Bible Commentaries
Job 28

Introduction

Job Chapter 28

Job 28:1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold [where] they fine [it]." This is actually a continuation of the statements that Job began to make in the last lesson. Job, in this lesson, comes to the conclusion that God was beyond finding out by the human mind. Some things about God we will never know, until we are with Him in heaven. We accept Him on faith. Job was speaking of nature, above, when he spoke of silver being in a vein. Fining the gold had to do with heating it to the melting point, and skimming all of the impurities off the top. Gold and silver were discovered very early on in the history of man.

Job 28:2 "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone." Again, iron and brass are products of nature. These were things that Job had noticed, that God had provided for the use of man. Both iron and brass were plentiful in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Iron does come from the earth, and brass has to be melted out of stone.

Job 28:3 "He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death." The discovery of these metals was a tremendous breakthrough for mankind. In a sense, this does away with darkness, and brings the use of these metals to light. This was very much like death that awaited man until the Light of the world came, and gave the possibility of life to all who would accept Him.

Job 28:4 "The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; [even the waters] forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men." Where gold is found, if the people know of it, there is a flood of people coming to get some of the gold. Generally, gold is found in a very remote area, where there are not many people walking. It is generally found in, or near, a stream of water.

Job 28:5 "[As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire." Job was speaking of the treasures of the earth in all of these verses. In this particular verse, he spoke of the very food we eat coming from the earth. There is a heat in the center of the earth. About our only chance to see that, is when a volcano erupts. Someday, I am told, the heat for people’s homes could come by tapping into that heat in the center of the earth.

Job 28:6 "The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold." Gold and diamonds, many times, are found in remote areas where there had been volcanic actions. They are thought to come out of the earth in 124 something called a pipe. When the volcano erupted, it threw diamonds and gold all over the area. They settle in beds of rivers, or streams nearby.

Job 28:7 "[There is] a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:" This could be, possibly, speaking of the areas of the underground mining.

Job 28:8 "The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." This, again, could be speaking of the underground shafts that were built to mine the gold, and silver, and precious stones. Lions are in wild country, but they would not go down under the earth, because they would be afraid of getting trapped.

Job 28:9 "He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots." This could be speaking of the great trouble that man goes to, to get to the gold, and silver, or precious metals. They will actually take the top off a mountain, or drill through it, or whatever it takes, to get to the precious metals or stones.

Job 28:10 "He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing." In South America, the rivers are dredged for gold nuggets and diamonds. All of the last few verses were saying, that man would go to any extent to get the wealth of the precious stones and metals. He would not overlook anything in the search for wealth. It is such a shame that man will not spend this kind of effort to find the greatest riches of all, the LORD.

Job 28:11 "He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and [the thing that is] hid bringeth he forth to light." This could be speaking of man and all of the dams and such that he makes to control the rivers. I believe these statements that Job had made here were to show the limits that man would go to for earthly wealth and fame. He was comparing it to the very little effort man makes to find God.

Job 28:12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?" Wisdom is a gift from God, and understanding has to be given by the Holy Spirit of God. Solomon made the statement that wisdom was better than gold. It is the best thing a man can possess. When God granted Solomon one wish, Solomon’s wish was for wisdom to lead his people. The Holy Spirit of God is our Teacher and our Guide. He opens our understanding to the things of God.

Job 28:13 "Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living." Wisdom and understanding are not purchased. They are not something that a person can seek and find, as he does gold and silver. Wisdom and understanding are not physical things that can be found in the land of the living {earth}. These are spiritual things that come from God.

Job 28:14 "The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me." You could travel the world over, and go to the deepest part of the sea, and never find wisdom and understanding.

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

Job 28:16 "It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire."

Job 28:17 "The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels of fine gold." We find that not all of the money accumulated in the world, not all of the silver and gold, not even all of the precious stones of the earth can purchase wisdom and understanding. There is nothing in this life that can compare with these two precious things. God alone can give you the gift of wisdom, and only the Holy Spirit of God can quicken your understanding of spiritual things. A person who possessed these things would be rich indeed. These are not things that the world can take away. They are of God.

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

Job 28:19 "The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold." Job continued to mention things that on this earth are valued very highly. None of this compares to the value of wisdom and understanding.

Job 28:20 "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?" Job had convinced them with his words that wisdom and understanding were the most valuable things they could have. Now, he posed the question, Where do you get wisdom and understanding? I will repeat that wisdom is a gift from God, and understanding is by the Holy Spirit of God.

Job 28:21 "Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air." Physical eyes cannot see the things of God. The things of the Spirit are not discerned in the physical.

Job 28:22 "Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears." This was speaking of death of those who were never saved. They heard a glimmer of it, but it was too late.

Job 28:23 "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof." It is not for physical man to know the wisdom of God. Only God knows perfect wisdom. He is Wisdom to the utmost. Only God can give a portion of wisdom to man.

Job 28:24 "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;"

Job 28:25 "To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure." Now we are aware of some of the manifestations of the wisdom of God. Proverbs 3:19 "The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens."

Job 28:26 "When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:" This was speaking of the laws of nature that God established. He set limits on everything in and on the earth. The lightning, thunder, and the rain are all activated by the command of God.

Job 28:27 "Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out." God foreknew all things, even before the foundation of the world. God is all knowledge. He did not need another to advise Him. He spoke and all became. The universe is God’s creation. He has the right to search it, because it belongs to Him. We belong to Him, as well. He has the right to search us out, as well.

Job 28:28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding." This is the beautiful answer to the question that Job had asked. Fear, in this sense, has to do with reverence. The wisest thing any of us can do is fear God. We have understanding, when we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and turn away from all evil. Even this understanding comes by the Holy Spirit wooing us to God.

Job 28 Questions

1. What conclusion did Job come to in this lesson?

2. We accept God on ________.

3. What is meant by fining the gold?

4. Iron and brass are products of __________.

5. In all of these verses, beginning with verse 1 through verse 5 (Job 28:1-5), Job was speaking of the ___________ of the earth.

6. What is verse 9 speaking of?

7. Where are concentrations of gold and diamonds found in South America?

8. Wisdom is a gift from ________.

9. Where does understanding come from?

10. _________ said that wisdom was better than gold.

11. What was the one thing he asked God for?

12. Wisdom and understanding are not ____________.

13. What question did Job ask in Job 28:20?

14. Physical eyes cannot see the things of ______.

15. What was destruction and death speaking of in Job 28:22?

16. Job 28:24-25 manifests what?

17. Quote Proverbs 3:19.

18. The lightning, thunder, and even the rain, are all activated by what?

19. The decree, in Job 28:26, was speaking of what?

20. The universe is ________ creation.

21. Quote Job 28:28.

Verses 1-11

Job 28:1-11

Introduction

Job 28

WISDOM - THE GREATEST TREASURE AND HARDEST TO FIND

After a review of the reasons and speculations why some scholars would refer this chapter to Zophar, Hesser wrote that, "There is therefore no good reason for assigning this chapter to Zophar." This chapter is a remarkably well-planned and eloquent discussion of the wisdom that comes from God alone. The very beauty of the chapter has led some to label it, "A Choral Interlude," that somehow got incorporated into the Book of Job. Hesser also exploded that inaccuracy as follows. "The theory that this is a choral ode not closely related to Job is unacceptable, because what has disturbed Job throughout the book is the incomprehensible nature of God’s wisdom. Job trusts God and believes that He is powerful and wise. Job’s problem is that God’s wisdom is hidden from him." Thus it is seen that this chapter is most relevant and pertinent to all that Job has been saying throughout the dialogues.

What is the lesson of this chapter? Barnes answered the question thus, "The design is to show that we must acquiesce in the inscrutable dispensations of Divine Providence, without being able fully to understand them." "The chapter also teaches that wisdom is completely beyond the reach of men, unless the quest for it is carried on in the setting of the fear of the Lord.”

The chapter divisions regard: (1) "Man’s phenomenal technological triumphs in the discovery and mining of precious stones and metals (Job 28:1-11)," and (2), "That in spite of amazing achievements in scientific enterprise, men are unable either by the techniques or treasures of science to attain wisdom (Job 28:12-28)."

Job 28:1-11

MAN’S REMARKABLE SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS

"Surely there is a mine for silver,

And a place for gold which they refine.

Iron is taken out of the earth,

And copper is molten out of the stone.

Man setteth an end to darkness,

And searchest out to the farthest bound,

The stones of obscurity and thick darkness.

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn;

They are forgotten of the foot;

They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread;

And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

The stones thereof are the place of sapphires,

And it hath dust of gold.

That path no bird of prey knoweth,

Neither hath the falcon’s eye seen it.

The proud beasts have not trodden it,

Nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.

He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock;

He overturneth the mountains by the roots.

He cutteth out channels among the rocks;

And his eye seeth every precious thing.

He bindeth the streams that they trickle not;

And the thing that is hid he bringeth forth to light."

The marvelous achievements of the mining industry dominate this paragraph.

"Silver .... gold ... iron ... and copper" (Job 28:1-2). These four metals constituted the great bulk of ancient riches; and the point here regards the source of these things. "They all come from God. They were created by Him and deposited in the earth." Such hidden things as these man is able to seek out and procure.

"Man setteth an end to darkness" (Job 28:3). "This seems to be a reference to the use of lamps in the underground darkness of mines."

"He breaketh open a shaft ... they swing to and fro." (Job 28:4). This is a reference to the shaft by which men enter mines, and their swinging to and fro resulted from the primitive method of letting men down into such mines in baskets.

"The stones thereof are the place of sapphires" (Job 28:6). "It is doubtful if the gem called by the Hebrews `sapphire’ was the gem that bears that name today. It may have been lapiz lazuli."

"No bird of prey knoweth ... neither hath the falcon’s eye seen it ... the proud beasts have not trodden it" (Job 28:7-8). Birds and beasts alike are unable to travel the ways of the miner who searches out the treasures of the earth.

"He overturneth the mountains ... cutteth out channels among the rocks ... bindeth the streams that they trickle not" (Job 28:9-11). These are references to necessary mining operations, "Given as illustrations of man’s persistence through difficulties, however great, to his end - the acquisition of treasure." The mention of this here appears to have the purpose of showing that if true wisdom could be found by exploring the earth, or any other part of man’s physical environment, then he might be expected at last to find it. This thought serves to establish the principle developed in the final section of the chapter, namely, that man cannot find wisdom.

E.M. Zerr:

Job 28:1-2. A vein means a mine and to fine it means to refine it. Iron and other metals are taken from the earth and separated by fire. Likewise are the fires of affliction used to try the faith of men.

Job 28:3. These valuable materials have been deposited in the earth by some power other than man. This is proved by the fact that he has to search out through the darkness of the earth’s depths in order to find them.

Job 28:4. Just when the ground under foot had become dry, causing man to forget about the water, floods came rolling over him. It all shows the helplessness of man and the workings of God independent of man.

Job 28:5. Bread is produced by the earth, but the efforts of man are necessary to bring out that which is concealed below the surface.

Job 28:6. Gems and precious metals are stored within the coarser parts of the earth. These were not put there by man, for since he has to labor hard to get them he would not have placed them so nearly out of his own reach.

Job 28:7. In studying the several verses along in this part of the chapter we should not lose sight of Job’s main purpose. He wished to extol the wisdom of God above all other considerations. One of his methods of thought to that end was to refer to the countless items of value hidden in the earth. They are not visible to the eye, not even to that of man. The explanation of his ability to dig and find them is in the reasoning faculties by which he was led to search for them, and this ability was given to him by the Lord. This should help us understand the present verse. The path leading to these great items of value is the path of wisdom Just described, not that which can be seen with a mere physical eye such as that of a bird or beast. No, this path is unknown to the fowl or vulture because their eye cannot see it. Only the eye of widom given to man by the Lord can see that path.

Job 28:8. This verse is explained by the comments on the preceding one.

Job 28:9. He refers to man and his accomplishments in the field of mechanics. God has given man a mind by which he can reason on the laws of nature and thereby accomplish all of the deeds mentioned in the several verses of this chapter.

Job 28:10. This verse refers to the canals and ditches that man has been able to make by his knowledge of nature’s laws.

Job 28:11. This is seen in the dikes and levees that man has made.

Verses 12-22

Job 28:12-22

Job 28:12-22

WISDOM - THE MOST PRECIOUS OF ALL THINGS; IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND

"But where shall wisdom be found?

And where is the place of understanding?

Man knoweth not the price thereof,

Neither is it found in the land of the living.

The deep saith, It is not in me;

And the sea saith, It is not with me.

It cannot be gotten for gold,

Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,

With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Gold and glass cannot equal it,

Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of of fine gold.

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal.

Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it,

Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

Whence then cometh wisdom?

And where is the place of understanding?

Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living,

And kept close from the birds of the heavens.

Destruction and Death say,

We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears."

Matthew Henry’s summary of this section is: "The caverns of the earth may be discovered, but not the counsels of heaven." The previous paragraph has eloquently affirmed that wisdom cannot be discovered by searching; it cannot be purchased with gold or precious stones; and man cannot even ascertain the place where it might be found. It is no ordinary kind of wisdom that is spoken of here. "It is not the practical kind of `wisdom’ spoken of in the Book of Proverbs, but the full and complete understanding of the world and its order...There is a great gulf between human and divine wisdom." "Men can discover anything that is hidden, all but one thing, wisdom! And the irony is that all of the precious fortunes he can discover cannot purchase the one thing he needs more than anything else. That comes from God."

"Gold ... silver ... onyx ... crystal ... sapphires ...rubies ... topaz, etc." (Job 28:15-19). "This continuing list of things that are inferior to wisdom has the effect of elevating more and more the great wisdom that is from God."

"Wisdom is not a thing that may be bought or sold. God alone must grant it and find a way of imparting it, which he certainly will not do for a sum of money."

"Whence cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?" (Job 28:20). This repeats the question of Job 28:12, indicating that, " Job 28:14-19 have thrown no light on the question."

"It is hid from the eyes of all living" (Job 28:21). "Job never doubted for a moment that God was wise. What troubled him was that such wisdom was hidden from men."

E.M. Zerr:

Job 28:12-13. Job said this wisdom was not in man; that is true of man if he is not connected with God. But God has honored man with the power of reasoning that enables him to go after the useful things of earth that his fleshly eye, such as the birds and beasts have, could not have seen.

Job 28:14-15. The wisdom of God which has been graciously portioned out to man cannot be valued by the materials in the sea or the sources of precious metals.

Job 28:16-17. Not even the gold of Ophir with its famed fineness, nor the most precious gems can purchase this wisdom.

Job 28:18-19. Coral and pearls both are products of the deep sea and prized very highly for their ornamental purposes. Yet they are to be found beyond the eye of all living creatures and were finally discovered by man due to the intelligence which his Creator gave him. The wonderful beauties of nature existing far beyond the eye of all beings, speak volumes of praise for a God who operated independent of all other powers. I cannot refrain from quoting a stanza of the memorable Elegy by Gray that is directly on this point. "Full many a gem of purest ray serene, the deep, unfathomed caves of ocean bear. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert air." I will round out this line with a reference to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:28-30, which I request the reader to see.

Job 28:20-23. If such wisdom is beyond the natural faculty of man, and if it cannot be bought with all the most valued treasures of earth, from where does it come? Job asked this question and then answered it when he said God understandeth the way thereof. Yes, God is the source of all wisdom and power. He made the earth with its countless hidden treasures and then directed man to subdue it (Genesis 1:28). In order that man might be able to carry out that instruction God gave him his reasoning factulties by which he has been able to accomplish the works that have been described in this chapter. The moral of the lesson is that, after man has been able to uncover these hitherto hidden things, he should be overwhelmed with the desire to praise such a glorious Creator, and feel grateful for the honored privilege of serving him while on the earth.

Verses 23-28

Job 28:23-28

Job 28:23-28

THE GREAT SECRET OF TRUE WISDOM REVEALED

"God understandeth the way thereof,

And he knoweth the place thereof.

For he looketh to the ends of the earth,

And seeth under the whole heaven;

To make a weight for the wind:

Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.

When he made a decree for the rain,

And a way for the lightning of the thunder;

Then did he see it, and declare it;

He established it, yea, and searched it out.

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.

And to depart from evil, that is understanding."

"There is but One who possesses perfect knowledge and wisdom, that is, [~’Elohiym]." He is the omniscient, ubiquitous and omnipotent One. Infinite knowledge and understanding are His and His alone. "Any man who would travel in the direction of acquiring any portion of the true wisdom, of which only God is the possessor, must do so only as a moral and upright worshipper of the Creator." "Not only is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom, it is the chief part of it as well."

"No amount of intelligence, or cleverness, or information, or knowledge, or of worldly or scientific wisdom will be of any avail for any man unless he starts with this beginning, `The Fear of the Lord,’ (Psalms 91:10; Proverbs 1:7), building upon that as his foundation."

That foundation of true wisdom Job most certainly possessed, as the concluding chapter of this remarkable book fully reveals.

We conclude this chapter with the observation that the fear of the Lord is not merely the `beginning of wisdom,’ it also stands as the principal burden and assignment that God has laid upon all of his human children. "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

E.M. Zerr:

Job 28:20-23. If such wisdom is beyond the natural faculty of man, and if it cannot be bought with all the most valued treasures of earth, from where does it come? Job asked this question and then answered it when he said God understandeth the way thereof. Yes, God is the source of all wisdom and power. He made the earth with its countless hidden treasures and then directed man to subdue it (Genesis 1:28). In order that man might be able to carry out that instruction God gave him his reasoning factulties by which he has been able to accomplish the works that have been described in this chapter. The moral of the lesson is that, after man has been able to uncover these hitherto hidden things, he should be overwhelmed with the desire to praise such a glorious Creator, and feel grateful for the honored privilege of serving him while on the earth.

Job 28:24-28. These verses are a continuation of the thoughts in the preceding ones. The grand conclusion is in the last verse; to depart from. evil is understanding.