New English Translation
Job 28:12
12“But wisdom – where can it be found? 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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Context of Job 28:12
10He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing. 11He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light. “But wisdom – where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding? 13Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living. 14The deep says, ‘It is not with 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“But wisdom – where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding?
- 1 Kings 3:9So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
- Psalms 51:6Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom.
- Proverbs 2:4if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,
- Proverbs 3:19By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding.
- Ecclesiastes 7:23I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”
- Colossians 2:3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
- James 1:5But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to 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
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