Job 32 9

Job 32:9 kjv

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Job 32:9 nkjv

Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.

Job 32:9 niv

It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

Job 32:9 esv

It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.

Job 32:9 nlt

Sometimes the elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.

Job 32 verses

Job 32 9 Meaning

Job 32:9 proclaims that wisdom and understanding of justice are not inherent in or guaranteed by old age alone. Instead, it asserts that genuine insight comes from a different source, implicitly setting the stage for Elihu's subsequent argument that it is the Spirit of God which imparts understanding. This verse challenges the prevalent ancient Near Eastern cultural assumption that maturity automatically equates to superior wisdom and discernment.

Job 32 9 Context

Job 32:9 occurs at a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, marking the entrance of Elihu, the fourth and youngest debater. After chapters of intense exchanges where Job and his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—have exhausted their arguments, Elihu intervenes. He has listened patiently to the entire dialogue, becoming increasingly indignant at both Job's self-righteousness and his friends' inability to provide a satisfying explanation for Job's suffering. This verse initiates Elihu's discourse (chapters 32-37), immediately challenging the common wisdom of his culture, which greatly valued the counsel of elders. He directly confronts the presupposition held by the friends (and possibly Job himself) that their age should grant their words automatic authority or superior wisdom. By asserting that "it is not the old who are wise," Elihu prepares his listeners for a fresh perspective, one he claims comes not from experience or age, but from a divine source, as explicitly stated in the preceding verse, Job 32:8, regarding "the breath of the Almighty." Historically, ancient societies placed immense respect on elders for their life experience and accumulated knowledge, making Elihu's opening statement audacious and groundbreaking within that cultural framework.

Job 32 9 Word analysis

• It is not the:
  • Implies a direct negation of a widely held assumption. This phrase sets a confrontational tone, signaling a departure from conventional thinking.
• old:
  • Hebrew: יַסְגִּיל (yasgîl) from the root meaning "to be old, aged, advanced in years."
  • Signifies individuals who have lived for a considerable period and thus, in ancient society, were typically expected to possess wisdom due to accumulated experience. Elihu directly challenges this presumption.
• who are wise,:
  • Hebrew: חָכְמָה (ḥokmâh), referring to wisdom, insight, skill, or practical sagacity.
  • The point here is that wisdom is not an automatic consequence or entitlement simply because one has many years. True wisdom originates from elsewhere.
• nor the aged:
  • Hebrew: זְקֵנִים (zəqēnîm), specifically referring to elders or old men. It reinforces the idea of advanced age. This term also carries connotations of authority and experience within a community.
• who understand:
  • Hebrew: בִּינָה (bîynah), meaning understanding, discernment, insight, or the ability to grasp the meaning of things, particularly in a deep or spiritual sense.
  • Distinguishes between mere knowledge and genuine insight.
• justice:
  • Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), meaning judgment, justice, a legal decision, an ordinance, or a custom. In the context of Job, it refers to a righteous verdict, discerning the right course of action, and comprehending the fairness or unfairness of divine or human dealings. Elihu indicates that understanding true justice (especially God's justice in Job's situation) isn't inherent to age.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "It is not the old... nor the aged": This emphatic parallelism underscores Elihu's central point, refuting both generalized "oldness" and specific "elders" as the sole arbiters of wisdom and justice. It deconstructs a societal reverence.
• "who are wise... who understand justice": These two aspects, "wisdom" and "understanding justice," represent core elements of the societal ideal often ascribed to elders. By decoupling them from age, Elihu points to a spiritual or divine source of these attributes, preparing the ground for his theological perspective which centers on God's sovereignty and righteousness. It specifically addresses the failures of Job's friends, who, despite their age, failed to wisely counsel or correctly understand God's justice in Job's case.

Job 32 9 Bonus section

While seemingly a harsh rebuke of the aged, Elihu's statement in Job 32:9 is tempered by the very next phrase (Job 32:8), where he explicitly states, "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding." This context is crucial; Elihu isn't denying the potential for wisdom in age but is asserting that any true wisdom, regardless of the person's age, ultimately stems from God's Spirit, not merely the accumulation of years. His argument shifts the focus from human capability to divine revelation. The tension with Proverbs 16:31 ("Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by walking in the way of righteousness") is resolved by understanding that righteousness (walking in God's ways) is what brings the glorious wisdom, not age alone. Elihu implies that Job's friends, despite their age, lacked this Spirit-given understanding of justice regarding Job's situation.

Job 32 9 Commentary

Job 32:9 serves as Elihu's audacious declaration that the traditional respect for age as the sole source of wisdom is insufficient, especially when confronted with the complex mysteries of divine justice. He has patiently observed the debate, recognizing that both Job's friends, steeped in conventional wisdom and punitive theology, and Job himself, entrenched in self-vindication, have missed a crucial dimension. This verse is not a disrespect for elders per se, but a radical reorientation towards the source of true wisdom. Elihu, likely a young man, critiques the intellectual staleness and limited understanding demonstrated by his elders, positing that insight into divine matters—like suffering and justice—comes not from years lived, but from the indwelling "breath of the Almighty," a spiritual discernment. This foundational statement prepares the listener for Elihu's unique contribution to the dialogue, which elevates God's sovereign power and instructional purpose behind human suffering beyond simplistic cause-and-effect retribution. It implies that spiritual understanding transcends mere human experience and intellect.