Job 28:5-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 28:1-11

Here Job shows, 1. What a great way the wit of man may go in diving into the depths of nature and seizing the riches of it, what a great deal of knowledge and wealth men may, by their ingenious and industrious searches, make themselves masters of. But does it therefore follow that men may, by their wit, comprehend the reasons why some wicked people prosper and others are punished, why some good people prosper and others are afflicted? No, by no means. The caverns of the earth may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:5

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread ,.... That is, bread corn, or corn of which bread is made particularly wheat; which falling, or being cast into the earth, rises up and brings forth fruit, and, when ground into flour, makes fine bread; and to this same original the psalmist ascribes bread, which strengthens man's heart, Psalm 104:14 . The West Indians formerly made their bread of roots of the earth, particularly one called "jucca" F2 P. Martyr, Decad 1. l. 1. ; so Caesar's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:6

The stones of it are the place of sapphires ,.... In some parts of the earth its stones are a quarry of sapphires, put here for all precious stones: this is a most excellent precious stone, of a sky colour, with golden specks, and was one of the stones in the breast plate of the high priest; and by which are represented the pavement under the feet of the God of Israel, the throne of Christ, his bowels and affections for his people, the comeliness of them, and the glory of his church in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:5

The earth, out of it cometh bread - Or the earth, ממנה mimmennah , from itself, by its own vegetative power, it sends out bread, or the corn of which bread is made. And under it is turned up as it were fire - It seems as if this referred to some combustible fossil, similar to our stone coal, which was dug up out of the earth in some places of Arabia. The Chaldee gives a translation, conformable to a very ancient opinion, which supposed the center of the earth to be a vast fire, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:6

The stones - the place of sapphires - In the language of mineralogists, the gangue, matrix, or bed in which the sapphire is found. For a description of this stone, see on Job 28:16 ; (note). Dust of gold - Or rather, gold dust. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The connection of this chapter with the preceding is somewhat obscure. Probably we are to regard Job as led to see, even while he is justifying God's ways with sinners ( Job 27:8-23 ), how many and how great are the difficulties in the way of forming a single consistent theory of the Divine action, which shall be applicable to all cases. Hence he comes to the conclusion that God is incomprehensible by man and inscrutable; and that it is only given to man to know him sufficiently for his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

Job's first parable: 3. A discourse upon true wisdom. I. THE WISDOM UNDISCOVERABLE BY HUMAN GENIUS . Among the stupendous efforts of human industry and skill with which Job was acquainted, nothing was better fitted to impress the mind with a sense of man's illimitable daring, resistless might, and wonderful success in searching out all perfection (verse 3), and brining hidden things to light (vet, 11), than the operations of the miner. These, a knowledge of which may have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:5

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread . Man's cleverness is such that he turns the earth to various uses. By tillage of its surface he causes it to produce the staff of life, bread: and by his mining operations the under part of it is turned up as fire, or rather, as by fire. Fire was used in some of the processes whereby masses of material were detached and forced to yield their treasures (see Pliny, 'Hist. Nat.,' 33.4. § 73). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:6

The stones of it are the place of sapphires . Among the rocks and stones whereof the interior of the earth is mainly composed are found gems of inestinable value, for instance, sapphires. It is doubtful whether the Hebrew sapphire ( ספיר ) was the gem which bears that name among ourselves, or the lapis lazuli. In either case it was highly esteemed, and appeared in kings' crowns ( Ezekiel 28:13 ), and in the high priest's breastplate ( Exodus 28:18 ); Job notes its high value in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:5

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread - That is, it produces food, or the materials for bread. The idea of Job seems to be, that it was proof of great wisdom and skill on the part of man that he had carried the arts of agriculture so far. The earth in producing grain, and the arts of husbandry, were illustrative of wisdom and skill, but they did not impart the wisdom about the government of God which was desired. That was reserved to be imparted more directly by God himself, Job 28:23 ff.And... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 28:1-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:5

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