The Meaning of Job 32:7 Explained

Job 32:7

KJV: I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

YLT: I said: Days do speak, And multitude of years teach wisdom.

Darby: I said, Let days speak, and multitude of years teach wisdom.

ASV: I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I said,  Days  should speak,  and multitude  of years  should teach  wisdom. 

What does Job 32:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 32:1-22 - Elihu Enters
The controversy between Job and his counselors is now at an end. They have failed in making out their case; but before God Himself takes up the argument there is another side of the case to be presented by the fervid life of a younger generation. The name Elihu means, "My God is He." He had preserved a respectful silence while his elders were speaking; but he was so conscious of the uprising of the divine that he could refrain no longer.
Elihu was greatly indignant, first with Job for not justifying God, Job 32:2; and then with his friends for their inability to cope with him, Job 32:5. But in addition to these criticisms, he has some positive contribution to make to the debate, and must needs make it. Silence is golden, but there is a time to speak. Be sure in inbreathe the Spirit of God as one long imprisoned in a close chamber inhales the breath of the salt sea. Do not speak, as John Woolman says, beyond the divine openings. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 32

1  Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends
6  Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth
11  He reproves them for not satisfying Job
16  His zeal to speak

What do the individual words in Job 32:7 mean?

I said Age should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom
אָ֭מַרְתִּי יָמִ֣ים יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ וְרֹ֥ב שָׁ֝נִ֗ים יֹדִ֥יעוּ חָכְמָֽה

אָ֭מַרְתִּי  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יָמִ֣ים  Age 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ  should  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וְרֹ֥ב  and  multitude 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
שָׁ֝נִ֗ים  of  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
יֹדִ֥יעוּ  should  teach 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
חָכְמָֽה  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.