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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:11

He bindeth the floods from overflowing - Margin, Weeping The Hebrew also is “from weeping” מבכי mı̂bekı̂y; referring to the water which trickles down the shaft of the mine. The idea is, that even the large streams which break out in such mines, the fountains and springs which the miner encounters in his operations, he so effectually restrains that they do not even trickle down or “weep” on the sides of the shaft, but it is left perfectly dry. This is necessary in opening mines of coal or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:12

But where shall wisdom be found? - That is, the full understanding of the plans of God - for this is the point of inquiry. The object of Job is to show that it is not to be found in the most profound science; by penetrating to the farthest extent of which man was capable in the earth, nor by any human investigations whatever. None of these things revealed the great plans of the Almighty in reference to his moral government, and particularly to the points which engrossed the attention of Job and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 28:9-11

Job 28:9-11. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock, &c. He digs through the hardest rocks by his obstinate labour; and undermines mountains, that he may find the treasures hid in their bowels. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks If he meets with waters in his mining, which hinder his work, he cuts a channel through the rocks to convey them away; or, if he wants water, to wash the ore, he, with incredible industry, cuts channels to bring it into the mines. And his eye seeth every... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 28:12

Job 28:12. But where shall wisdom be found? I confess that man hath one kind of wisdom, and that in a great degree, namely, to discover the works of nature, and to perform the operations of art; but as for that sublime and eminent wisdom which consists in the perfect knowledge of all God’s counsels and ways, and of the reasons of the dispensations of his providence toward good and bad men, this is far above man’s reach, and is the prerogative of God alone. Nay, and that wisdom which... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The search for true wisdom (28:1-28)At this point there is a pause in the story while the writer inserts a poem on the pricelessness of true wisdom. The poem does not state who composed it, though it could have been spoken by Job during the period of quiet that followed the last of the friends’ speeches. The theme of the poem is that, though people go to much trouble to find the riches hidden in the earth, they are not able to find the far greater riches of true wisdom.Mining is an occupation... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 28:12

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... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 28:12-21

Job 28:12-21. But where shall wisdom be found?— Job continues to give further instances of the daring and yet successful attempts of mankind, to provide themselves with every necessary and conveniency of life; such as corn for bread; (Job 28:5.) fountains of water in the dry places, where they are wanted, cut out of the hard rock; (Job 28:10.) and rapid rivers restrained within their channels to prevent the mischiefs of their overflow: Job 28:11. To which he adds again gold and sapphires, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 28:11

11. floods—"He restrains the streams from weeping"; a poetical expression for the trickling subterranean rills, which impede him; answering to the first clause of :-; so also the two latter clauses in each verse correspond. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 28:12

12. Can man discover the Divine Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden in the earth? Certainly not. Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person (Job 28:12-27) distinct from God (Job 28:23; also in Proverbs 8:23; Proverbs 8:27). The Almighty Word, Jesus Christ, we know now, is that Wisdom. The order of the world was originated and is maintained by the breathing forth (Spirit) of Wisdom, unfathomable and unpurchasable by man. In Job 28:28, the only aspect of it, which... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 28:1-28

1. Job’s discourse on God’s wisdom ch. 28Because the speech in this chapter is more soliloquy than dialogue, some scholars have concluded that someone other than Job spoke it: Zophar, Bildad, or God. One writer argued for it’s being a speech by none of the characters, but a composition by the storyteller in which he expressed his own point of view. [Note: Andersen, pp. 222-29.] The subject matter, however, is in harmony with what Job had said previously (cf. Job 9:10-11; Job 12:13; Job 17:10;... read more

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