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.
• 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 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 valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx or sapphire. 17Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold. 20“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

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 27:16Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies.
• Matthew 7:6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
• Matthew 13:45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
• 1 Timothy 2:9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
• Revelation 17:4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
• Revelation 18:12merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
• Revelation 21:21The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
• Proverbs 3:15She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
• Proverbs 31:10Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
• Lamentations 4:7Her Nazirites were brighter than snow And whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, Like sapphire in their appearance.

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