Old age is generally held in honour and the aged in society are to be respected. Because of the wisdom associated with their advancing years elders had an important role of authority and guidance in Israelite society and the NT speaks of the leadership of elders within the church.
Old age is to be held in honour
Respect for the aged
Leviticus 19:32; 1 Peter 5:5 See also Job 29:8; Proverbs 16:31, Proverbs 20:29; 1 Timothy 5:1
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
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.”
Respect for parents
Leviticus 19:3; Proverbs 23:22 See also Exodus 20:12, Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 27:16; Proverbs 30:17; Matthew 15:4 parallel Mark 7:10; Ephesians 6:1–3; Colossians 3:20
Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must keep My Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Old age is associated with wisdom
Deferring to the wisdom of the aged
Job 32:6–7 See also 1 Kings 12:6–8 parallel 2 Chronicles 10:6–8 Rehoboam rejected the advice of elders and rebellion ensued; Job 12:12, Job 15:10; Philemon 1:9 Paul refers to his age to add authority to his words.
So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: “I am young in years, while you are old; that is why I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.
Learning from the previous generation
Psalm 71:18 See also Job 8:8; Psalm 37:25–26
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.
Old age does not necessarily bring superior wisdom
Ecclesiastes 4:13 See also Job 32:9; Psalm 105:22
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
Showing disrespect for the elderly is a sign of evil days
Isaiah 3:5 See also Deuteronomy 28:50; Job 30:1; Isaiah 47:6; Lamentations 5:12
The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.
The role and status of elders
Elders of non-Israelite nations
Elders in Israel
Israel's elders were probably the heads of families, qualified to lead by virtue of age and experience: Exodus 3:16–18, Exodus 4:29–31, Exodus 19:7; Numbers 11:25 The number of elders is reduced to 70 who are anointed by the Spirit for leadership alongside Moses.; Deuteronomy 19:11–12, Deuteronomy 22:15–18, Deuteronomy 25:7; 2 Samuel 5:3 Israel's elders accept David as king; Matthew 26:57 parallel Mark 14:53 Jewish elders were among those who tried Jesus Christ. By NT times they had become involved with religious as well as civil affairs and their title related more to their role than to age.
Elders in the church
1 Timothy 5:17 See also 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1–2
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
God as the ``Ancient of Days''
God as one ``advanced in years''
Daniel 7:9 This description of God as the “Ancient of Days” implies that he possesses the respectability, authority and wisdom to judge that accompanies age. It also points to his eternity. See also Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:22; Revelation 1:14
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
The eternity of God
Psalm 9:7 See also Psalm 29:10, Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 44:6
But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.