Job 28:15-17
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. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that even the purest, most carefully guarded gold cannot purchase this wisdom; its value far surpasses anything we can physically weigh out. This emphasizes that true wisdom isn't a commodity to be bought with wealth, but something of a higher, spiritual order.
Job has just described the incredible efforts and resources people expend searching for hidden riches deep within the earth, but now shifts to the priceless nature of wisdom. He emphasizes that even the purest gold or the most substantial amount of silver, weighed out as was customary for transactions, is utterly insufficient to acquire this true understanding. This declaration sets the stage for exploring wisdom's divine origin, making it clear that its value far surpasses any earthly treasure.
We often try to 'buy' our way to success, happiness, or even peace of mind. But what if the most valuable things in life are completely off the market?
Job is making a profound statement here about the nature of true wisdom. He's saying that no amount of material wealth, no matter how pure or abundant, can ever purchase it.
Wisdom, in the context of Job, is not just cleverness; it's a deep, God-centered understanding of life. It's something far beyond what money can procure.
We see miners digging for gold and merchants weighing silver. But Job points to something even the most diligent search and the greatest wealth can't attain.
The passage isn't just saying wisdom is expensive; it's saying it's unattainable through human effort or earthly means alone. The verses surrounding Job 28:15 stress that wisdom cannot be found in the usual places men look for value:
This sets the stage for understanding where wisdom does come from, which is a key theme in Job. It's a divine quality, not a commodity.
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 the unparalleled value of wisdom, stating that its 'profit is better than the profit of merchandise' and its 'gain better than fine gold.'
Matthew 13:45-46Jesus' parables of the pearl of great price and the hidden treasure illustrate that true spiritual value is found not in earthly riches, but in the kingdom of heaven, which is worth sacrificing everything for, much like the priceless nature of wisdom.
Isaiah 55:1-2This passage invites people to seek God's wisdom and righteousness, even those without money, emphasizing that the most valuable provisions come as a free gift from God, not something that can be bought with earthly wealth.
1 Corinthians 1:20-25Paul contrasts the 'wisdom of the world' with God's wisdom, revealing that what the world values (like wealth and worldly understanding) is foolishness to God, and that true wisdom is found in Christ, who is God's power and God's wisdom.
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…
The verse highlights that even the purest, most carefully guarded gold cannot purchase this wisdom; its value far surpasses anything we can physically weigh out. This emphasizes that true wisdom isn't a commodity to be bought with wealth, but something of a higher, spiritual order.
Job has just described the incredible efforts and resources people expend searching for hidden riches deep within the earth, but now shifts to the priceless nature of wisdom. He emphasizes that even the purest gold or the most substantial amount of silver, weighed out as was customary for transactions, is utterly insufficient to acquire this true understanding. This declaration sets the stage for exploring wisdom's divine origin, making it clear that its value far surpasses any earthly treasure.
Job has just described the incredible efforts and resources people expend searching for hidden riches deep within the earth, but now shifts to the priceless nature of wisdom. He emphasizes that even the purest gold or the most substantial amount of silver, weighed out as was customary for transactions, is utterly insufficient to acquire this true understanding. This declaration sets the stage for exploring wisdom's divine origin, making it clear that its value far surpasses any earthly treasure.
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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.
zekokith · Hebrew Noun
A substance valued for its transparency and clarity. In this context, it represents material objects of high aesthetic value that fail to reach the incomparable worth of wisdom.
keli paz · Hebrew Noun phrase
A general term for costly ornaments or stones. Biblical usage often contrasts the fleeting value of material jewels with the eternal value of God’s word and wisdom.
"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. Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of…" — The verse highlights that even the purest, most carefully guarded gold cannot purchase this wisdom; its value far surpasses anything we can physically weigh out. This emphasizes that true wisdom isn'…
