English Standard Version
Job 28:12
12"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
- New International Version (NIV)But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?
Context of Job 28:12
10He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing. 11He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. 14The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
Read all of Job 28Job 28:12 word by word
וְֽ֭הַחָכְמָה מֵאַ֣יִן תִּמָּצֵ֑א וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝ה מְק֣וֹם בִּינָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 28:12
- Job 28:20"From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
- 1 Kings 3:9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
- Psalms 51:6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
- Proverbs 2:4if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
- Proverbs 3:19The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
- Ecclesiastes 7:23All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
- Colossians 2:3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Commentaries on Job 28:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12But where shall wisdom be found? - It is most evident that the terms wisdom and understanding are used here in a widely different sense from all those arts and sciences which have their relation to man in his animal and social state, and from all that reason and intellect by which man is distinguished from all other animals. Now as these terms חכמה chochmah, wisdom, and בינה binah, understanding or discernment, are often applied in the sacred writings in…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12But where shall wisdom be found? - That is, the full understanding of the plans of God - for this is the point of inquiry. The object of Job is to show that it is not to be found in the most profound science; by penetrating to the farthest extent of which man was capable in the earth, nor by any human investigations whatever. None of these things revealed the great plans of the Almighty in reference to his moral government, and particularly to the points…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-19Verses 12-19 Job here speaks of wisdom and understanding, the knowing and enjoying of God and ourselves. Its worth is infinitely more than all the riches in this world. It is a gift of the Holy Ghost which cannot be bought with money. Let that which is most precious in God's account, be so in ours. Job asks after it as one that truly desired to find it, and despaired of finding it any where but in God; any way but by Divine revelation. (Job 28:20-28)Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-28This section is an isolated speech. There is no speaker listed, so it might continue from earlier words. Some see it as a creative summary by the author of Job. It emphasizes the limits of human wisdom and sets the stage for the Lord's speeches.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-2712. Can man discover the Divine Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden in the earth? Certainly not. Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person (Job 28:12-27) distinct from God (Job 28:23; also in Pr 8:23, 27). The Almighty Word, Jesus Christ, we know now, is that Wisdom. The order of the world was originated and is maintained by the breathing forth (Spirit) of Wisdom, unfathomable and unpurchasable by man. In Job 28:28, the only…Read the comment
Topics related to Job 28:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries