Job 32:6

⁴ Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

⁵ But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

⁷ I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

⁸ But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.
KJV: And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
WEB: Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
ASV: And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.
DARBY: And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are aged; wherefore I was timid, and feared to shew you what I know.
BLB: And Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, “I [am] Young in days, and you⁺ [are] aged; upon thus I shrank back, and I was afraid of declaring my knowledge to you⁺.

ÅB: Så tok da Elihu, sønn av Barak'el, busitten, til orde og sa: Jeg er ung av år, og dere er gråhårede; derfor holdt jeg meg tilbake og torde ikke uttale for dere hva jeg vet.
OTB: Så erklærte Elihu, sønn av Barakel fra Bus:
“Jeg er ung i år, og dere er gamle;
derfor var jeg blyg og avsto fra å uttrykke mine tanker.
B1930: Så tok da Elihu, sønn av Barak'el, busitten, til orde og sa: Jeg er ung av år, og I er gråhårede; derfor holdt jeg mig tilbake og torde ikke uttale for eder hvad jeg vet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Job 15:10
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
Read in context
1 Timothy 5:1
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,
Read in context
1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Read in context
Titus 2:6
In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
Read in context
1 Samuel 17:28–30
Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”
Read in context
Leviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
Read in context
Job 15:7
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
Read in context
Romans 13:7
Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Read in context