Job 28:2

2 Iron is taken from the earth, and a stone dissolved, or melted, by heat, is turned into money (is turned into bronze).

Job 28:2 Meaning and Commentary

Job 28:2

Iron is taken out of the earth
Very easily, and in great plenty, and is more common, being in most countries, is nearer the surface of the earth, and here said to be taken "out of the dust" ^F24; which, being melted in a furnace, produces iron, a metal very serviceable for various rises, and without which there is scarce any thing to be done, and therefore was with brass of early invention. Tubalcain, son of Lamech, supposed to be the Vulcan of the Heathens, a worker in iron, is said to be the instructor of every artificer in brass and iron, ( Genesis 4:22 ) ;

and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone;
out of a brassy stone, called "cadmai", as Pliny says, and also out of another, as he observes ^F25, called "chalcites", found in Cyprus, where was the first invention of brass, according to him, and hence perhaps copper had its name; but it is plain from Scripture, the places before referred to, that it was invented elsewhere, and long before Cyprus was known; or a "stone melted becomes brass", see ( Deuteronomy 8:9 ) ( 33:25 ) ; of these four metals was the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision, which represented the four monarchies of the world, Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman, ( Daniel 2:30 Daniel 2:33 ) ; and to them are compared, and by them are represented many things in Scripture.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (rpem) "e pulvere", V. L. Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens.
F25 Nat. Hist. l. 34. c. 1, 2.

Job 28:2 In-Context

1 Silver hath [the] beginning of his veins (Silver hath the beginning of its veins); and a place is to gold, in which it is welled together.

2 Iron is taken from the earth, and a stone dissolved, or melted, by heat, is turned into money (is turned into bronze).

3 God hath set (a) time to darknesses, and he beholdeth the end of all things. Also a strand parteth a stone of darkness, and the shadow of death, (God hath set an end for darkness, and he beholdeth the end of all things; a stone of darkness, and the shadow of death.)

4 from the people going in pilgrimage; it parteth those hills, which the foot of a needy man forgat, and hills without (a) way. (The stream departeth from the people going in pilgrimage; it parteth those hills, which the foot of the needy forgot, and the hills be without a way.)

5 The earth, whereof bread came forth in his place, is destroyed by fire. (Though bread came forth in its place, underneath the earth is destroyed by fire.)