Job 28
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The timidity of the wicked. Quick succession in the government of a country is a punishment to the land. Of the poor who oppress the poor. The upright poor man is preferable to the wicked rich man. The unprofitable conduct of the usurer. The prosperity of the righteous a cause of rejoicing. He is blessed who fears always. A wicked ruler a curse. The murderer generally execrated. The faithful man. The corrupt judge. The foolishness of trusting in one's own heart. The charitable man. When the wicked are elevated, it is a public evil.
Open source ↗JOB'S SPEECH CONTINUED. (Job 28:1-28) vein--a mine, from which it goes forth, Hebrew, "is dug." place for gold--a place where gold may be found, which men refine. Not as English Version, "A place--where," (Mal 3:3). Contrasted with gold found in the bed and sand of rivers, which does not need refining; as the gold dug from a mine does. Golden ornaments have been found in Egypt, of the times of Joseph.
Open source ↗Surely there is a vein for the silver,.... Silver is mentioned first, not because the most valuable, for gold is preferable to it, as brass is to iron, and yet iron is mentioned first in Job 28:2; but because silver might be first known, or was first in use, especially in the coinage of money; we read of pieces of silver, or shekels of silver, in the times of Abraham, but not of any golden coin, Gen 23:15; and among the old Romans silver was coined before gold (p); it has its name from a word which signifies "desire", because it is desirable to men, it answering to various uses and purposes; and sometimes the desires and cravings of men after it are enlarged too far, and become criminal, and so the root of all evil to them: and now there is a "vein" for it in the earth, or a mine in which it may be dug for, and found, in which it runs as veins in a man's body, in certain ramifications, like branches of trees, as they do; and the inhabitants of Hispaniola, and other parts of the West Indies, when found out by Columbus, which abounded with gold mines, declared that they found by experience that the vein of gold is a living tree, (and so the same, perhaps, may be said of silver,) and that it spreads and springs from the root, which they say extends to the centre of the earth by soft pores and passages of the earth, and puts forth branches, even to the uppermost part of the earth, and ceases not till it discovers itself unto the open air; at which time it shows forth certain beautiful colours instead of flowers, round stones of golden earth instead of fruits, and thin plates instead of leaves (q); so here there is a vein, or a "going out for the silver" (r), by which it makes its way, as observed of the gold, and shows itself by some signs and tokens where it may be found;…
Open source ↗1 For there is a mine for the silver, And a place for gold which they fine. 2 Iron is taken out of the dust, And he poureth forth stone as copper. 3 He hath made an end of darkness, And he searcheth all extremities For the stone of darkness and of the shadow of death. 4 He breaketh away a shaft from those who tarry above: There, forgotten by every foot, They hang and swing far from men. (Note: Among the expositors of this and the two following strophes, are two acquainted with mining: The director of mines, von Veltheim, whose observations J. D. Michaelis has contributed in the Orient. u. exeg. Bibliothek, xxiii. 7-17; and the inspector of mines, Rudolf Nasse, in Studien und Krit. 1863, 105-111. Umbreit's Commentary contains some observations by von Leonhard; he understands Job 28:4 as referring to the descent upon a cross bar attached to a rope, Job 28:5 of the lighting up by burning poles, Job 28:6 of the lapis lazuli, and Job 28:10 of the earliest mode of "letting off the water.") According to the most natural connection demonstrated by us, Job desires to show that the final lot of the rich man is well merited, because the treasures which he made the object of his avarice and pride, though ever so costly, are still earthy in their nature and origin. Therefore he begins with the most precious metals, with silver, which has the precedence in reference to Job 27:16, and with gold. מוצא without any secondary notion of fulness (Schultens) signifies the issuing place, i.e., the place fro which anything naturally comes forth (Job 38:27), or whence it is obtained (Kg1 10:28); here in the latter sense of the place where a mineral is found, or the mine, as the parall. מקום, the place where the gold comes forth, therefore a gold mine. According to the accentuation (Rebia mugras…
Open source ↗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 discovered, but not the counsels of heaven. 2. What a great deal of care and pains worldly men take to get riches. He had observed concerning the wicked man (Job 27:16) that he heaped up silver as the dust; now here he shows whence that silver came which he was so fond of and how it was obtained, to show what little reason wicked rich men have to be proud of their wealth and pomp. Observe here, I. The wealth of this world is hidden in the earth. Thence the silver and the gold, which afterwards they refine, are fetched, Job 28:1. There they lay mixed with a great deal of dirt and dross, like a worthless thing, of no more account than common earth; and abundance of them will so lie neglected, till the earth and all the works therein shall be burnt up. Holy Mr. Herbert, in his poem called Avarice, takes notice of this, to shame men out of the love of money: - Money, thou bane of bliss, thou source of woe, Whence com'st thou, that thou art so fresh and fine? I know thy parentage is base and low; Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine. Surely thou didst so little contribute To this great kingdom which thou now hast got That he was fain, when thou wast destitute, To dig thee out of thy dark cave and grot. Man calleth thee his wealth, who made thee rich, And while he digs out thee falls in the dit…
Open source ↗28:1-28 This section is a self-contained speech. No speaker is listed, so it could be a continuation of the preceding words. However, some consider this a poetic interlude by the author of Job that sums up the argument to this point, emphasizes the failure of human wisdom, and lays the foundation for the Lord’s speeches.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יֵשׁ (yêsh, H3426) — there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection) מוֹצָא (môwtsâʼ, H4161) — a going forth, i.e. (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or… כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky זָקַק (zâqaq, H2212) — to strain, (figuratively) extract, clarify
Open source ↗בַּרְזֶל (barzel, H1270) — iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud נְחוּשָׁה (nᵉchûwshâh, H5154) — copper צוּק (tsûwq, H6694) — to pour out, i.e. (figuratively) smelt, utter אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… קֵץ (qêts, H7093) — an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after חֹשֶׁךְ (chôshek, H2822) — the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death,… חָקַר (châqar, H2713) — properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately תַּכְלִית (taklîyth, H8503) — completion; by implication, an extremity אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone אֹפֶל (ʼôphel, H652) — dusk צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmâveth, H6757) — shade of death, i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity)
Open source ↗נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… פָּרַץ (pârats, H6555) — to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative) גּוּר (gûwr, H1481) — properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e. sojourn… שָׁכַח (shâkach, H7911) — to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda דָּלַל (dâlal, H1809) — to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be oppressed נוּעַ (nûwaʻ, H5128) — to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as subjoined) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively)
Open source ↗אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… סַפִּיר (çappîyr, H5601) — a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
Open source ↗נָתִיב (nâthîyb, H5410) — a (beaten) track עַיִט (ʻayiṭ, H5861) — a hawk or other bird of prey יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… אַיָּה (ʼayâh, H344) — the screamer, i.e. a hawk עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שָׁזַף (shâzaph, H7805) — to tan (by sunburning); figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan
Open source ↗שַׁחַץ (shachats, H7830) — haughtiness (as evinced by the attitude) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… דָּרַךְ (dârak, H1869) — to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending) שַׁחַל (shachal, H7826) — a lion (from his characteristic roar) עָדָה (ʻâdâh, H5710) — to advance, i.e. pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck…
Open source ↗שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חַלָּמִישׁ (challâmîysh, H2496) — flint הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) שֶׁרֶשׁ (sheresh, H8328) — a root (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗בָּקַע (bâqaʻ, H1234) — to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,… צוּר (tsûwr, H6697) — properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder;… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… יְקָר (yᵉqâr, H3366) — value, i.e. (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignity
Open source ↗חָבַשׁ (châbash, H2280) — to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule נָהָר (nâhâr, H5104) — a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively,… בְּכִי (Bᵉkîy, H1065) — a weeping; by analogy, a dripping תַּעֲלֻמָּה (taʻălummâh, H8587) — a secret יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
Open source ↗אַיִן (ʼayin, H370) — where? (only in connection with prepositional prefix, whence) חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… בִּינָה (bîynâh, H998) — understanding
Open source ↗אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… עֵרֶךְ (ʻêrek, H6187) — a pile, equipment, estimate מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially…
Open source ↗תְּהוֹם (tᵉhôwm, H8415) — an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
This third I will bring through the fire;I will refine them like silverand test them like gold.They will call on My name,and I will answer them.I will say, ‘They are My people,’and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
And after the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring weighing a beka, and two gold bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels.
All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon.
The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
“Listen to me, my lord. The land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.”