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Job 32:8-10
New English Translation
Job 32:8-10
New English Translation
8 But it is a spirit in people,
the breath[a] of the Almighty,
that makes them understand.
9 It is not the aged[b] who are wise,
nor old men who understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen[c] to me.
I, even I, will explain what I know.’
Footnotes
- Job 32:8 tn This is the word נְשָׁמָה (neshamah, “breath”); according to Gen 2:7 it was breathed into Adam to make him a living person (“soul”). With that divine impartation came this spiritual understanding. Some commentators identify the רוּחַ (ruakh) in the first line as the Spirit of God; this “breath” would then be the human spirit. Whether Elihu knew that much, however, is hard to prove.
- Job 32:9 tn The MT has “the great” or “the many,” meaning great in years according to the parallelism.
- Job 32:10 tc In most Hebrew mss this imperative is singular, and so addressed to Job. But two Hebrew mss and the versions have the plural. Elihu was probably addressing all of them.
Job 32:8-10
King James Version
Job 32:8-10
King James Version
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
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Job 32:8-10
English Standard Version
Job 32:8-10
English Standard Version
8 But it is (A)the spirit in man,
(B)the breath of the Almighty, that makes him (C)understand.
9 (D)It is not the old[a] who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
Footnotes
- Job 32:9 Hebrew many [in years]
New English Translation (NET)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.