Overview
The Bible addresses old age across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Job, Ecclesiastes and Psalms. Closely related themes include Readings, Select, Barzillai, Contentment and Reverence. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Job, Jacob, Moses and Solomon.
Key Bible verses about old age
Old Testament
Genesis
And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
2 Samuel
And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? How: Heb. How many days are the years of my life
I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Job
Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. cometh in: Heb. ascendeth
And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. be clearer: Heb. shall arise above the noon-day
With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. waited: Heb. expected Job in words elder: Heb. elder for days
When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. young: Heb. few of days durst: Heb. feared
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
So Job died, being old and full of days.
Psalms
Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. when: Heb. unto old age and gray hairs thy strength: Heb. thine arm
The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. The days: Heb. As for the days of our years, in them are seventy years
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; flourishing: Heb. green
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. excellent: Heb. exalted
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, the grinders: or, the grinders fail, because they grind little
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
New Testament
Titus
That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. sober: or, vigilant
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; holiness: or, holy women false: or, one who foments strife
People in the Bible and old age
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying old age for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 15:15, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Job, Ecclesiastes and Psalms each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Job, Jacob and Moses and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Readings, Select, Barzillai, Contentment and Reverence.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about old age?
The Bible addresses old age across 39 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Job, Ecclesiastes and Psalms. Closely related themes include Readings, Select, Barzillai, Contentment and Reverence. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Job, Jacob, Moses and Solomon.
How many Bible verses are about old age?
The Bible references old age in 39 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention old age?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 15:15: “And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with old age?
Job, Jacob, Moses, Solomon and Paul.
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