Job 28:6

6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.

Job 28:6 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold.
The Message Bible (MSG)
6 Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
American Standard Version (ASV)
6 The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, And it hath dust of gold.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 That place's stones are sapphire. Its dust contains gold.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 Its rocks are a source of sapphire, containing flecks of gold.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
6 Sapphires are taken from its rocks. Its dust contains nuggets of gold.

Job 28:6 Meaning and Commentary

Job 28:6

The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires
In some parts of the earth its stones are a quarry of sapphires, put here for all precious stones: this is a most excellent precious stone, of a sky colour, with golden specks, and was one of the stones in the breast plate of the high priest; and by which are represented the pavement under the feet of the God of Israel, the throne of Christ, his bowels and affections for his people, the comeliness of them, and the glory of his church in the latter day, ( Exodus 24:10 ) ( 28:18 ) ( Ezekiel 1:26 ) ( Song of Solomon 5:14 ) ( Lamentations 4:7 ) ( Isaiah 54:11 ) ;

and it hath dust of gold;
some parts of the earth abound with the dust of gold; its dust is gold, or it hath gold as plenty as dust; though some think this refers to the sapphire in the preceding clause, which, as Pliny says F4, has "pulvis aureus", dust of gold, in it, and shines and sparkles with golden points, or specks; and so say other writers {e}; but the word used rather signifies clods, lumps, masses of gold, which better agree with the earth; and, besides, no very good reason can be given why there should be such a particular description of the sapphire; whereas the earth is the original of that, and of all the other things before spoken of.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 9.
F5 Ruaeus de Gemmis, l. 2. c. 2.

Job 28:6 In-Context

4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 16; Song of Songs 5:14; Isaiah 54:11
  • 2. S Job 22:24
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