Bible Commentaries

Verse 1

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.

vein

or, mine. the silver.

Genesis 2:11,12; 23:15; 24:22; 1 Kings 7:48-50; 10:21; 1 Chronicles 29:2-5

where they fine it

Psalms 12:6; Proverbs 17:3; 27:21; Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2,3; 1 Peter 1:7

Verse 2

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.

Iron

Genesis 4:22; Numbers 31:22; Deuteronomy 8:9; 1 Chronicles 22:14

earth

or, dust.

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:3 - brass

Verse 3

He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

searcheth

Proverbs 2:4; Ecclesiastes 1:13; Habakkuk 2:13; Matthew 6:33; Luke 16:8

the stones

10:21,22; 12:22; 38:16,17

Reciprocal: Job 3:5 - the shadow

Verse 5

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

out of it

Genesis 1:11,12,29; Psalms 104:14,15; Isaiah 28:25-29

fire

Ezekiel 28:13,14

Verse 6

The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.

sapphires

16; Exodus 24:10; Song of Solomon 5:14; Isaiah 54:11; Revelation 21:19

dust of gold

or, gold ore.

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:18 - sapphire

Verse 7

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:

a path

21-23; 11:6; 38:19,24; Romans 11:33

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:13 - the eagle

Verse 9

He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

rock

or, flint. he overturneth.

Nahum 1:4-6

Reciprocal: Job 9:5 - removeth

Verse 10

He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

every precious thing

Proverbs 14:23; 24:4; Habakkuk 3:9

Verse 11

He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

bindeth

26:8; Isaiah 37:25; 44:27

overflowing

Heb. weeping. and the thing.

Isaiah 45:2,3; 1 Corinthians 4:5

Reciprocal: Job 41:5 - bind

Verse 12

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

20,28; 1 Kings 3:9; Psalms 51:6; Proverbs 2:4-6; 3:19; Ecclesiastes 7:23-25; 1 Corinthians 1:19,20; Colossians 2:3; James 1:5,17

Reciprocal: Job 36:3 - fetch;  Proverbs 20:15 - but;  Proverbs 23:23 - Buy;  Ecclesiastes 7:24 - General;  James 3:17 - the wisdom

Verse 13

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

knoweth

15-19; Psalms 19:10; 119:72; Proverbs 3:14,15; 8:11,18,19; 16:16; 23:23; Ecclesiastes 8:16,17

in the land

21,22; Psalms 52:5; Isaiah 38:11; 53:8

Reciprocal: Job 36:3 - fetch;  Jeremiah 11:19 - from;  Ezekiel 32:23 - the land

Verse 14

The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

Romans 11:33,34

Reciprocal: Job 28:22 - Destruction;  Job 41:32 - deep

Verse 15

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

It cannot be gotten for gold

Heb. Fine gold shall not be given for it.

18; Proverbs 3:13-15; 8:10,17,19; 16:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:16 - weighed;  Job 28:13 - knoweth;  Psalm 19:10 - than gold;  Proverbs 8:11 - wisdom

Verse 16

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

the gold

1 Chronicles 29:4; Psalms 45:9; Isaiah 13:12

onyx

Exodus 28:20; Ezekiel 28:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:12 - onyx;  Genesis 10:29 - Ophir;  Exodus 28:9 - onyx;  Exodus 28:18 - sapphire;  Exodus 39:6 - onyx stones;  1 Kings 9:28 - Ophir;  1 Chronicles 29:2 - onyx stones;  Job 28:6 - sapphires;  Revelation 21:19 - the foundations

Verse 17

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

crystal

Ezekiel 1:22; Revelation 4:6; 21:11; 22:1

jewels

or, vessels.

Verse 18

No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

coral

or, Ramoth.

Ezekiel 27:16

pearls

Matthew 7:6; 13:45,46; 1 Timothy 2:9; Revelation 17:4; 18:12; 21:21

rubies

Proverbs 3:15; 31:10; Lamentations 4:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 28:17 - a sardius;  Job 28:15 - It cannot be gotten for gold

Verse 19

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

topaz

Exodus 28:17; 39:10; Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 21:20

Verse 20

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

12; Proverbs 2:6; Ecclesiastes 7:23,24; 1 Corinthians 2:6-15; James 1:5,17

Reciprocal: Job 12:13 - wisdom;  Job 12:22 - discovereth;  Job 36:3 - fetch;  Job 37:19 - we

Verse 21

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

hid

Psalms 49:3,4; Matthew 11:25; 13:17,35; 1 Corinthians 2:7-10; Colossians 2:3

from the fowls

air

or, heaven.

Reciprocal: Job 28:13 - in the land;  Job 37:19 - we

Verse 22

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

Destruction

14; Psalms 83:10-12

Reciprocal: Job 26:6 - destruction;  Job 28:13 - in the land;  Job 42:5 - heard

Verse 23

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

Psalms 19:7; 147:5; Proverbs 2:6; 8:14; Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:21,22; Acts 15:18; Romans 11:33; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Jude 1:25

Reciprocal: James 3:17 - the wisdom

Verse 24

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3; Zechariah 4:10; Revelation 5:6

Reciprocal: Job 11:9 - longer;  Job 37:15 - Dost;  Psalm 33:13 - looketh

Verse 25

To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

To make the weight, etc

God has given an atmosphere to the earth, which, possessing a certain degree of gravity perfectly suited to the necessities of all animals, vegetables, and fluids, should be the cause, in His hands, of preserving animal and vegetable life; for by it the blood circulates in the veins of animals, and the juices in the tubes of vegetables. Without this atmospheric pressure there could be no respiration; and the elasticity of the particles of air in animal and vegetable bodies, would rupture the vessels in which they are contained, and destroy both kinds of life.

Psalms 135:7; Isaiah 40:12

he weigheth

He has exactly proportioned the aqueous surface of the earth to the terrene parts, for the purpose of evaporation, etc.

Reciprocal: Genesis 7:4 - For;  Job 11:9 - longer;  Job 38:5 - laid

Verse 26

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

he made

36:26,32; 38:25; Psalms 148:8; Jeremiah 14:22; Amos 4:7; Zechariah 10:1

a way

37:3; Psalms 29:3-10

Reciprocal: Job 5:10 - giveth;  Psalm 135:7 - he maketh lightnings

Verse 27

Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

declare it

or, number it. he prepared it.

Psalms 19:1; Proverbs 8:22-29

Verse 28

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

unto man

Deuteronomy 29:29; Proverbs 8:4,5,26-32

fear

Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13; James 3:13-17

to depart

Psalms 34:14; Proverbs 3:7; 13:14; 16:17; Isaiah 1:16; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Peter 3:11 Reciprocal: Genesis 20:11 - Surely;  Genesis 22:12 - now;  Exodus 20:20 - his fear;  Deuteronomy 6:2 - fear;  Deuteronomy 32:28 - General;  Joshua 24:14 - fear;  1 Samuel 12:24 - fear the Lord;  2 Samuel 16:23 - all the counsel;  1 Kings 10:1 - concerning;  2 Chronicles 6:31 - fear thee;  Job 11:6 - show thee;  Job 11:12 - would;  Job 28:12 - General;  Psalm 4:4 - sin;  Psalm 37:27 - Depart;  Psalm 53:2 - any that;  Psalm 90:12 - that;  Psalm 119:34 - Give me;  Psalm 119:100 - because;  Proverbs 2:5 - the fear;  Proverbs 13:19 - depart;  Proverbs 14:2 - that walketh;  Proverbs 15:21 - a man;  Proverbs 15:33 - fear;  Proverbs 16:6 - by the;  Proverbs 28:26 - but;  Ecclesiastes 1:18 - For in;  Ecclesiastes 7:16 - neither;  Ecclesiastes 7:24 - General;  Malachi 3:16 - that feared;  Matthew 7:24 - a wise;  John 21:23 - what;  Acts 9:31 - and walking;  Acts 10:35 - feareth;  Ephesians 5:17 - understanding;  James 3:17 - the wisdom