Job 28:1-19

Where Can Wisdom Be Found?

1 “Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.

2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

3 Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.

4 Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

5 Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

6 Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.

7 No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it.

8 Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.

9 The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base.

10 He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.

11 He stops up ^[a] the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light.

12 But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

13 No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.

14 The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’

15 It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.

18 Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19 Topaz from Cush ^[b] cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

Job 28:1-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 28

The design of this chapter is either to show the folly of such who are very diligent in their search and pursuit after earthly things, and neglect an inquiry after that which is infinitely more valuable, true wisdom; or rather to observe, that though things the most secret, and which are hidden in the bowels of the earth, may be investigated and discovered by the sagacity and diligence of men, yet wisdom cannot, especially the wisdom of God in his providences, which are past finding out; and particularly in what concerns the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous; the reason of which men should be content to be ignorant of for the present, and be studious to possess that wisdom which is attainable, and be thankful for it, if they have it; which lies in the fear of the Lord, and a departure from evil, with which this chapter concludes. It begins with setting forth the sagacity of men in searching and finding out useful metals, and other things the earth produces; the difficulty, fatigue, and labour, that attend such a search, and the dangers they are exposed unto in it, Job 28:1-11; then it declares the unsearchableness of wisdom, its superior excellency to things the most valuable, and that it is not to be found by sea or land, or among any of the creatures, Job 28:12-22; and that God only knows its way and place, who has sought it out, prepared and declared it, Job 28:23-27; and that which he has thought fit to make known of it, and is most for his glory and the good of men, is, that it is to fear God, and depart from evil, Job 28:28.

Footnotes

• [a] Hebrew; LXX and Vulgate He searches
• [b] That is, the upper Nile region