יָשִׁישׁ (ya.shish)
ya.shish
aged
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word yashish describes someone who is advanced in years, functioning as both an adjective for "aged" and a noun for "old man." Its usage is remarkably narrow, appearing only four times in the entire Bible, all within the book of Job. This scarcity highlights its specific role in depicting the elder figures who engage with Job’s suffering.
Unlike other terms for age that might emphasize physical decline or wisdom, yashish simply marks the stage of life. In Job, it identifies the friends who arrive to sit with him and the younger generations who listen to his speeches. The word grounds the narrative in a concrete social reality, where age commands attention and respect, even when the elders’ advice proves inadequate.
Its exclusive appearance in Job underscores the theme of generational dialogue. The text uses this term to frame the interactions between the suffering protagonist and those around him, showing how age does not automatically guarantee insight into divine justice. The word remains a precise marker of seniority within this specific literary context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yashish simply marks someone as advanced in years. It appears only four times, all within the book of Job. This narrow usage highlights how age functions in community life. It identifies those who have lived long enough to command respect and attention.
In Job 29:8, the aged rise up when Job passes by. This gesture shows that seniority naturally draws honor from younger generations. Yet the text also reveals a tension. Wisdom does not automatically follow age, as seen in Job 15:10 where Elihu challenges the older friends.
This word reminds us that while we value experience, we must remain open to new insights. Age brings perspective, but it does not guarantee perfect understanding of God’s ways. We honor our elders while seeking truth together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ old [men]1×
- [the] aged1×
- [is] with/ aged [people]1×
- [are] aged1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָשִׁ֣ישׁ1×
- יְשִׁישִׁ֑ים1×
- וִֽ֝/ישִׁישִׁים1×
- בִּֽ/ישִׁישִׁ֥ים1×
Key Verses
-
Job 29:8
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
This verse shows the social practice where young men hide and aged men stand in respect when Job appears.
-
Job 15:10
With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older than your father.
Elihu uses this term to highlight his youth compared to the older friends, setting up his challenge to their traditional views.
-
Job 12:12
With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
This proverb connects length of days with understanding, reflecting a common cultural belief about the value of age.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yashish mean in the Bible?
Why is this word only found in Job?
Does being yashish mean someone is wise?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)
Job 4 verses
With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
Job 15:10With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older than your father.
Job 29:8The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
Job 32:6Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old. Therefore I held back, and didn’t…