Job 29:8

8 The young men would see me and hide themselves, and the aged would arise and stand.

Job 29:8 Meaning and Commentary

Job 29:8

The young men saw me, and hid themselves
Through a veneration of him; which was much, since young men, through a vain conceit and opinion of themselves, are apt to treat their superiors in age with slight, neglect, and contempt; or through fear, lest he should spy them, and call them to him, and examine them closely concerning their conduct and behaviour, and reprove them for their youthful follies he might have knowledge of:

and the aged arose [and] stood up;
as he passed by them, to show their respect unto him; or when he came into court, they rose up, and continued standing until he had took his seat; and even then kept the same posture, attending to his counsel and instruction, to his definitive sentence and decision of matters in debate; though they were venerable persons themselves, and such as before whom young men were to arise, ( Leviticus 19:32 ) ; and were also men of wisdom and prudence, ( Job 12:12 ) ; yet these men rose and stood up, paying a deference to Job's superior sense and judgment.

Job 29:8 In-Context

6 when I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!

7 When I went out to the gate to judgment, when I had my seat prepared in the plaza!

8 The young men would see me and hide themselves, and the aged would arise and stand.

9 The princes would refrain from talking and lay their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the principals would not be noticed, and their tongue would cleave to the roof of their mouth.