Read Job chapter 28 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
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. 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).
1 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted out of the ore.
3 Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread. Underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.
6 Sapphires come from its rocks. It has dust of gold.
7 That path no bird of prey knows, neither has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8 The proud animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.
9 He puts his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.
11 He binds the streams that they don’t trickle. The thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
12 “But where will wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
13 Man doesn’t know its price, and it isn’t found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, ‘It isn’t in me.’ The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’
15 It can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price.
16 It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention will be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it. It won’t be valued with pure gold.
20 Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?
21 Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.
22 Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’
23 “God understands its way, and he knows its place.
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole sky.
25 He establishes the force of the wind. Yes, he measures out the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.
28 To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”