Job 28:1-11

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 28:1

Surely there is a vein for the silver ,.... Silver is mentioned first, not because the most valuable, for gold is preferable to it, as brass is to iron, and yet iron is mentioned first in Job 28:2 ; but because silver might be first known, or was first in use, especially in the coinage of money; we read of pieces of silver, or shekels of silver, in the times of Abraham, but not of any golden coin, Genesis 23:15 ; and among the old Romans silver was coined before gold F16 Plin. Nat.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:2

Iron is taken out of the earth ,.... Very easily, and in great plenty, and is more common, being in most countries, is nearer the surface of the earth, and here said to be taken "out of the dust" F24 מעפר "e pulvere", V. L. Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens. ; which, being melted in a furnace, produces iron, a metal very serviceable for various rises, and without which there is scarce any thing to be done, and therefore was with brass of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness ,.... Some understand this and what follows of God, who, by making the luminaries, has fixed the periods and revolutions of light and darkness, of day and night; or who has determined the times before appointed, for the discoveries of things in nature, as mines of gold, silver, and precious stones, how long they should lie in darkness, and then be brought to light, and who searches out the perfection of all things in nature; and makes them known to men, when he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:4

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant ,.... Or, "so that there is no inhabitant" F26 מעם גר "qui accolas non fert", Tigurine version; "dimisso accola", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "ut non sit accola", Mercerus. ; of the mine, as the miner may be said to be, who lives there continually; and, when a flood of water arises, which is an usual thing in mines, he is obliged to flee, and make haste to save his life: even the waters forgotten of the foot ; such as never... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:7

There is a path which no fowl knoweth ,.... A path made by miners to the gold, silver, brass, and iron ores; to the places where gems and precious stones lie; the way to which was never seen, and could never have been discovered by the most sharp-sighted fowl, as "the eagle" F4 עיט "ad id alludit aquiae Graecum vocabulum" αετος , Bochart. Hierozoic par. 1. l. 1. c. 9. col. 59. Broughton renders it "a kite". ; which some think is particularly intended; and the Greek word for an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:8

The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Or "upon it" F5 עליו "super eam", Schultens. ; such creatures that are exceeding fierce and cruel, hungry and voracious, eager after their prey, range here and there in pursuit of it, search every hole and corner, and rove in dens and caves of the earth; yet these never traversed such ways and paths the miners make to get out the wealth and riches of the earth. Wicked men are sometimes compared to lions, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:9

He putteth forth his hand upon the rock ,.... The discourse is carried on concerning the miner, and digger in the earth for metals and precious stones; who meeting with a rock or flint, and a ridge of them, is not discouraged, but goes to work therewith, and with his hammer in his hand lays upon the rock or flint, and beats it to pieces, and with proper instruments cuts through it; and using fire and vinegar, as Pliny F7 Nat. Hist. l. 33. c. 4. "----Montem rumpit aceto", Juvenal. Sat.... read more

Group of Brands