God’s Word Translation
Job 28:18
18be exchanged for it. Wisdom is more valuable than gems.
Job 28:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
- New International Version (NIV)Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
- English Standard Version (ESV)No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
- New King James Version (NKJV)No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
Context of Job 28:18
16It can’t be bought with the gold from Ophir or with precious onyx or sapphire. 17Neither gold nor glass can equal its value. Nor can gold ornaments, jewels, or crystal be exchanged for it. Wisdom is more valuable than gems. 19Topaz from Ethiopia cannot equal its value. It cannot be bought for ⌞any amount of⌟ pure gold. 20“Where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live?
Read all of Job 28Job 28:18 word by word
רָאמ֣וֹת וְ֭גָבִישׁ לֹ֣א יִזָּכֵ֑ר וּמֶ֥שֶׁךְ חָ֝כְמָ֗ה מִפְּנִינִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 28:18
- Ezekiel 27:16“ ‘People from Syria traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged emeralds, purple cloth, richly woven cloth, linen, coral, and rubies for your merchandise.
- Matthew 7:6“Don’t give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls to pigs. Otherwise, they will trample them and then tear you to pieces.
- Matthew 13:45“Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who was searching for fine pearls.
- 1 Timothy 2:9I want women to show their beauty by dressing in appropriate clothes that are modest and respectable. Their beauty will be shown by what they do, not by their hair styles or the gold jewelry, pearls, or expensive clothes they wear.
- Revelation 17:4The woman wore purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable and evil things from her sexual sins.
- Revelation 18:12No one buys their cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, bright red cloth, all kinds of citron wood, articles made of ivory and very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble,
- Revelation 21:21The 12 gates were 12 pearls. Each gate was made of one pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, as clear as glass.
- Proverbs 3:15⌞Wisdom⌟ is more precious than jewels, and all your desires cannot equal it.
- Proverbs 31:10“Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.
- Lamentations 4:7Zion’s princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk. Their bodies were more pink than coral. Their hair was like sapphires.
Commentaries on Job 28:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18No mention shall be made of coral - That is, as a price by which to purchase wisdom, or in comparison with wisdom. The margin here is, “Ramoth” - retaining the Hebrew word ראמה râ'mâh Jerome renders it, “excelsa” - exalted or valuable things. So the Septuagint, ́ Meteōra - exalted or sublime things; as if the word were from רום, to be exalted. According to the rabbis, the word here means “red coral.” It occurs also in Ezekiel 27:16, where it is…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. 16-19The metals, gems, and glass listed here were valuable in the ancient world. However, the speaker says wisdom is more valuable than wealth.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Red coral (Eze 27:16). pearls--literally, "what is frozen." Probably crystal; and Job 28:17 will then be glass. rubies--Umbreit translates "pearls" (see La 4:1; Pr 3:15). The Urim and Thummim, the means of consulting God by the twelve stones on the high priest's breastplate, "the stones of the sanctuary" (La 4:1), have their counterpart in this chapter; the precious stones symbolizing the "light" and "perfection" of the divine wisdom.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 28:18
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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