King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;
Complete Jewish Bible:
For he can see to the ends of the earth and view everything under heaven.
Berean Standard Bible:
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
American Standard Version:
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the whole heaven;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
For he looketh{H5027} to the ends{H7098} of the earth{H776}, and seeth{H7200} under the whole heaven{H8064};
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 15:3
- ¶ The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Zechariah 4:10
- For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
2 Chronicles 16:9
- For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Psalms 33:13
- The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
Psalms 33:14
- From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Revelation 5:6
- ¶ And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
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Commentary for Job 28:24
Job 28:24 is part of a larger poetic discourse in the Book of Job, which is one of the Wisdom Books in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. The Book of Job deals with the age-old question of why suffering occurs, particularly to the righteous. In the context of Job 28, the theme is the inaccessibility of wisdom. This chapter, often referred to as the "Hymn to Wisdom," describes how humans labor to find precious metals and gems deep within the earth, yet wisdom remains hidden and beyond price.
The verse "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;" speaks to the omniscient perspective of God, who alone can perceive the full extent of the earth and heavens. It emphasizes the idea that while humans can dig into the earth and explore its depths, true wisdom and understanding of the world's complexities are beyond human reach. Only God, who looks to the "ends of the earth" and under "the whole heaven," possesses such wisdom.
Historically, this verse reflects an ancient understanding of the world's structure, envisioning it as a flat disc covered by a dome-like firmament (heaven). The "ends of the earth" would have been understood as the literal edges of this disc. The verse also reflects the limitations of human knowledge and capability in ancient times, acknowledging that there are divine secrets, including the reasons for suffering, which humans cannot fully comprehend.
In summary, Job 28:24 highlights the themes of divine omniscience and the elusiveness of wisdom. It suggests that while humans can achieve a degree of understanding through exploration and observation, there is a level of divine wisdom that is the exclusive province of God, who alone can see and understand all things. This perspective would have resonated with ancient audiences grappling with the mysteries of existence and the problem of suffering, as it does with readers today who continue to seek answers to life's profound questions.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5027
There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָבַט
Transliteration: nâbaṭ
Pronunciation: naw-bat'
Description: a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care; (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see. - Strong's Number: H7098
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָצָה
Transliteration: qâtsâh
Pronunciation: kaw-tsaw'
Description: feminine of קָצֶה; (used like קָצֶה); a termination; coast, corner, (selv-) edge, lowest, (uttermost) participle - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H8064
There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
Transliteration: shâmayim
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).