Job 28:18

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies.

Context of Job 28:18

16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. 17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. 19The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. 20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?

Job 28:18 word by word

רָאמ֣וֹת וְ֭גָבִישׁ לֹ֣א יִזָּכֵ֑ר וּמֶ֥שֶׁךְ חָ֝כְמָ֗ה מִפְּנִינִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• No mentionזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• shall be made of coralרָאמוֹתrâ'mâh · coralH7215
• or of pearlsגָּבִישׁgâbîysh · crystalH1378
• for the priceמֶ֫שֶׁךְmeshek · bag/priceH4901
• of wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2451
• above rubiesפְּנִינִיםpânîyn pânîy · jewelH6443

Cross-references for Job 28:18

• Ezekiel 27:16“ ‘Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
• Matthew 7:6“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
• Matthew 13:45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
• 1 Timothy 2:9I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
• Revelation 17:4The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
• Revelation 18:12cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;
• Revelation 21:21The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
• Proverbs 3:15She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
• Proverbs 31:10A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
• Lamentations 4:7Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.

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

• Coral
• Pearl
• Readings, Select
• Ruby
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Bind
• Coral
• Decree
• Equal
• Fain
• Fine
• Pearl
• Ruby
• Wisdom
• Baruch, 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