What was the significance of the elders in the Old Testament?

Answer

In ancient societies, the elders were adult men, typically older, responsible for decision-making in a local village or community. While the term elder could simply refer to an older person as in Genesis 10:21, most often, a mention of “elders” was a reference to the men who led in local decision-making.

The first example of elders as community leaders is seen in Genesis 50:7: “So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt” (ESV). The “elders” (or “dignitaries,” NIV) were the leaders representing the families and community at Jacob’s funeral.

In Exodus 3:16, Moses was instructed to first inform the elders of Israel about God’s call to lead the Israelites out of Egypt: “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—appeared to me.’” Later, in Exodus 12:21, Moses gathers the elders to convey the Passover commands.

By Exodus 24, a group of 70 elders had been chosen as the governing body of Israel under Moses’ leadership. In Numbers 11, we learn of God’s specific directive for this group of leaders to assist Moses in the wilderness: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you” (verse 16).

It is evident from these and other biblical passages that elders held a leadership role from an early stage. Over time, the role of elder evolved from an informal leadership position to a specific calling from God. Elders continued to serve as local leaders throughout the Old Testament era, including during the Jews’ return to Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah.

Proverbs 31:23 emphasizes the respect shown to an elder: “Her husband is respe

Seated at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.” This verse also reveals that those called “elders” may not have always been “elderly” but were mature adult males in Jewish society. In this passage, the husband seems to be of the age at which a family is still having children.

During the New Testament period, local elders continued to lead. Additionally, the 70-member Jewish Sanhedrin helped lead the religious body of Israel. In the early church, elders became synonymous in many cases with pastors and served as the local church leaders. The elders’ role of teaching and leading is emphasized in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.