Job 28:16-19 NKJV

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 28:16

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:18

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls ,.... Coral is a marine plant, is as hard as a stone, and of such value as to be reckoned among precious stones; See Gill on Ezekiel 27:16 . In Arabia Felix, on the shore of the Red sea, is a place called Coralia F14 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 6. c. 28. ; it may be from coral found there. Pearls are from shellfish taken out of the sea, though these seem rather intended in the next clause: the words "ramoth" and "gabish" are left untranslated... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:19

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it ,.... Not Ethiopia Abyssinia, or that which lies beyond Egypt in Africa; for, as Ludolphus F24 Hist. Ethiop. l. 1. c. 7. says, there are no gems found there, or very rarely; but Cush, as the word is, or Arabia Chusaea, the same with the country of Midian, and the parts adjacent; see Habakkuk 3:7 ; hence Zipporah, the wife of Moses, who was of that country, is called an Ethiopian woman, Numbers 12:1 ; and this was near Job's country, who knew... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:19

The topaz of Ethiopia - The country called Cush, which we call Ethiopia, is supposed to be that which extends from the eastern coast of the Red Sea, and stretches towards Lower Egypt. Diodorus Siculus says that the topaz was found in great abundance, as his description intimates, in an island in the Red Sea called Ophiodes, or the isle of serpents, Hist. lib. iii., p. 121. His account is curious, but I greatly doubt its correctness; it seems too much in the form of a legend: yet the reader... 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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 28:19

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:12-28

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