Job - Chapter 28

Job 28.1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Job 28.2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. Job 28.3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. Job 28.4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. Job 28.5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. Job 28.6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. Job 28.7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: Job 28.8 The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Job 28.9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. Job 28.10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. Job 28.11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. Job 28.12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Job 28.13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. Job 28.14 The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. Job 28.15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. Job 28.16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. Job 28.17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. Job 28.18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. Job 28.19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Job 28.20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Job 28.21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Job 28.22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. Job 28.23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. Job 28.24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; Job 28.25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. Job 28.26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Job 28.27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. Job 28.28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Job : Chapter 28

Divine Wisdom in the Book of Job

Job chapter 28 presents itself as a hymn to divine wisdom. It raises a fundamental question: where is true wisdom found? Through poetic text, this chapter highlights human capacity to extract treasures from the earth, while emphasizing human inability to discover wisdom on our own.

The Deep Themes of Job 28

This chapter explores essential themes such as the limits of human knowledge, the supreme value of wisdom, and the fear of the Lord as the fundamental principle of wisdom. Job 28 thus offers us a unique perspective on the search for truth.

Five Bible Passages Correlated to Job 28

To enrich our understanding of divine wisdom, let's discover five biblical passages that resonate with the profound themes of this philosophical chapter:

Proverbs 3:13-15

"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for wisdom is worth more than silver and brings more profit than gold. It is more precious than rubies; nothing you could wish for can compare with it." » This passage from Proverbs echoes the central idea of ​​Job 28 concerning the incomparable value of wisdom.

James 1:5

"If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives wisdom to all freely and willingly, and it will be given to you. » This verse complements the message of Job 28, emphasizing that wisdom, though precious and hard to find, is a gift God grants to those who ask for it in faith.

Colossians 2:2-3

"My goal is that they may be encouraged and knit together in love, so that they may have all the riches of full understanding, so that they may fully know the mystery of God, which is Christ. In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." » The apostle Paul identifies Christ as the ultimate source of true wisdom, thus expanding on the theme of Job 28.

Ecclesiastes 7:24

"What exists is beyond reach and very deep; who can discover it? » This verse from Ecclesiastes reflects the difficulty of finding wisdom, a central theme that runs through the chapter of Job.

1 Corinthians 1:30

"But by his initiative you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom of God—that is, righteousness and holiness and redemption." In this passage, Paul presents Christ as the embodiment of divine wisdom, providing a New Testament response to the quest for wisdom described in Job 28.

Meditating on these writings, we are invited to recognize the inexpensive value of divine wisdom and to seek this wisdom with humility, prayer, and reflection.