Old Age

זָקֵן adj. old, abs. ז׳ Gn 19:4 + 30 times (on distinct. from vb. v. supr.); cstr. זְקַן Gn 24:2; pl. זְקֵנִים Gn 18:11 + 44 times; זְקֵנוֹת Zc 8:4; cstr. זִקְנֵי Gn 50:7 + 85 times; sf. זְקֵנַי La 1:19, זְקֵנֶיךָ Dt 21:2; 32:7, זְקֵנָיו Jos 8:33 + 3 times, זְקֵנֶיהָ Ju 8:14, זְקֵנֵינוּ Ex 10:9 Jos 9:11, זִקְנֵיכֶם Dt 5:20 + 2 times;— 1. old, of human beings, as adj. pred. Gn 18:11 (J), Jb 32:4 (ז׳ מִמֶּנּוּ לְיָמִים, in compar.), or attrib. אָב זָקֵן Gn 44:20 (J), אִישׁ ז׳ Ju 19:16, 17, 20, 22, נָבִיא ז׳ 1 K 13:11, 25, 29, מֶלֶךְ ז׳ Ec 4:13; prob. also ז׳ וּשְׂבַע ימים Gn 35:29 (P), Jb 42:17 and Gn 25:8 (P) according to 𝔊 Sam Di; cf. also Ezr 3:12. 2. usually as subst.: a. old man (or woman), b. elder; a. old man Gn 43:27 (J), Lv 19:32 (H), Dt 28:50; 32:7 (‖ אָב), 1 S 2:31, 32; 28:14 Is 47:6 Jb 12:20; 32:9 Pr 17:6; 20:29 ψ 119:100 Jo 1:2; old men and old women Zc 8:4(×2); cf. זְקַן בֵּיתוֹ Gn 24:2 (J), זִקְנֵי בֵיתוֹ 2 S 12:17; especially opp. נַעַר Ex 10:9 (E), Is 3:5; 20:4 Je 51:22 La 2:21 ψ 148:12, and in phr. מִנַּעַר וְעַד זָקֵן Gn 19:4 (J), Jos 6:21 (JE), Est 3:13; opp. ילדים 1 K 12:6, 8, 13 = 2 Ch 10:6, 8, 13; opp. בַּחוּרִים Je 31:13 Ez 9:6 Jo 3:1, cf. 2 Ch 36:17 (+ יָשֵׁשׁ) and Je 6:11 (+ מְלֵא ימים); opp. עוּל ימים Is 65:20; opp. יונקי שׁדים and עוללים Jo 2:16. b. usually pl. elders, as having authority, term techn. (100 times +); elders of a people, especially Israel Ex 3:16, 18; 12:21 (all J), 17:5, 6; 18:12; 19:7; 24:1, 9, 14 Jos 24:1 (all E), Nu 11:16(×2) (שֹׁטְרָיו), v 24, 25, 30; 16:25 Jos 7:6; 8:10; 9:11 (all JE), Dt 5:20 (‖ רָאשֵׁי שִׁבְטֵיכֶם), 27:1; 29:9 (‖ ראשׁי שׁבטיכם, שֹׁטְרֵיכֶם), 31:9, 28 Jos 8:33 (‖ שֹׁטְרִים וְשֹׁפְטָיו), 23:2 (‖ רָאשׁיו, שֹׁפְטָיו, שֹׁטְרָיו); cf. also prob. Jos 24:31 = Ju 2:7 (all D); Lv 9:1, cf. זִקְנֵי הָעֵדָה Lv 4:15 (†both P), Ju 21:16; see also 1 S 4:3; 8:4; 15:30 2 S 3:17; 5:3 = 1 Ch 11:3, 2 S 17:4, 15 1 K 8:1, 3 = 2 Ch 5:2, 4, also 1 Ch 15:25; 21:16; cf. Is 3:2 (גִּבּוֹר וְאִישׁ מִלְחָמָ֑ה שׁוֹפֵט וְנָבִיא וְקֹסֵם וְז׳), 9:14 (‖ נְשׂוּא־פָנִים, but v. prob. gloss, cf. Ew Che Di Du al.); elders of one tribe (Judah) 1 S 30:26 2 S 19:12, so of Gilead Ju 11:5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11; after the division of the kingdoms, of N. Isr. זקני הארץ 1 K 20:7 cf. v 8, also 2 K 6:32(×2), 10:1 (‖ שָׂרִים etc.) cf. v 5; under Josiah זקני יְהוּדָה 2 K 23:1 = 2 Ch 34:29; see also ז׳ הארץ Je 26:17, cf. זקני ארץ Pr 31:23, cf. La 1:19; 2:10; 4:16; 5:12, 14 (‖ שׂרים; + שַׁעַר); often in Ezek.: Ez 7:26 (‖ כהן), of Judah 8:1, of Isr. 8:11, 12; 14:1; 20:1, 3, also 9:6 (but del. Co). Exil. ז׳ הַגּוֹלָה Je 29:1 (‖ הכהנים, הנביאים); post-exile Ezr 10:8 (‖ שׂרים), poss. also Jo 1:14; elders of י׳ Is 24:23 (cf. Ex 24:1, 9), זִקְנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים 2 K 19:2 = Is 37:2, so Je 19:1 (‖ זקני העם); of other peoples, Midian Nu 22:4, 7, Moab v 7 (all E), Egypt ψ 105:22 (‖ שׂרים); of Gebal Ez 27:9; elders of a city, especially as sitting in the gate to judge Dt 19:12; 21:2 (+ שֹׁפְטֶיךָ) v 3, 4, 6, 19 (+ שַׁעַר־מְקֹמוֹ), v 20; 22:15 (+ הַשָּׁ֑עְרָה), v 16, 17, 18; 25:7 (+ הַשַּׁ֫עֲרָה), v 8, 9 (all in Dt. code, and only so therein), Ru 4:2, 4, 9, 11 (cf. שַׁעַר v 1, 11), מוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים ψ 107:32 (‖ קְהַל־עָ֑ם); Ju 8:14 (‖ שׂרים), v 16 1 S 11:3; 16:4 1 K 21:8, 11 Ezr 10:14.

† שֵׂיבָה n.f. hoary head, old age;—abs. שׂ׳ Ho 7:9 +; cstr. שֵׂיבַת Gn 44:31; sf. שֵׂיבָתִי 42:38; 44:29, etc.;— 1. grey hair, hoary head Ho 7:9 (fig.), Gn 42:38; 44:29, 31 (all J), 1 K 2:6, 9; Pr 16:31; 20:29; אִישׁ שׂ׳ Dt 32:25 (opp. יוֹנֵק); ‖ זָקֵן Lv 19:32 (H), ‖ זִקְנָה Is 46:4, + id., ψ 71:18 (in these transition to foll.); fig. of sea Jb 41:24. 2. old age, שׂ׳ טוֹבָה Gn 15:15 (JE), 25:8 (P), Ju 8:32; 1 Ch 29:28; שׂ׳ also ψ 92:15 (trees, in fig. of righteous), Ru 4:15, + 2 S 19:34 (𝔊 Ew Th Bu Kit, cf. We Dr HPS, אֶת־שֵׂיבָֽתְךָ, for אֹתְךָ).

† [בָּלָה] vb. become old and worn out (Arabic بَلِىَ, Aramaic בְּלֵי, ܒܠܴܐ, Ethiopic በልየ id.)— Qal Pf. בָּלְֽתָה Dt 8:4, בָּלוּ 29:4 +; Impf. יִבְלֶה Jb 13:28 etc.; Inf. c. sf. בְּלֹתִי Gn 18:12;—wear out (intr.), especially of garments Dt 8:4; 29:4(×2), all c. מֵעַל pregn. wear out (and fall) from upon … (hence Ne 9:21), Jos 9:13; fig. of the heavens (with sim. of garment) Is 50:9 ψ 102:27 כַּבֶּגֶד יִבְלוּ, the earth Is 51:6 כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה; the bones (through suffering) ψ 32:3; afflicted man Jb 13:28 וְהוּא כְּרָקָב יִבְלֶה (‖ כְּבֶגֶד אֲכָלוֹ עָשׁ); of an aged and decrepit woman Gn 18:12 (J) אַחֲרֵי בְלֹתִי after I am worn out. Pi. caus. of Qal. a. wear out (trans.), fig. La 3:4 בִּלָּה בְשָׂרִי וְעוֹרִי, ψ 49:15 and their form לְבַלּוֹת שְׁאוֹל is for She’ôl to consume away (others read לִבְלוֹת is for wasting away [Dr§ 204], connecting שׁ׳ with foll.), 1 Ch 17:9 לְבַלֹּתוֹ to wear it (Isr.) out (altered from לְעַנּוֹתוֹ 2 S 7:10), cf. Dn 7:25 Aramaic b. wear out by use, use to the full, Is 65:22 and the work of their hands יְבַלּוּ they shall use to the full, enjoy, Jb 21:13 they wear out their days in prosperity (Qr here יְכַלּוּ complete, which perhaps is the true reading in both passages; cf. Ex 5:13 Jb 36:11).—On בַּ֜לּוֹתִ֗י ψ 92:11, v. sub בָּלַל²" dir="rtl" >בָּלַל.

† זִקְנָה n.f. old age—זִקְנָה ψ 71:9 + 2 times; cstr. זִקְנַת 1 K 11:4; sf. זִקְנָתוֹ 1 K 15:23; זִקְנָתָ֑הּ Gn 24:36;—old age, ‖ שֵׂיבָה ψ 71:18 Is 46:4; in the time of old age לְעֵת ז׳ 1 K 11:4; 15:23 ψ 71:9; אַחֲרֵי ז׳ (i.e. after she had become old) Gn 24:36 (J).

πᾰλαιόω, aorist ἐπαλαίωσα LXX: perfect πεπαλαίωκα NT: (παλαιός):—make old, LXX:—mostly in passive, decay through lapse of time, οἱ παλαιούμενοι νεκροί Refs 5th c.BC+; πεπαλαιωμένον ἔκπτωμα βραχίονος one which is of long standing, LXX+5th c.BC+; of wine, become old, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II abrogate, cancel, [διαθήκην] NT

† זְקֻנִים n.pl.[m.] old age—בֶּן־ז׳ Gn 37:3 i.e. a late-born son; יֶלֶד ז׳ Gn 44:20 id.; (ילדה)בֵּן לִזְקֻנָיו Gn 21:2, 7 (all JE).

γηράσκω, future γηράσομαι [ᾱ] Refs 5th c.BC+; γηράσω Refs 5th c.BC+: poetry infinitive γηρᾱσέμεν Refs 4th c.BC+: aorist ἐγήρᾱσα (κατ-) Refs 5th c.BC+participle γηράσασαν (variant{γηρᾶσαν}) Refs 5th c.BC+: perfect γεγήρᾱκα Refs 5th c.BC+:—also γηράω Refs 5th c.BC+, participle γηρῶν Refs 1st c.AD+aorist 2 (as if from γήρημι or γήρᾱμι) ἐγήρα Refs 8th c.BC+; infinitive γηράναι [ᾰ] Refs 5th c.BC+, participle γηράς Refs 8th c.BC+, genitive plural [ὑπερ-] γηράντων uncertain in Refs 2nd c.AD+; also γηρείς, έντος, Refs 6th c.BC+:—middle, γηράσκομαι Refs 8th c.BC+:—passive, (ὑπερ-) γηραθείς Refs 3rd c.AD+:—grow old, and in aorist and perfect, to be so, κηρύσσων γήρασκε grew old in his office of herald, Refs 8th c.BC+; of things, ὄγχνη ἐπ᾽ ὄγχνῃ γ. Refs 8th c.BC+:—so in middle, Refs 8th c.BC+ __II causal in aorist 1 ἐγήρᾱσα, bring to old age, ἐγήρασάν με τροφῇ Refs 4th c.BC+; γηράσας πόδα (but perhaps accusative cognate) Refs 1st c.AD+

† I. כֶּ֫לַח n.m. poss. firm or rugged strength (v. √ supr.), תָּבוֹא בְכ׳ אֱלֵי־קָ֑בֶר Jb 5:26 thou shalt come in firm strength (with thy body vigorous, powers unimpaired) unto the grave; עָלֵימוֹ אָבַד כָּ֑לַח 30:2 upon whom vigour has perished.

γῆρας, τό, genitive γήραος Refs 8th c.BC+, contraction γήρᾳ Refs 5th c.BC+:—old age, γ. λυγρόν Refs 8th c.BC+; opposed to γ. λιπαρόν, Refs 8th c.BC+; γῆρας ἐκδῦναι, ἀποσείσασθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπὶ γήρως in old age, Refs 5th c.BC+; σὺν γήρᾳ, ἐν γ. βαρύς, Refs 5th c.BC+, i.e. it never wears out, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II cast skin, slough of a serpent, γῆρας ἐκδύνειν Refs 4th c.BC+; of crabs, Refs 4th c.BC+ γῆρος, τό, ={γῆρας}, not found in nominative, genitive γήρους NT+5th c.BC+; γήρεϊ variant cited in Refs 8th c.BC+

γρᾱώδης, ες, ={γραϊκός},{ἀδολεσχία} NT+3rd c.BC+: comparative -έστεροςRefs 2nd c.AD+

πᾰλαιότης, ητος, ἡ, age, π. καὶ πλῆθος ἐτῶν Refs 4th c.BC+; of seeds, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 more frequently antiquity, obsoleteness, π. γὰρ τῷ λόγῳ γ᾽ ἔνεστί τις Refs 5th c.BC+; π. γράμματος, opposed to καινότης πνεύματος, NT+1st c.BC+

ῥῠτίς, ίδος, ἡ, Aeolic dialect βρῠτίς (which see), pucker, wrinkle, Refs 5th c.BC+

† II. [גִּיל] n.[m.] circle, age, מן הילדים אשׁר כְּגִלְכֶם of the youths which are of your age Dn 1:10 (cf. Arabic جِيلٌ, Sam. גיל = Heb. דור = γενεά, Talm בן גילו one born at the same time, a contemporary).

† זֹ֫קֶן n.[m.] old age—עֵינֵי ישׂראל כָּֽבְדוּ מִזֹּ֫קֶן Gn 48:10 (E).

† יָשֵׁשׁ adj. aged, decrepit, only זָקֵן וְיָשֵׁשׁ 2 Ch 36:17.

† עָתֵק adj. Thes (ancient and so) valuable; advanced, eminent, surpassing (cf. عتيق preceding, hence surpassing, choice Lane 1947);—הוֹן ע׳ Pr 8:18 eminent wealth.

† [שֵׂיב] n.[m.] (hoary) age;—sf. שֵׂיבוֹ 1 K 14:4.