Job 28:3 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 28:3

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness - As it is likely Job still refers to mining, the words above may be understood as pointing out the persevering industry of man in penetrating into the bowels of the earth, in order to seek for metals and precious stones. Even the stones that lay hidden in the bowels of the earth he has digged for and brought to light, and has penetrated in directions in which the solar light could not be transmitted; so that he appears to have gone to the regions of the shadow... 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 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness . Man, in his desire to obtain these metals, "setteth an end to darkness," i.e. letteth in the light of day, or the artificial light which he carries with him, upon the natural abode of darkness, the inner parts of the earth. The miner's first operation is to pierce the ground with a shaft, perpendicular, horizontal, or oblique, as suits his purpose. Through this the light enters into what was previously pitch darkness. And searcheth out all perfection: the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:3

He setteth an end to darkness - That is, man does. The reference here is undoubtedly to the operations of mining, and the idea is, that man delves into the darkest regions; he goes even to the outer limits of darkness; he penetrates everywhere. Probably the allusion is derived from the custom of carrying torches into mines.And searcheth out all perfection - Makes a complete search; examines everything; carries the matter to the utmost. The idea is not that he searches out all perfection - as... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 28:2-3

Job 28:2-3. Iron is taken out of the earth, &c. They invent means to extract iron and brass out of the earth and stone. He setteth an end to darkness, &c. There is no mine so dismally dark, but there is some man or other who will undertake to work in it, and find out a method of conveying light into it: and searcheth out all perfection He searches to the very bottom of it, and finds out all the valuable treasures contained therein; the stones of darkness, and the shadow of... 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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 28:3

he = man: i.e. the miner. read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 28:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:1-28

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 28:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 28:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 28:2-3

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 28:1-28

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 28:3

Group of Brands