Proverbs 16:31

31 A crown of glory is gray hair; by a righteous life it is gained.

Proverbs 16:31 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:31

The hoary head [is] a crown of glory
Gray hairs, white locks through age are very ornamental; look very beautiful, bespeak gravity, wisdom, and prudence, and command reverence and respect; with the ancient Romans F19, greater honour was paid to age than to family or wealth; and the elder were revered by the younger next to God, and in the stead of parents; (See Gill on Leviticus 19:32); [if] it be found in the way of righteousness;
that is, if such who are old and stricken in years are like Zacharias and Elisabeth, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless; when they are found in Christ, having on his righteousness; and when they live soberly, righteously, and godly; when they walk in the ways of God and true religion; keep up family worship, and private devotion; as well as constantly attend the ministry of the word and ordinances; then are they very venerable and respectable; their old age is a good old age; and in a short time they shall have the crown of glory which fadeth not away: but otherwise a sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed; an old man in the open ways of sin and vice, laden with iniquity, is a very contemptible and shocking sight.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. A. Gell. Noct. Attic. l. 2. c. 15.

Proverbs 16:31 In-Context

29 A person of violence will entice his neighbor and cause him to walk on a way [that is] not good.
30 He who winks his eyes [does so in order] to plan perverse things; he who purses his lips will bring evil to pass.
31 A crown of glory is gray hair; by a righteous life it is gained.
32 He who is slow to anger [is] better than him who is mighty, and he who controls his spirit than him who captures a city.
33 The lot will be cast into the lap, but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.
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