1
“Indeed, there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined;
2
iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from stone.
3
Man puts an end to darkness, and searches out to the farthest limit the stones in gloom and deep darkness.
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He opens shafts far from where people dwell; they are forgotten by the foot of travelers, they hang far away from mankind.
5
As for the earth, from it comes bread, but beneath it it is turned up as by fire.
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Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7
A path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it;
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the proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the lion passed over it.
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Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots;
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he cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing;
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the streams he dams up from flowing, and what is hidden he brings out into the light.
12
But where shall wisdom be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13
Man does not know its way, and it is not found in the land of the living.
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The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
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It cannot be bought for pure gold, and its price cannot be weighed out in silver.
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It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphire;
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gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
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No mention shall be made of coral or crystal; the possession of wisdom is above pearls.
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The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued with pure gold.
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Wisdom, from where does it come? And where is the place of understanding?
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It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
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Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard only a rumor of it with our ears.’
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God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
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For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
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When he gave weight to the wind, and measured out the waters,
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when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt,
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then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
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And to man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
💎🕯️🔍 Summary of Job 28 – “Where Is Wisdom Found?”
Job 28 is one of the most poetic and profound chapters in the whole book of Job, describing humanity’s search for true wisdom. Job acknowledges that people can mine gold, silver, and jewels from the depths of the earth — but wisdom is not found there. True wisdom cannot be bought, sought in nature, or obtained by wealth.
Job’s conclusion:
➡️ “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28)
This chapter invites the reader to reflect that wisdom is not a matter of intellectual brilliance, but of a heart submitted to God.
📌 1. Human Beings Are Able to Seek Treasure (verses 1–11)
➡️ Job marvels at humanity’s ability to mine:
- Piercing through darkness
- Cutting through mountains
- Channeling underground water
➡️ Human beings are able to dig out the hidden riches of the earth
🎯 Yet all these achievements do not bring human beings to true wisdom.
📌 2. But Wisdom Is Not Found on the Earth (verses 12–19)
➡️ Job asks:
“But where can wisdom be found?”
➡️ Wisdom:
- Is unknown to living creatures
- Is not in the deep sea or the ocean
- Cannot be bought with gold, jewels, or precious stones
🎯 True wisdom is not a commodity or the result of hard labor — it is a gift.
📌 3. Only God Knows the Way There (verses 20–27)
➡️ Wisdom is hidden from every creature
➡️ Only God sees “to the ends of the earth” and knows the way to wisdom
➡️ In His power He orders the wind, rain, and thunder, the Lord also appoints wisdom
🎯 Wisdom belongs to the Lord, not to human discovery.
📌 4. Conclusion: The Fear of the Lord = Wisdom (verse 28)
“Indeed, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.”
🎯 Job gives the briefest yet deepest definition of true wisdom.
📖 Main Teaching
- True wisdom cannot be found through worldly achievement
- Not everything of value can be bought — wisdom comes from a relationship with God
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…”
➡️ Wisdom is not sought, but asked for.
“Christ has become wisdom for us…”
➡️ Supreme wisdom is revealed in the person of Jesus.
“The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD.”
➡️ Job and Proverbs are in harmony in the foundation of wisdom.
“Everyone who hears My words and does them… is like a wise man.”
➡️ Wisdom = obedience to the word.
🕊️ “Where does wisdom come from?” – Job 28:20
🕊️ “It is not found in the land of the living.” – Job 28:13
🕊️ “God knows the way to it.” – Job 28:23
🕊️ “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom.” – Job 28:28
