Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom?
1 There is a knowledge of natural things. 12 But wisdom is an excellent gift of God.
Job 28:1 There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
This chapter is one of the oldest and finest pieces of natural history in the world. It is also one of the great poems of all literature. This chapter is not an argument but a meditation. Its design seems to be to show that man must accept divine providence even though he may not understand it.
Job shows that man has made surprising discoveries regarding nature, yet true wisdom is found only in the fear of the Lord. The mining of silver and gold is mentioned as an example of the skill of man. Elsewhere mining is mentioned in the OT only in Deut. 8:9, where Canaan is described as a land of iron and copper. Diodorus describes ancient mining operations thus: The shafts follow veins of quartz deep into the mountain.
Fire was used to make the stone brittle, then it was holed out by men who carried lamps. The quartz was crushed, pounded into dust, and washed until the gold remained (see Erman, Life in Ancient Egypt, p. 463 ff.). The book of Job reveals that, even in his far-off days, such arts were known (see Gen. 2:11, 12; 4:22).
Job 28:2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
Iron is mentioned here as an illustration of the skill and accomplishments of man (see on Gen. 4:22; cf. Num. 35:16; Deut. 27:5). Brass. By “brass” is meant copper or bronze (see Gen. 4:22; Ex. 25:3; 26:11). The mention of “stone,” from which it is molten, shows that the metal was extracted from ore.
This is proof that copper is intended. Brass is properly an alloy of copper and zinc and must be compounded. The alloy came into general use centuries later. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, is much older. Whenever “brass” is mentioned in the OT either copper or bronze is meant.
Job 28:3 Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
An end to the darkness. The reference still seems to be to the operations of mining, and the idea is that men delve into the darkest regions. They bring light—either artificial or the light of day—into regions that never saw light. Shadow of death. See on ch. 3:5.
Job 28:4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
Job 28:5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
From the art of mining, Job turns to the art of agriculture. The same earth that produces gold and silver and iron and copper also brings forth bread.
Job 28:6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
Job 28:7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
The one who searches for jewels and precious metals treads a path that is unseen by even a bird of keen vision.
Job 28:8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
The lion that ventures into the most dangerous places in the pursuit of prey has not dared to go where man has gone in pursuit of precious stones and gold.
Job 28:9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
Mining is still under discussion. The idea is that nothing, however difficult, not even cutting down the hardest rock, deters the miner from pursuing his work.
Job 28:10 They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
In mining, man cuts channels for the purpose of removing water that accumulates in mines. His eye is keen to observe all evidence of mineral wealth.
Job 28:11 They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
The concealed treasures, the gold and gems that are buried deep in the earth. The illustration was admirably chosen. Job’s object was to show that true wisdom was not to be found by human science or by mere investigation.
He selects a case, therefore, where man had shown the most skill and wisdom and where he had penetrated the farthest into darkness. He had driven his shaft through rocks, closed gushing fountains, and laid bare the treasures that had been buried for generations. Yet all this did not enable him to understand the operations of God’s government.
Job 28:12 But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
Job now turns to the application of his illustration. His object is to show that wisdom is not to be found in the most profound science or in the greatest accomplishments of men.
Job 28:13 No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
True wisdom comes by divine revelation.
Job 28:14 The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
The idea is that the vast depths may be investigated, but true wisdom will not be found there.
Job 28:15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
Gold is mentioned five times in vs. 15–19. Four different Hebrew words are used, to heighten the force of the figure, indicating that there is no gold of any kind that can purchase wisdom.
Job 28:16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
The word used for “gold” here is different from the word used for gold in the previous verse. Gold from Ophir was held in high estimation. On the location of Ophir see on 1 Kings 9:28. Onyx … sapphire. Semiprecious gems, probably not the stones that bear these names today.
Job 28:17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
Crystal. The Hebrew word thus translated occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It is thought to mean “glass,” and here may refer to some form of rock crystal.
Job 28:18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
Job 28:19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
Job 28:20 Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
Since wisdom cannot be mined or cannot be bought, where can it be found? This question, raised in v. 12, is repeated for emphasis. This is the basic question to which consideration is given in the chapter.
Job 28:21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
The inhabitants of neither the earth nor the air know the answer to the question. The term “all living” may, by figure, refer to the animal kingdom, thus making a balance in the text between beasts and fowl.
Job 28:22 Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
Job has spoken of the discoveries of science, but in none of them was true wisdom found. It has not been discovered in the shaft that the miner sank into the earth. It cannot be purchased with silver or gold or precious stones. Neither the birds nor the beasts know it. Now the search is taken to the confines of Destruction and Death. By personification these are represented as bringing back a vague and unsatisfying answer, “We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.”
Job 28:23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
Man has extended the investigations of science greatly beyond the limits of knowledge reached in Job’s day. He has delved into the secrets of the atom. Nevertheless, Job’s statement is as true today as when it was uttered. True wisdom comes only by divine revelation.
Job 28:24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
A picture of God’s omnipresence and omniscience. God’s vision is not limited or distorted. He sees that which man cannot see.
Job 28:25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
These, among the most uncontrollable of earth’s elements, are under the control of God. The one who weighs the winds and measures the waters is a reliable source of wisdom for mankind.
Job 28:26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
He who controls these elements is qualified to reveal truth to men, and can reveal the principles upon which His government is administered.
Job 28:27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
This verse contains an impressive array of verbs that reveal God’s relation to wisdom. He understands it and reveals it. Wisdom has no other source (see Prov. 8:22 30). Wisdom is not the result of chance. It is summed up in God, since He is the First Cause.
Job 28:28 And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
Job now points his listeners to the conclusion toward which the entire chapter has been progressing. What is wisdom? The answer is given—“The fear of the Lord.”
Proper recognition of God and submission to Him is the important factor. Humility, reverence, respect, adoration, faith—these are aspects of the wisdom that supersedes earthly knowledge.
What is understanding? The answer is equally clear—“To depart from evil.” Understanding is more than intellectual—it is ethical. It demands a standard of living. Reverence and rectitude—these are the two great requirements of God. Micah (ch. 6:8) speaks of these two-character traits as justice and mercy toward man and humility before God. Compare Matt. 22:36–40.