Job 28:3

Job 28:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
• New International Version (NIV)Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Man puts an end to darkness, And searches every recess For ore in the darkness and the shadow of death.

Context of Job 28:3

1“Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold. 2Iron is taken from the dust, And copper is smelted from rock. Man puts an end to darkness, And to the farthest limit he searches out The rock in gloom and deep shadow. 4He sinks a shaft far from habitation, Forgotten by the foot; They hang and swing to and fro far from men. 5The earth, from it comes food, And underneath it is turned up as fire.

Job 28:3 word by word

קֵ֤ץ׀ שָׂ֤ם לַחֹ֗שֶׁךְ וּֽלְכָל־תַּ֭כְלִית ה֣וּא חוֹקֵ֑ר אֶ֖בֶן אֹ֣פֶל וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃Read the interlinear

• putsשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• an endקֵץqêts · endH7093
• to darknessחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• to the farthestכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• limitתַּכְלִיתtaklîyth · limitH8503
• he searchesחָקַרchâqar · to searchH2713
• The rockאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
• in gloomאֹ֫פֶל'ôphel · darknessH652
• and deepצַלְמָ֫וֶתtsalmâveth · shadowH6757

Cross-references for Job 28:3

• Proverbs 2:4If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
• Ecclesiastes 1:13And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
• Habakkuk 2:13Is it not indeed from the Lord of hosts That peoples toil for fire, And nations grow weary for nothing?
• Matthew 6:33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• Luke 16:8And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.
• Job 10:21Before I go--and I shall not return-- To the land of darkness and deep shadow,
• Job 12:22He reveals mysteries from the darkness And brings the deep darkness into light.
• Job 38:16“Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep?

Commentaries on Job 28:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He setteth an end to darkness - As it is likely Job still refers to mining, the words above may be understood as pointing out the persevering industry of man in penetrating into the bowels of the earth, in order to seek for metals and precious stones. Even the stones that lay hidden in the bowels of the earth he has digged for and brought to light, and has penetrated in directions in which the solar light could not be transmitted; so that he appears to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3He setteth an end to darkness - That is, man does. The reference here is undoubtedly to the operations of mining, and the idea is, that man delves into the darkest regions; he goes even to the outer limits of darkness; he penetrates everywhere. Probably the allusion is derived from the custom of carrying torches into mines. And searcheth out all perfection - Makes a complete search; examines everything; carries the matter to the utmost. The idea is not…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. 33. "Man makes an end of darkness," by exploring the darkest depths (with torches). all perfection--rather, carries out his search to the utmost perfection; most thoroughly searches the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death (thickest gloom); that is, the stones, whatever they be, embedded in the darkest bowels of the earth [Umbreit] (Job 26:10).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 28:3

• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Shadow of Death
• Bind
• Decree
• Equal
• Fain
• Fine
• Mine
• Wisdom
• Baruch, Book of
• Ethics

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