Job 32 7

Job 32:7 kjv

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

Job 32:7 nkjv

I said, 'Age should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.'

Job 32:7 niv

I thought, 'Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.'

Job 32:7 esv

I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'

Job 32:7 nlt

I thought, 'Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.'

Job 32 verses

Job 32 7 Meaning

Elihu expresses his prior belief that seniority in age and a multitude of years spent in life's experience naturally bestow the right and capacity to speak with wisdom. He had thus deferred to Job's older friends, expecting them to deliver sound counsel, implying they possessed inherent wisdom due to their age. This verse sets the stage for Elihu's later claim that wisdom does not exclusively reside with the aged but is a gift from God through His Spirit.

Job 32 7 Context

Job 32:7 marks a turning point in the Book of Job. After Job and his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar) have exhausted their arguments, a new character, Elihu, intervenes. For 31 chapters, Elihu has remained silent, listening to the prolonged debate. In the verses immediately preceding Job 32:7 (Job 32:1-6), it is stated that Elihu's wrath was kindled against Job for justifying himself rather than God, and against the friends for failing to answer Job convincingly. This specific verse (32:7) introduces Elihu's justification for his delayed speech. He first expresses his traditional reverence for age and the assumption that wisdom is an attribute of the elders. He believed that the older men present would adequately resolve the theological and moral questions, which aligns with common ancient Near Eastern reverence for the counsel of elders and patriarchal wisdom. This statement directly anticipates his argument in the subsequent verses (Job 32:8-9) that challenge this very premise, asserting that wisdom is not inherent in age but bestowed by the Spirit of God.

Job 32 7 Word analysis

• I said, (אָמַרְתִּי - ʼāmarnû / ʼāmartî (if singular): This is ʼāmartî, the Qal perfect first person singular of אָמַר, meaning "I said." It reveals Elihu's internal thought process and expectation. It signifies a personal reflection that preceded his decision to speak. This isn't merely a stated belief but a conviction he previously held, emphasizing his prior deference.

• ‘Days (יָמִים - yāmîm): Plural of יוֹם (yôm), "day." In this context, "days" refers to the passage of time, years, and by extension, one's age or seniority. It signifies the accumulation of life experience over time, often associated with mature judgment and perspective in ancient cultures.

• should speak, (יְדַבֵּרוּ - yəḏabberū): This is the Piel imperfect third person plural of דָּבַר (dābar), "to speak." The imperfect mood here denotes a continuous or expected action – "they should speak" or "it is fitting for them to speak." The Piel stem intensifies the action, implying that the days (or the aged) should articulate profound thoughts, discuss weighty matters, or offer sound instruction.

• and multitude of years (וְרֹב שָׁנִים - və-rōḇ šānîm):

  • וְרֹב (və-rōḇ): Connective "and" (וְ) plus רֹב (rōḇ), meaning "multitude," "abundance," "great quantity." This word emphasizes not just any years, but many, numerous years.
  • שָׁנִים (šānîm): Plural of שָׁנָה (šānāh), "year." Coupled with "multitude," it reinforces the concept of advanced age and long experience, suggesting that such prolonged living inherently ought to lead to greater insight.

• should teach wisdom.’ (יוֹדִיעוּ חָכְמָה - yôḏîʿū ḥāḵmāh):

  • יוֹדִיעוּ (yôḏîʿū): This is the Hifil imperfect third person plural of יָדַע (yādaʿ), "to know." In the Hifil stem, it means "to make known," "to cause to know," or "to teach." Like "should speak," the imperfect indicates an expectation of what should result from accumulated years – the active imparting of wisdom.
  • חָכְמָה (ḥāḵmāh): Feminine noun meaning "wisdom," "skill," "prudence." This is the core subject, referring to sound judgment, understanding of life, discernment, and knowledge rooted in experience and truth.

• 'Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.': This phrase forms a classic poetic parallelism, typical of Hebrew poetry. "Days" (age) parallels "multitude of years" (advanced age), and "should speak" (express insight) parallels "should teach wisdom" (impart profound understanding). It expresses a prevalent ancient cultural assumption: that extensive life experience and the natural passage of time invariably result in a deeper, more authoritative form of wisdom, a wisdom worth listening to and learning from. It highlights the expected role of elders as mentors and sources of life guidance within the community. This was a direct, albeit traditional, expectation Elihu held regarding the discourse he just witnessed, setting up a critique of the friends' performance.

Job 32 7 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "wisdom," ḥokhmah, is broad, encompassing not only intellectual understanding but also practical skill, discernment, and spiritual insight. Elihu's use of it here likely encompasses all these aspects, expecting the elders to exhibit comprehensive insight into Job's complex situation. His polite introductory deference contrasts sharply with his subsequent direct criticism of the friends' arguments and foreshadows his bold pronouncements about God's ways. This rhetorical strategy makes his upcoming challenge to the established view of wisdom more impactful; he acknowledges the traditional honor for age before redefining the ultimate source of truth.

Job 32 7 Commentary

Job 32:7 is Elihu's respectful preamble, articulating a widely held cultural and conventional understanding that age is a fount of wisdom. He indicates that his initial deference was not out of shyness, but due to his sincere belief that the elder members present, Job's friends, would provide profound insights to resolve the suffering and theological quandaries. This verse is critical because it immediately sets the stage for Elihu to challenge this very notion in Job 32:8-9, preparing the listener for a paradigm shift from age-based wisdom to divinely-imparted wisdom. He honors the tradition while preparing to correct its limitations in the face of spiritual reality. It implies that Job's friends, despite their age, failed to demonstrate true wisdom or understanding of God's ways in their lengthy arguments. It highlights a common human error: associating wisdom solely with natural longevity rather than with a relationship with the divine.