Job 28:1-10

1 Surely there is a mine for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it.

2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and bronze is melted out of the stone.

3 He set a border unto the darkness, and unto every perfect work that he made, he placed a stone of darkness and shadow of death.

4 The river breaks forth next to the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot, that were higher than man, are gone away.

5 Land out of which bread comes forth, and underneath it shall be as if it were converted in fire.

6 A place where its stones shall be sapphires; and it shall have dust of gold.

7 A path which no fowl knows and which the vulture’s eye has never seen;

8 the young of the proud have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by it.

9 He put his hand upon the flint and overturned the mountains from the root.

10 He cut rivers out of the rocks; and his eye saw every precious thing.

Job 28:1-10 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.