Graying, or the process of hair turning gray, is a natural part of aging and is mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of wisdom, honor, and the passage of time. In the biblical context, gray hair is often associated with the experience and knowledge that come with age, and it is regarded with respect and dignity.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 16:31 · "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness."
This verse highlights the honor and respect associated with gray hair, portraying it as a "crown of glory." It suggests that living a righteous life leads to the wisdom and dignity symbolized by gray hair.

2. Proverbs 20:29 · "The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old."
Here, the contrast between the vigor of youth and the splendor of old age is drawn. While young men are celebrated for their physical strength, the elderly are honored for their gray hair, which signifies the wisdom and experience they have gained over the years.

3. Leviticus 19:32 · "You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD."
This commandment underscores the respect due to the elderly, which includes those with gray hair. It reflects the cultural and religious importance of honoring those who have lived long and gained wisdom.

4. Isaiah 46:4 · "Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you. I have done it, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you."
In this passage, God reassures His people of His constant presence and support throughout their lives, including their graying years. It emphasizes God's unchanging nature and His care for His followers as they age.

Cultural and Theological Significance:

In biblical times, gray hair was a visible sign of a person's journey through life and was often associated with the accumulation of wisdom and experience. The Bible frequently encourages respect for the elderly, recognizing the value of their insights and the lessons they can impart to younger generations.

Theologically, graying is seen as part of God's design for human life, marking the transition from the vigor of youth to the wisdom of old age. It serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of earthly life and the importance of living righteously to attain the "crown of glory" that gray hair represents.

In the broader biblical narrative, the respect for gray hair and the elderly reflects the value placed on community, continuity, and the transmission of faith and values from one generation to the next.7872. sebah -- hoary head, old age
... sib Definition hoary head, old age NASB Word Usage gray (1), gray hair (7), gray
hairs (1), gray head (1), gray-haired (1), grayheaded (1), graying years (1 ...
/hebrew/7872.htm - 6k

"The Gods that have not Made the Heavens. "
... "For are not they graven with iron? And has not the graying iron been softened
by fire? And is not the fire itself extinguished with water? ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxii the gods that have.htm

He Proceeds to Show that There is no "Variance" in the Essence of ...
... For the case is as when, the figure in the wax and in the graying of the signet
being one, the wax that has been stamped by the signet, when it is fitted again ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 8 he proceeds to.htm

How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured the Laws of the Jews to be ...
... by the great value of the materials, and the variety of its exquisite structure,
and the artificer's skill in imitating nature with graying tools, was at ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how ptolemy philadelphus.htm

Graying (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Graying (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 46:4 Even when you
are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired ...
/g/graying.htm - 6k

Graze (11 Occurrences)

/g/graze.htm - 10k

Gray-headed (4 Occurrences)
Gray-headed. Grayheaded, Gray-headed. Graying . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS). Grayheaded, Gray-headed. Graying . Reference Bible.
/g/gray-headed.htm - 7k

Figure (19 Occurrences)
... and palm-trees and open flowers, within and without," only here and in 1 Kings
6:32; 1 Kings 7:31 where the word is translated "carving" and "graying"); in the ...
/f/figure.htm - 19k

Shebna (9 Occurrences)
... Thus saith the Lord, Yahweh of hosts, Go unto this steward (Revised Version margin)
that is hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graying a habitation for ...
/s/shebna.htm - 20k

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