Job 28:18 - Exposition

No mention shall be made of coral . The word translated "coral" ( רָאמוֹת ) means properly "things that are high." It occurs only here and in Ezekiel 27:16 . The rabbinical interpretation of the word as "coral" is doubtful, since it was unknown to the LXX . Or of pearls. The word gabish ( גָבִישׁ ) occurs only in this place. Some identify it with rock-crystal. For the price of wisdom is above rubies . Here we have another obscure word ( פָנִינִים ), which is variously rendered by "rubies," "pearls," "carbuncles," and "red coral." The balance of authority is in favour of pearls.