Job 28
Job 28 is part of “Third Cycle of Dialogue” (22–31) in the outline of Job.
Job 28 summary
The strain of this chapter is very unlike the rest of this book. Job forgets his sores, and all his sorrows, and talks like a philosopher or a virtuoso. Here is a great deal both of natural and moral philosophy in this discourse; but the question is, How does it come in here? Doubtless it was not merely for an amusement, or diversion from the controversy; though, if it had been only so, perhaps it would not have been much amiss.
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The strain of this chapter is very unlike the rest of this book. Job forgets his sores, and all his sorrows, and talks like a philosopher or a virtuoso. Here is a great deal both of natural and moral philosophy in this discourse; but the question is, How does it come in here? Doubtless it was not merely for an amusement, or diversion from the controversy; though, if it had been only so, perhaps it would not have been much amiss. When disputes grow hot, better lose the question than lose our temper. But this is pertinent and to the business in hand. Job and his friends had been discoursing about the dispensations of Providence towards the wicked and the righteous. Job had shown that some wicked men live and die in prosperity, while others are presently and openly arrested by the judgments of God. But, if any ask the reason why some are punished in this world and not others, they must be told it is a question that cannot be answered. The knowledge of the reasons of state in God's government of the world is kept from us, and we must neither pretend to it nor reach after it. Zophar had wished that God would show Job the "secrets of wisdom" (Job 11:6). No, says Job, "secret things belong not to us, but things revealed," Deu 29:29. And here he shows, I. Concerning worldly wealth, how industriously that is sought for and pursued by the children of men, what pains they take, what contrivances they have, and what hazards they run to get it (Job 28:1-11). II. Concerning wisdom (Job 28:12). In general, the price of it is very great; it is of inestimable value (Job 28:15-19). The place of it is very secret (Job 28:14, Job 28:20, Job 28:22). In particular, there is a wisdom which is hidden in God (Job 28:23-27) and there is a wisdom which is revealed to the children of men (Job 28:28). Our enquiries into the former must be checked, into the latter quickened, for that is it which is our concern.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Job 28 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Job's Hymn to Wisdom: Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
1The siluer surely hath his veyne, and ye gold his place, where they take it. 2Yron is taken out of the dust, and brasse is molten out of the stone. 3God putteth an end to darkenesse, and he tryeth the perfection of all things: he setteth a bond of darkenesse, and of the shadowe of death. 4The flood breaketh out against the inhabitant, and the waters forgotten of the foote, being higher then man, are gone away. 5Out of the same earth commeth bread, and vnder it, as it were fire is turned vp. 6The stones thereof are a place of saphirs, and the dust of it is golde. 7There is a path which no foule hath knowen, neyther hath the kites eye seene it. 8The lyons whelpes haue not walked it, nor the lyon passed thereby. 9He putteth his hand vpon the rockes, and ouerthroweth the mountaines by the rootes. 10He breaketh riuers in the rockes, and his eye seeth euery precious thing. 11He bindeth the floods, that they doe not ouerflowe, and the thing that is hid, bringeth he to light. 12But where is wisdome found? and where is the place of vnderstanding? 13Man knoweth not the price thereof: for it is not found in the land of the liuing. 14The depth sayth, It is not in mee: the sea also sayth, It is not with me. 15Golde shall not be giuen for it, neyther shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof. 16It shall not be valued with the wedge of golde of Ophir, nor with the precious onix, nor the saphir. 17The golde nor the chrystall shall be equall vnto it, nor the exchange shalbe for plate of fine golde. 18No mention shall be made of coral, nor of the gabish: for wisedome is more precious then pearles. 19The Topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equall vnto it, neither shall it be valued with the wedge of pure gold. 20Whence then commeth wisedome? and where is the place of vnderstanding, 21Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all the liuing, and is hid from the foules of the heauen? 22Destruction and death say, We haue heard the fame thereof with our eares. 23But God vnderstandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. 24For he beholdeth the endes of the world, and seeth all that is vnder heauen, 25To make the weight of the windes, and to weigh the waters by measure. 26When he made a decree for the rayne, and a way for the lightening of the thunders, 27Then did he see it, and counted it: he prepared it and also considered it. 28And vnto man he said, Behold, the feare of the Lord is wisedome, and to depart from euil is vnderstanding.