Bible Commentary

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. 22. destruction and death ] Heb. Abaddon and Death. Abaddon is Sheol, the realm of the dead, here personified, as also is Death. Comp. Rev 1:18; Rev 9:11, and see on ch. Job 26:6. the fame thereof ] i. e. the report … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:22”

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. 21. seeing it is hid ] Rather simply, it is hidden. Job 28:20 as summing up Job 28:15-19 meant, thus Wisdom is nowhere to be attained; Job 28:21 proceeds, it is hidden &c. kept close ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:21”

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding? 20 22. The preceding verses indicated that Wisdom cannot be acquired by man though he should bid for it the most precious things that he possesses, in other words that it is unattainable; these verses state that idea again explicitly. The question Job 28:20 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:20”

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 19. equal it ] See on Job 28:17. be valued ] See on Job 28:16. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges The topaz – The topaz is a precious stone, whose colors are yellow, green, blue, and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:19”

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies. 18. or of pearls ] Rather, of crystal. price of wisdom is above rubies ] Or, the possession of wisdom is above (or, more than) pearls, i. e. pearls cannot acquire it or give possession of it. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:18”

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels of fine gold. 17. and the crystal ] Probably glass, which was rare and counted precious in ancient times. cannot equal it ] The word means to arrange, to set over against, to compare with. The idea … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:17”

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 16. it cannot be valued ] lit. weighed for gold of Ophir. Wisdom is conceived as put in the balance as other articles are that are sold, the price given for it being gold of Ophir. The meaning is, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:16”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:15”

The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me. 14. Three great regions are mentioned, none of which is the “place” of Wisdom, the land of the living, the deep, and the sea. These three exhaust the extent of the upper world. The “land of the living” … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:14”

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. 13. the price thereof ] For “price” the Sept. read way man knoweth not the way thereof (cf. Job 28:23), i. e. the way to it, and very many commentators adopt this reading, which gives a more direct answer … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 28:13”