Wisdom and Related Terms

Personified Wisdom in the Old Testament

28:1 a mine for silver The chapter opens with a discussion of mining. It does not mention wisdom until v. 12. Mining was not spoken of much in the ot, but is referred to in Deut 8:9.

28:3 He puts an end to darkness Describes the depths to which people search for precious metals. Traveling down into the dark with lamps, they go great distances to mine for treasure (Job 28:4).

28:7 It is a path a bird of prey does not know The animals listed here do not go to the lengths that people go to in their search for precious materials.

28:9 his hand on the hard rock The search for these materials is difficult, labor-intensive work.

28:11 he brings secret things to the light All the effort described in vv. 1–11 is for this goal.

28:12 But from where will wisdom be found While people go to great lengths to find precious metals or stones, they do not know where to find wisdom. It is not found on earth (v. 13), under the earth, or in the sea (v. 14).

28:15 Refined gold cannot be gotten in its place Wisdom cannot be bought—it is more valuable than all the precious metals or stones that people search so diligently for.

28:16 Ophir A region known for very fine gold (Isa 13:12). Its exact location is unknown, but it is thought to have been located in the southern Arabian Peninsula on the Red Sea. Solomon imported gold from Ophir (1 Kgs 9:26–28).

onyx or sapphire Onyx was used in the ephod, worn by the high priest (Exod 28:6–9). Both onyx and sapphire were used in the breastpiece of judgment (Exod 28:15–22). See note on Exod 28:17.

28:19 it cannot be bought for pure gold Wisdom’s value is greater than all the precious stones. Proverbs also compares wisdom to precious materials (e.g., Prov 3:14–15; 16:16).

28:20 Indeed, from where does wisdom come The question of Job 28:12 is repeated and changed slightly. In v. 12, it was asked where wisdom could be found. Now the question asks instead where wisdom originates.

28:22 Abaddon The Hebrew text here uses the term avaddon, which is a reference to the realm of the dead. Compare note on 31:12.

Death While wisdom in its truest form is completely hidden from the living, rumors of wisdom are heard among the dead. The Hebrew term used here is maweth, the regular word for death, not she’ol, which is used in 26:6.

28:23 God understands its way Job finally answers the questions of v. 12 and 28:20: Because God’s view is all-encompassing (v. 24), He both understands how to find wisdom and knows its origin.

28:25 When he gave weight to the wind Job describes the presence of wisdom at creation (vv. 25–27). Proverbs also speaks of God’s use of wisdom in creation (compare Prov 3:19–20; 8:22–31).

28:28 the fear of the Lord is wisdom The person who searches for wisdom will develop a fear of God. Since wisdom cannot be found apart from God, the wise seeker will adopt an attitude of trust and obedience to God. A similar statement appears at the conclusion of Ecclesiastes (see Eccl 12:13).

Fearing God in the Old Testament