Read & explore together
Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
Job 28 asks a searching question. People can dig deep into the earth and uncover valuable things, but wisdom is different. This passage shows both human skill and human limits, then points to the only sure place wisdom is defined.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In this wisdom passage, the speaker describes mining, hidden places, precious stones, and costly metals. Then the poem turns to repeated questions about wisdom and understanding. The answer does not come from human discovery or payment, but from what God knows and says.
Job 28:1–28Main takeaway
This passage teaches that wisdom cannot be mined or bought, but is shown in fearing the Lord and departing from evil.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01People can uncover hidden treasuresThe passage begins with human skill underground. Silver, gold, iron, and copper are taken from the earth.
Explanation
The passage begins with human skill underground. Silver, gold, iron, and copper are taken from the earth. People search dark places, cut shafts, and bring hidden things to light. The description shows great effort and ability. Humans can reach places birds and wild animals do not know or enter.
02Wisdom is not found like a treasureAfter describing mining, the poem asks, “Where will wisdom be found?” Human beings do not know its price or location.
Explanation
After describing mining, the poem asks, “Where will wisdom be found?” Human beings do not know its price or location. The deep and the sea both say it is not with them. Gold, silver, onyx, sapphire, coral, crystal, rubies, and topaz cannot purchase or match it. Wisdom is beyond material value.
03Hidden from creatures, known by GodThe question is repeated again, which makes the search feel urgent. Wisdom is hidden from all living eyes, and even Destruction and Death only know a rumour of it.
Explanation
The question is repeated again, which makes the search feel urgent. Wisdom is hidden from all living eyes, and even Destruction and Death only know a rumour of it. In contrast, God understands its way and knows its place. The passage moves from human limitation to God's complete knowledge.
04God's world and God's definition of wisdomGod sees to the ends of the earth and orders wind, waters, rain, and lightning. Because he knows and established wisdom, he can speak truly about it.
Explanation
God sees to the ends of the earth and orders wind, waters, rain, and lightning. Because he knows and established wisdom, he can speak truly about it. His word to humanity gives the answer: “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,” and “to depart from evil is understanding.”
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the passage spend so much time describing mining before asking about wisdom?
02What do the deep, the sea, and even Death show about the search for wisdom?
03According to this passage, what does wisdom look like in a person's life?
Use the final line of the poem, where God speaks directly about fear of the Lord and departing from evil.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 28:1–28
1“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
2Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted out of the ore.
3Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out, to the furthest bound, the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.
4He breaks open a shaft away from where people live. They are forgotten by the foot. They hang far from men, they swing back and forth.
5As for the earth, out of it comes bread. Underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.
6Sapphires come from its rocks. It has dust of gold.
7That path no bird of prey knows, neither has the falcon’s eye seen it.
8The proud animals have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed by there.
9He puts his hand on the flinty rock, and he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10He cuts out channels among the rocks. His eye sees every precious thing.
11He binds the streams that they don’t trickle. The thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
12“But where will wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
13Man doesn’t know its price, and it isn’t found in the land of the living.
14The deep says, ‘It isn’t in me.’ The sea says, ‘It isn’t with me.’
15It can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price.
16It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18No mention will be made of coral or of crystal. Yes, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19The topaz of Ethiopia will not equal it. It won’t be valued with pure gold.
20Where then does wisdom come from? Where is the place of understanding?
21Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the birds of the sky.
22Destruction and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’
23“God understands its way, and he knows its place.
24For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole sky.
25He establishes the force of the wind. Yes, he measures out the waters by measure.
26When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27then he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yes, and searched it out.
28To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ ”