Ayub 29:7-8

29:7 When I went out to the city gate

and secured my seat in the public square, ¹ 

29:8 the young men would see me and step aside, ² 

and the old men would get up and remain standing;

[29:7]  ¹ sn In the public square. The area referred to here should not be thought of in terms of modern western dimensions. The wide space, plaza, or public square mentioned here is the open area in the gate complex where legal and business matters were conducted. The area could be as small as a few hundred square feet.

[29:8]  ² tn The verb means “to hide; to withdraw.” The young men out of respect would withdraw or yield the place of leadership to Job (thus the translation “step aside”). The old men would rise and remain standing until Job took his seat – a sign of respect.