Job 28:15-16
It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the most precious thing – true wisdom – isn't just expensive, it's utterly priceless by worldly standards. The mention of "fine gold" and silver "weighed" points to the most valuable forms of wealth known then, emphasizing that even these incredible treasures cannot buy what truly matters.
Job has just revealed that earthly treasures like the deepest mines and the vast ocean hold no true wisdom. Now, he emphasizes that even the most precious metals, like purified gold and weighed silver, are utterly worthless when trying to purchase this elusive understanding. This sets the stage for the profound realization that true wisdom is a divine gift, unattainable by human wealth or effort.
We often think we can buy our way to success, happiness, or even understanding. But what if the most valuable things in life have no price tag?
Job is talking about true wisdom here – that deep understanding and skill that comes from knowing God. He emphasizes that no amount of earthly wealth, no matter how precious, can ever purchase this wisdom.
The Ultimate Commodity
If you wanted to buy true wisdom, what would you offer? Diamonds? Rare gems? Job says even those aren't enough.
The passage lists incredibly valuable items to drive home a point: wisdom is priceless.
Trading the Irreplaceable
Understand the original words
zahav · Hebrew Noun
A precious metal symbolizing earthly wealth, value, or human resources. In Scripture, it is often contrasted with the incomparable value of spiritual treasures or divine revelation.
keseph · Hebrew Noun
A precious metal frequently used in the Bible as a medium of exchange or a measure of value. Like gold, it is used here to emphasize the inability of material wealth to purchase spiritual truth.
kethem · Hebrew Noun
A high-value, precious metal that represents worldly wealth, purity, and durability. In Scripture, it is frequently used as a standard of material value that is ultimately inferior to divine truths like wisdom or faith.
shoham · Hebrew Noun
This passage echoes Job's sentiment by highlighting that true wisdom and understanding are far more precious than any earthly riches, including gold and silver.
Matthew 13:44-46Jesus uses parables to show that the kingdom of heaven, which is obtained through wisdom and faith, is worth selling everything to acquire, emphasizing its supreme value over material wealth.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25This passage contrasts the wisdom of God, which is foolishness to the world, with human wisdom, noting that true spiritual understanding cannot be bought with worldly riches or prized by human standards.
Philippians 3:7-8Paul describes counting all his previous achievements and status as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, illustrating that spiritual wisdom transcends any material or status-based value.
bensonJob 28:15: "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."
Job 28:15-17 . It cannot be gotten for gold — The choicest gold laid up in treasures, as the word סגר , segor, signifies: neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof — Namely, in the balance; for in those times money was paid by weight. It cannot be valued with gold of Ophir — Though the gold that comes from thence be the purest of all, neither that, nor the most precious stones, can purc…
clarkeJob 28:15: "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."
It cannot be gotten for gold - Genuine religion and true happiness are not to be acquired by earthly property. Solomon made gold and silver as plentiful as the stones in Jerusalem, and had all the delights of the sons of men, and yet he was not happy; yea, he had wisdom, was the wisest of men, but he had not the wisdom of which Job speaks here, and therefore, to him, all was vanity and vexation of…
This verse highlights that the most precious thing – true wisdom – isn't just expensive, it's utterly priceless by worldly standards. The mention of "fine gold" and silver "weighed" points to the most valuable forms of wealth known then, emphasizing that even these incredible treasures cannot buy what truly matters.
Job has just revealed that earthly treasures like the deepest mines and the vast ocean hold no true wisdom. Now, he emphasizes that even the most precious metals, like purified gold and weighed silver, are utterly worthless when trying to purchase this elusive understanding. This sets the stage for the profound realization that true wisdom is a divine gift, unattainable by human wealth or effort.
Job has just revealed that earthly treasures like the deepest mines and the vast ocean hold no true wisdom. Now, he emphasizes that even the most precious metals, like purified gold and weighed silver, are utterly worthless when trying to purchase this elusive understanding. This sets the stage for the profound realization that true wisdom is a divine gift, unattainable by human wealth or effort.
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A precious stone, often identified as a variety of agate or chalcedony. It symbolizes beauty and rare material worth.
sappir · Hebrew Noun
A precious stone, likely blue, symbolizing celestial beauty, brilliance, and the majesty of God’s throne.
"It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire." — This verse highlights that the most precious thing – true wisdom – isn't just expensive, it's utterly priceless by worldly standards. The mention of "fine gold" and silver "weighed" points to the mos…
