Job 28:22

22 If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'

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 "So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
21 It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
22 If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'
23 "God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
24 He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.