King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The pride of the young is their strength; the dignity of the old is gray hair.
Berean Standard Bible:
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
American Standard Version:
The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The glory{H8597} of young men{H970} is their strength{H3581}: and the beauty{H1926} of old men{H2205} is the gray head{H7872}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 John 2:14
- I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him [that is] from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Proverbs 16:31
- ¶ The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness.
Leviticus 19:32
- Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I [am] the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23
- ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:
Jeremiah 9:24
- But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.
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Commentary for Proverbs 20:29
Proverbs 20:29 is a succinct verse that encapsulates the wisdom of the ancients regarding the different stages of life and the qualities that are esteemed within them. The verse reads, "The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head." This proverb reflects the values of ancient Israelite society, where physical strength was seen as a prime attribute of youth, particularly in a culture that often involved manual labor and the need for physical prowess in work and warfare.
In contrast, the verse highlights that with age comes a different kind of distinction, symbolized by gray hair. In the historical context of the ancient Near East, gray hair was not merely a sign of aging but a mark of honor and wisdom. It was associated with long life, experience, and the accumulation of knowledge—qualities that were highly respected in a society where the elderly were the repositories of tradition and counsel.
The themes of this verse speak to the transient nature of human life and the shifting values placed on different life stages. It acknowledges that while youth is characterized by physical vigor, old age brings its own form of beauty and dignity, rooted in the reverence for wisdom and the respect accorded to those who have lived long and learned much. This proverb, therefore, serves as a reminder of the different virtues that society should honor across the spectrum of life's journey.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8597
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תִּפְאָרָה
Transliteration: tiphʼârâh
Pronunciation: tif-aw-raw'
Description: or תִּפְאֶרֶת; from פָּאַר; ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively); beauty(-iful), bravery, comely, fair, glory(-ious), honour, majesty. - Strong's Number: H970
There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּחוּר
Transliteration: bâchûwr
Pronunciation: baw-khoor'
Description: or בָּחֻר; participle passive of בָּחַר; properly, selected, i.e. a youth (often collective); (choice) young (man), chosen, [idiom] hole. - Strong's Number: H3581
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּחַ
Transliteration: kôach
Pronunciation: ko'-akh
Description: or (Daniel 11:6) כּוֹחַ; from an unused root meaning to be firm; vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce); also (from its hardiness) a large lizard; ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth. - Strong's Number: H1926
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָדָר
Transliteration: hâdâr
Pronunciation: haw-dawr'
Description: from הָדַר; magnificence, i.e. ornament or splendor; beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty. - Strong's Number: H2205
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֵן
Transliteration: zâqên
Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator. - Strong's Number: H7872
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׂיבָה
Transliteration: sêybâh
Pronunciation: say-baw'
Description: feminine of שֵׂיב; old age; (be) gray (grey hoar,-y) hairs (head,-ed), old age.