Job 28:15-17 RVA

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 28:14-19

Job, having spoken of the wealth of the world, which men put such a value upon and take so much pains for, here comes to speak of another more valuable jewel, and that is, wisdom and understanding, the knowing and enjoying of God and ourselves. Those that found out all those ways and means to enrich themselves thought themselves very wise; but Job will not own theirs to be wisdom. He supposes them to gain their point, and to bring to light what they sought for (Job 28:11), and yet asks, ?Where... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:15

It cannot be gotten for gold ,.... Having in general said that there is nothing in the whole compass of the terraqueous globe, nothing that is upon the surface of the earth, or in the bowels of it, or in the vast ocean, that is an equivalent price for wisdom, Job descends to particulars, and instances first in gold, that being the most valuable of metals; the word here used for it signifies "shut up" F23 סגור συγκλεισμον , Sept. "conclusum", Tigurine version; "clausum", Bolducius. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:16

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir ,.... Which is often spoken of in Scripture as choice gold, if not the best; See Gill on Job 22:24 ; the sense is, that the gold of Ophir is not of the value of wisdom, or of the same worth with that, and so not sufficient to purchase it: with the precious onyx and sapphire: two precious stones that were in the breastplate of the high priest, of which See Gill on Exodus 28:9 ; see Gill on Exodus 28:18 , and See Gill on Exodus 28:20 ; but not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:17

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it ,.... Crystal was found in an island of the Red sea, situated before Arabia, called Neron, and in another, which from a gem found in it bears the name of Topazion, and may be thought therefore to be well known by Job; and though it is not now of so much account, it formerly was very valuable. Pliny F1 Ut supra, (Nat. Hist. l. 37.) c. 2. makes mention of a crystal vessel, sold for 150,000 sesterces, about 1250 pounds sterling; and of two crystal... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:15

It cannot be gotten for gold - Genuine religion and true happiness are not to be acquired by earthly property. Solomon made gold and silver as plentiful as the stones in Jerusalem, and had all the delights of the sons of men, and yet he was not happy; yea, he had wisdom, was the wisest of men, but he had not the wisdom of which Job speaks here, and therefore, to him, all was vanity and vexation of spirit. If Solomon, as some suppose, was the author of this book, the sentiments expressed here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:16

The gold of Ophir - Gold is five times mentioned in this and Job 28:17 ; and Job 28:19 , and four of the times in different words. I shall consider them all at once. סגור Segor , from סגר sagar , to shut up. Gold. in the mine, or shut up in the ore; native gold washed by the streams out of the mountains, etc.; unwrought gold. Job 28:16 ; 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 28:12-28

Here we come on an abrupt change. From human ingenuity and contrivance Job turns to the consideration of "wisdom"—that wisdom which has been defined as "the reason which deals with principles "(Canon Cook). "Where," he asks, "is this to be found?" It is a wholly different thing from cleverness and ingenuity. It inquires into causes and origins, into the ends and purposes of things; it seeks to solve the riddle of the universe. Perfect wisdom can, of course, only dwell with God (verse 23). Man... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:15

It cannot be gotten for gold. No amount of gold can purchase it; no, not of the purest and most refined quality ( 1 Kings 6:20 , 1 Kings 6:21 ), for it is not a thing that can be bought or sold God must grant it, and find a way of imparting it; which he certainly will not do for a sum of money. Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. If gold cannot purchase it, much less can silver—the less valuable medium of exchange. (On the weighing of silver, in sales, see Genesis... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 28:14-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:12-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:15

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