Job 28:20

Job 28:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
• New International Version (NIV)Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
• English Standard Version (ESV)"From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
• New King James Version (NKJV)“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

Context of Job 28:20

18Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. 19The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 21Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky. 22Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’

Job 28:20 word by word

וְֽ֭הַחָכְמָה מֵאַ֣יִן תָּב֑וֹא וְאֵ֥י זֶ֝֗ה מְק֣וֹם בִּינָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Whereאַ֫יִן'ayin · where?H370
• then does wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• And whereאַי'ay · where?H335
• is the placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
• of understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH998

Cross-references for Job 28:20

• Job 28:12“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
• Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Ecclesiastes 7:23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
• James 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Commentaries on Job 28:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Whence then cometh wisdom? - Nearly the same words as in Job 28:12; (note), where see the note.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Whence then cometh wisdom? - This question is now repeated from Job 28:12, in order to give it greater emphasis. It is designed to fix the attention on the inquiry as one which found no solution in the discoveries of science, and whose solution was hidden from the most penetrating human intellect.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 There is a two-fold wisdom; one hid in God, which is secret, and belongs not to us; the other made known by him, and revealed to man. One day's events, and one man's affairs, have such reference to, and so hang one upon another, that He only, to whom all is open, and who sees the whole at one view, can rightly judge of every part. But the knowledge of God's revealed will is within our reach, and will do us good. Let man look upon this as his…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. 2020. Job 28:12 repeated with great force.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 28:20

• Ignorance
• Readings, Select
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Bind
• Decree
• Equal
• Fain
• Fine
• Wisdom
• Baruch, Book of
• Ethics
• Eunice
• Job, Book of

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