Bible Strands
Job 29:8
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job recounts his former authority in the public square, describing a moment when his arrival triggered immediate physical deference from every social class present.
The words — The text highlights נְעָרִ֣ים (neʿārîm, "young men") who hid themselves and וִֽ֝ישִׁישִׁים (yiššîšîm, "old men") who rose to stand.
The thread — This cultural practice of yielding to age appears in Leviticus 19:32 and Proverbs 16:31, while the broader principle of rendering due respect is cited in Romans 13:7.
Why it lands — The passage requires readers to acknowledge that social order and leadership authority depend on visible, unforced deference rather than voluntary compliance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- 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.
- Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
- 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.”
- Proverbs 20:8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
- Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.