prudent counsels, etc., and are fond of being reputed wise, and of having respect paid to their understanding and experience.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת | tiferet | [the] glory of | H8597 → | 51 times |
| בַּחוּרִ֣ים | bachurim | young men | H970 → | |
| כֹּחָ֑ם | kocham | [is] strength their | H3581 → | 126 times |
| וַהֲדַ֖ר | vahadar | and [the] splendor of | H1926 → | |
| זְקֵנִ֣ים | zekenim | old [people] | H2205 → | 178 times |
| שֵׂיבָֽה׃ | seivah | [is] gray hair | H7872 → |
תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת[the] glory of
tiferetH8597 →51 times
בַּחוּרִ֣יםyoung men
bachurimH970 →
כֹּחָ֑ם[is] strength their
kochamH3581 →126 times
וַהֲדַ֖רand [the] splendor of
vahadarH1926 →
זְקֵנִ֣יםold [people]
zekenimH2205 →178 times
שֵׂיבָֽה׃[is] gray hair
seivahH7872 →
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
1 John 2:14I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,…
it leads to
- Psalms 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
- 1 John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you,…
- Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to…
- John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- Psalms 119:11
Through
Leviticus 19:32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:1
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
- Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- 1 Timothy 5:1
Through
Proverbs 16:31Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
it leads to
- Leviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Leviticus 19:32
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.