Job 32:7
New International Version
I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’

New Living Translation
I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.’

English Standard Version
I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’

Berean Standard Bible
I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

King James Bible
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

New King James Version
I said, ‘Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’

New American Standard Bible
“I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom.

NASB 1995
“I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom.

NASB 1977
“I thought age should speak, And increased years should teach wisdom.

Legacy Standard Bible
I thought age should speak, And increased years should make wisdom known.

Amplified Bible
“I thought age should speak, And a multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Christian Standard Bible
I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom.

American Standard Version
I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Contemporary English Version
I once believed age was the source of wisdom;

English Revised Version
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I thought, 'Age should speak, and experience should teach wisdom.'

Good News Translation
I told myself that you ought to speak, that you older men should share your wisdom.

International Standard Version
I thought, experience should speak; abundance of years teaches wisdom.

Majority Standard Bible
I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

NET Bible
I said to myself, 'Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.'

New Heart English Bible
I said, 'Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

Webster's Bible Translation
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

World English Bible
I said, ‘Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I said, Days speak, "" And a multitude of years teach wisdom.

Young's Literal Translation
I said: Days do speak, And multitude of years teach wisdom.

Smith's Literal Translation
I said, days shall speak, and multitude of years shall make known wisdom.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For I hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I had hoped that greater age would speak, and that a multitude of years would teach wisdom.

New American Bible
I thought, days should speak, and many years teach wisdom!

New Revised Standard Version
I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For I said, Days should speak, and the multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
For I have said, ‘days are speaking and a multitude of years teach wisdom’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I said: 'Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said, It is not time that speaks, though in many years men know wisdom:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
6So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. 7I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom. 8But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.…

Cross References
Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

1 Kings 12:6-8
Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. / They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” / But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him.

Psalm 119:100
I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.

Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Titus 2:2-3
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance. / Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good.

1 Corinthians 2:6
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

Hebrews 5:12-14
Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! / For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. / But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Proverbs 1:5
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Ecclesiastes 7:10
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

Psalm 92:14
In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,


Treasury of Scripture

I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Job 8:8-10
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: …

Job 12:12
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

1 Kings 12:6-8
And 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? …

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Advanced Age Far Increased Minds Multitude Right Speak Teach Thought Wisdom
Job 32
1. Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends
6. Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth
11. He reproves them for not satisfying Job
16. His zeal to speak














I thought
The phrase "I thought" indicates a personal reflection or assumption. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "אָמַרְתִּי" (amarti), which means "I said" or "I thought." This reflects Elihu's internal reasoning and contemplation. It suggests a moment of introspection, where Elihu is considering the natural order of things. In a conservative Christian perspective, this highlights the importance of thoughtful reflection and the humility to question one's assumptions in light of divine wisdom.

that age should speak
The term "age" refers to the expectation that those who are older possess greater wisdom due to their life experiences. The Hebrew word "יָמִים" (yamim) is often translated as "days" or "years," symbolizing the accumulation of time. In ancient cultures, elders were revered for their knowledge and understanding. This phrase underscores the biblical principle that wisdom is often associated with age, as seen in Proverbs 16:31, "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life."

and many years
"Many years" further emphasizes the concept of accumulated experience. The repetition of the idea of age reinforces the expectation that longevity should correlate with wisdom. The Hebrew "שָׁנִים רַבּוֹת" (shanim rabbot) literally means "many years," suggesting a lifetime of learning. In a conservative Christian view, this serves as a reminder of the value of lifelong learning and the respect due to those who have walked the path of faith for many years.

should teach wisdom
The phrase "should teach wisdom" implies an expectation that experience naturally imparts understanding. The Hebrew word for "teach" is "יְחַכְּמוּ" (yechakkemu), which is related to "חָכְמָה" (chokhmah), meaning "wisdom." This reflects the biblical theme that true wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge but a deep, God-given insight into life. In the context of Job, this challenges the assumption that age alone guarantees wisdom, pointing instead to the necessity of divine revelation and righteousness as the true sources of wisdom.

Verse 7. - I said; i.e. "I kept saying to myself, when the desire to interrupt came upon me." Days should speak. Age should give wisdom, and the speech of the old should be most worthy of being attended to. Elihu had been brought up in this conviction, and therefore refrained himself. And multitude of years should teach wisdom. "Old experience should attain to something of prophetic strain." "One ought to give attention," says Aristotle, "to the mere unproved assertions of wise and aged men, as much as to the actual demonstrations of others" ('Eth. Nit.,' 6:11, ad fin. comp. also Job 10:12; Job 15:10; Proverbs 16:31).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I thought
אָ֭מַרְתִּי (’ā·mar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that age
יָמִ֣ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

should speak,
יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

and many
וְרֹ֥ב (wə·rōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

years
שָׁ֝נִ֗ים (nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

should teach
יֹדִ֥יעוּ (yō·ḏî·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

wisdom.
חָכְמָֽה׃ (ḥāḵ·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom


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OT Poetry: Job 32:7 I said 'Days should speak and multitude (Jb)
Job 32:6
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