Job 28:22

22 Even death and destruction Admit they have heard only rumors.

Job 28:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 28:22

Destruction and death say
Meaning the dead that are in the pit of destruction, the grave; not their dead bodies there, devoid of life and sense, and know not anything, but their souls; either the damned in hell, or the saints in heaven: the Targum is, the house of destruction, and the angel of death; or rather it regards such as are dead, who while alive had only a report of this wisdom; wherefore if their records and writings, or traditions handed down from them, are inquired into, the result of the information they will give concerning it will amount to no more than this:

we have heard the fame thereof with our ears;
it has been reported to us there is such wisdom, but what it is we know not; and this is all that we can say about it.

Job 28:22 In-Context

20 Where, then, is the source of wisdom? Where can we learn to understand?
21 No living creature can see it, Not even a bird in flight.
22 Even death and destruction Admit they have heard only rumors.
23 God alone knows the way, Knows the place where wisdom is found,
24 Because he sees the ends of the earth, Sees everything under the sky.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.