Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:15
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
15. for gold ] Probably, as margin, fine gold, i. e. purified gold; comp. 1Ki 6:20, where a word somewhat similar occurs.
be weighed ] In ancient times money was weighed, not counted, Gen 23:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
15 19. As the preceding verses (1 14) expressed the idea that there was no “place” of Wisdom where men could find it and from which they could bring it forth, these verses express the idea that it can be acquired by no price which men can offer for it. It is altogether unattainable. The passage may contain the additional idea of the preciousness or desirableness of Wisdom (see Job 28:18), but the purpose of these verses is not to set forth wisdom as a good or as the chief good, for which one might willingly give all that he holds most precious; the thought of the passage is that though one should offer gold and precious stones for Wisdom it cannot be procured, being nowhere to be found. That the Writer’s purpose is to express this conception mainly is evident from the refrain which closes the passage, as a similar one closed the preceding passage: But Wisdom whence cometh it? and where is the place of understanding? ( Job 28:20).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It cannot be gotten for gold – Margin, fine gold shall not be given for it. The word which is here rendered gold. and in the margin fine gold ( segor), is not the common word used to denote this metal. It is derived from sagar, to shut, to close, and means properly that which is shut up or enclosed; and hence, Gesenius supposes it means pure gold, or the most precious gold, as that which is shut up or enclosed with care. Dr. Good renders it solid gold, supposing it means that which is condensed, or beaten. The phrase occurs in nearly the same form zahab sagur, gold shut up, Margin,) in 1Ki 6:20-21; 1Ki 7:49-50; 1Ki 10:21; 2Ch 4:21-22; 2Ch 9:20, and undoubtedly denotes there the most precious kind of gold. Its relation to the sense of the verb to shut up is not certain. Prof. Lee supposes that the idea is derived from the use of the word, and of similar words in Arabic, where the idea of heating, fusing, giving another color, changing the shape, and thence of fixing, retaining, etc., is found; and that the idea here is that of fused or purified gold. Michaelis supposes that it refers to native gold that is pure and unadulterated, or the form of gold called dendroides, from its shooting out in the form of a tree – baumartig gewachsenes Gold (from the Arabic, a tree). It is not known, however, that the Hebrew word was always used to denote a tree. There can be no doubt that the word denotes gold of a pure kind, and it may have been given to it because gold of that kind was carefully shut up in places of safe keeping; but it would seem more probable to me that it was given to it for some reason now unknown. Of many of the names now given by us to objects which are significant, and which are easily understood by us, it would be impossible to trace the reason or propriety, after the lapse of four thousand years.
Neither shall silver be weighed – That is, it would be impossible to weigh out so much silver as to equal its value. Before the art of coining was known, it was common to weigh the precious metals that were used as a medium of trade; compare Gen 23:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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 are such as we might expect from this deeply experienced and wise man.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For gold; the choicest gold laid up in treasures, as the word signifies. Weighed, to wit, in the balance; for in those times money was paid by weight, not by tale. See Gen 23:16; Jer 23:9,10.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. Not the usual word for”gold”; from a Hebrew root, “to shut up”with care; that is, purest gold (1Ki6:20, Margin).
weighedThe preciousmetals were weighed out before coining was known (Ge23:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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” w, because it is first shut up in the earth, out of which it is dug, and when taken from thence, and refined, and made into coins or vessels, it is shut up among the treasures of men; the words may be more literally rendered, “gold shall not be given instead of it” x; as a sufficient price, or valuable consideration for it:
neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof; in former times this metal used to be delivered, in buying and selling, not by the number and value of pieces, but by weight, in rude masses and lumps, and even when coined into shekels; see Ge 23:16.
w , Sept. “conclusum”, Tigurine version; “clausum”, Bolducius. x – “non dabitur pro ea”, V. L. Montanus, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. Gold Hebrew, segor. Four different words are used for gold in this chapter. Gold, “most honoured prize of wealth,” (Pindar,) first and last (Job 28:15; Job 28:19) in this brilliant array of nature’s treasures, filled then, as now, its world-wide place of supremacy. See note, however, on Job 28:1.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
Ver. 15. It cannot be gotten for gold ] Non emitur, nec aestimatur, it is not purchased or procured with money, as other learning may ( en precium et praestantiam sapientiae ). “With a great sum obtained I this freedom,” said that colonel, Act 22:28 . So may many say of their learning, they have sufficiently paid for it. Cleanthes parted with all he had for learning; Plato gave thirty thousand florins for three books; Reuchlin gave the Jew that taught him Hebrew a crown for every hour’s pains; Jerome got his skill in that language with the hazard of his life, and held it a good bargain. But here is no such trading. See Act 8:18-20 . Fie (quoth that rich and wretched cardinal, when he saw he must die), will money do nothing? will not death be hired? may not heaven be purchased? No, no, God is no money merchant; his kingdom is not partum, wealthy, but paratum, the prepared, Mat 25:34 , his grace is gratuitous; Mat 13:11 , To you it is given (and what more free than gift?) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. And to you it is given, freely given, on behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, &c., Phi 1:29 . That proud merit monger that said, Gratis non accipiam, I will not have grace or glory of free cost, could not but go without both (Vega).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
It cannot be gotten for gold: Heb. Fine gold shall not be given for it, Job 28:18, Pro 3:13-15, Pro 8:10, Pro 8:17, Pro 8:19, Pro 16:16
Reciprocal: Gen 23:16 – weighed Job 28:13 – knoweth Psa 19:10 – than gold Pro 8:11 – wisdom
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 28:15-17. It cannot be gotten for gold The choicest gold laid up in treasures, as the word , segor, signifies: neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof Namely, in the balance; for in those times money was paid by weight. It cannot be valued with gold of Ophir Though the gold that comes from thence be the purest of all, neither that, nor the most precious stones, can purchase this wisdom. The gold and the crystal Hebrew, , zecucith, gemma nitidissima, a very bright gem, says Buxtorf: lapis pretiosus, nitidus, a bright precious stone, Ab. Ezra. The word is not elsewhere used, but being derived from , zachach, purus, vel mundus esse, it has in it the signification of purity, clearness, and brightness. The exchange of it shall not be for jewels Or, vessels, as , chelei, rather means; of fine gold, , paz, of solid gold, in which vessels the curiosity of art is added to the excellence of the matter of which they are formed.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:15 It cannot be gotten for {k} gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof.
(k) It can neither be bought for gold nor precious stones, but is only the gift of God.