Job 32:7

7 I said, 'Age should speak; an abundance of years should teach wisdom.'

Job 32:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 32:7

I said, days should speak
That is, men of days, of many days, who have lived many days and years in the world: man in common is but of few days, even the most that men arrive to are but few; and some indeed are very few, in comparison of whom others may be said to be men of days, or to have lived many days; and to such it belongs to speak, it is their place, nor should they be prevented or interrupted; it should be allowed them to speak, nor should they be hindered; and it is their duty to speak and instruct juniors, and all that are under them; and it might be reasonably expected, that when they speak it will be to the purpose, and to profit and edification:

and multitude of years should teach wisdom;
that is, such over whom many have passed; these it may be thought, having had an opportunity of making their observation on things, and of increasing experience, and of treasuring up a stock of knowledge, they should be very capable of, and indeed the only fit persons to teach others wisdom; either natural wisdom, or the knowledge of natural things; or divine wisdom, the knowledge of God, of his perfections and providences; and inward, spiritual, and evangelical wisdom, which lies in the knowledge of a man's self; in the knowledge of God in Christ; in the knowledge of Christ and of the Gospel of Christ, and the truths of it: this was a sentiment Elihu had entertained of ancient men, and this had restrained him from entering sooner into this debate between Job and his friends; they all being his superiors in age, and, as from thence he judged, in wisdom and knowledge also.

Job 32:7 In-Context

5 however, when Elihu saw that these three had no answer, his anger flared up.
6 Elihu the son of Barakh'el the Buzi said: "I am young, and you are old, so I held back from telling you my opinion.
7 I said, 'Age should speak; an abundance of years should teach wisdom.'
8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath from Shaddai, that gives him understanding -
9 it isn't [only] the great who are wise or the aged who know how to judge.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.