Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 28

This 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.

People who mined would melt rock by burning a fire in a mine for days or weeks to extract the solid matter (ore). Some used fire and then cold water to crack the rocks.

Wisdom does not come from people. God is the true source of wisdom (28:23–28).

The metals, gems, and glass listed here were valuable in the ancient world. However, the speaker says wisdom is more valuable than wealth.

When God looks across the entire earth, he sees his wisdom in his creation (28:23). God later showed his wisdom to Job by taking him on a tour of the universe (chapters 38–41).

the fear of the Lord (Hebrew, ’adonay): In the book of Job, this name for God appears only here. This might suggest that chapter 28 is a poem by the person narrating.