Proverbs 20:29 Meaning and Explanation
“The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Strength marks youth as glorious; wisdom marked by age marks old men as beautiful.
The Context of Proverbs 20:29
Proverbs acknowledges that different life seasons carry different forms of excellence and beauty.
What Does Proverbs 20:29 Mean?
Young men possess physical strength as their glory—their distinctive excellence. In youth, the body is powerful, energetic, and capable of great physical feats. This strength forms the natural beauty and glory of youth, making physical power the defining characteristic of that season of life.
Old men possess a different beauty: the grey head. Grey hair represents age and, by extension, accumulated experience and wisdom. The beauty of age is not physical strength but the dignity that comes from long life and the wisdom that age brings. Two different glories—one bodily, one moral and intellectual—mark the two seasons properly.
Proverbs 20:29 in the Original Language
'Glory' (הוֹד, hod) — splendor, dignity, or majesty; the distinctive excellence of a person or thing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Proverbs 20:29
What does Proverbs 20:29 mean?
Strength marks youth as glorious; wisdom marked by age marks old men as beautiful.
What is the context of Proverbs 20:29?
Proverbs acknowledges that different life seasons carry different forms of excellence and beauty.