Job 28 Bible Commentary

28:1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, ^a and a place for gold [where] they fine [it].

(a) His purpose is to declare that man may attain in this world to various secrets of nature, but man is never able to comprehend the wisdom of God.

28:3 He setteth an end to darkness, ^b and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

(b) There is nothing but it is compassed within certain limits, and has an end, but God's wisdom.

28:4 The flood breaketh out from the ^c inhabitant; [even the waters] ^d forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

(c) Meaning, him that dwells by it.

28:5 [As for] the earth, out of it cometh ^e bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

(e) That is, come and underneath is brimstone or coal, which easily conceives fire.

28:6 The stones of it [are] the place ^f of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.

(f) He alludes to the mines and secrets of nature, which are under the earth, into which neither souls nor beasts can enter.

28:9 He putteth forth his hand upon the ^g rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

(g) After he has declared the wisdom of God in the secrets of nature he describes his power.

28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? ^h and where [is] the place of understanding?

(h) Though God's power and wisdom may be understood in earthly things, yet his heavenly wisdom cannot be attained to.

28:13 Man knoweth not ⁱ the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

(i) It is too high a thing for man to attain to in this world.

28:15 It cannot be gotten for ^k gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.

(k) It can neither be bought for gold nor precious stones, but is only the gift of God.

28:18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of ^l pearls: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies.

(l) Which was thought to be a king of precious stone.

28:21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the ^m fowls of the air.

(m) Meaning that there is no natural means by which man can attain heavenly wisdom: which he means by the souls, that fly high.

28:23 God understandeth the ⁿ way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

(n) He makes God the only author of this wisdom, and the giver of it.

28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the ^o fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.

(o) He declares that man has as much of this heavenly wisdom as he shows by fearing God and departing from evil.