Job 28:5

5 [As for the] earth, from it comes food, but underneath it, it is turned up as [by] fire.

Job 28:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 28:5

[As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread
That is, bread corn, or corn of which bread is made particularly wheat; which falling, or being cast into the earth, rises up and brings forth fruit, and, when ground into flour, makes fine bread; and to this same original the psalmist ascribes bread, which strengthens man's heart, ( Psalms 104:14 Psalms 104:15 ) . The West Indians formerly made their bread of roots of the earth, particularly one called "jucca" ^F2; so Caesar's soldiers in distress made bread of a root called "chara", steeped in milk ^F3:

and under it is turned up as it were fire;
coal, which is fuel for fire; for, as in the earth are mines for gold and silver, iron and brass, out of which they are dug, or the ore of them, so there is coal under the earth; which, when turned up, or dug, is taken for firing; or brimstone, or sulphureous matter, which is easily inflammable; and sometimes the same earth, the surface of which is covered with corn, out of which bread cometh, underneath are coal, or sulphur, and such like combustible matter: some think precious stones are meant, which glitter and sparkle like fire; see ( Ezekiel 28:14 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 P. Martyr, Decad 1. l. 1.
F3 Caesar. Comment. Bell. Civil. l. 3. c. 48.

Job 28:5 In-Context

3 He puts an end to darkness, and he searches out the farthest limits [for the] ore [in] gloom and deep shadow.

4 He breaks open a mine shaft {away from where people dwell}; [those] who are forgotten {by travelers}, they dangle, they sway [far away] from human beings.

5 [As for the] earth, from it comes food, but underneath it, it is turned up as [by] fire.

6 Its stones [are the] place of sapphire, and [the] earthen dirt {has} gold.

7 "[It is] a path a bird of prey does not know and [the] black kite's eye has not seen.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "bread"
• [b] Hebrew "and"