Bible Strands
Proverbs 20:29
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Proverbs addresses a general audience with wisdom instruction, placing this maxim between a directive on a king’s preservation through loyalty (Proverbs 20:28) and a principle on corrective discipline (Proverbs 20:30).
The words — תִּפְאֶרֶת (tifʿeret) means "glory" or "splendor," and שֵׂיבָה (sēḇāh) translates as "gray hair." The text directly states that physical strength defines the young and aged appearance marks the elderly.
The thread — The link between aging and honor runs through Proverbs 16:31, which describes gray hair as a crown of glory attained on the path of righteousness, and Leviticus 19:32, which commands rising before the aged and fearing God.
Why it lands — The verse establishes a cultural reality that physical vigor belongs to youth and venerable appearance marks old age, demanding clear recognition of life stages without romanticizing either.
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 glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
Cross-references
- 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
- Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
- Leviticus 19:32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.