Job 29:8

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;

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 my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

7 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood;

9 the princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;

10 the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.