King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
Complete Jewish Bible:
its rocks have veins of sapphire, and there are flecks of gold.
Berean Standard Bible:
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.
American Standard Version:
The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, And it hath dust of gold.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The stones{H68} of it are the place{H4725} of sapphires{H5601}: and it hath dust{H6083} of gold{H2091}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 28:16
- It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Exodus 24:10
- And they saw the God of Israel: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness.
Isaiah 54:11
- ¶ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
Revelation 21:19
- And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Song of Solomon 5:14
- His hands [are as] gold rings set with the beryl: his belly [is as] bright ivory overlaid [with] sapphires.
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Commentary for Job 28:6
Job 28:6 is part of a larger poem found in the Book of Job, which is traditionally ascribed to the period of the Patriarchs, roughly the second millennium BCE, although the book itself may have been composed later, possibly around the 6th century BCE. The Book of Job deals with the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of wisdom, as it tells the story of Job, a righteous man who loses everything and endures immense suffering.
In Job 28, the poem shifts from the dialogues between Job and his friends to a meditation on the inaccessibility and value of wisdom. This chapter does not directly feature Job or his friends speaking but instead reflects on the nature of wisdom as something that is mined from the earth like precious metals and gems.
The verse Job 28:6 specifically speaks to the immense value and hidden nature of wisdom by using the metaphor of mining. It describes how sapphires are as common as stones and dust is as plentiful as gold in the place where wisdom is found. This imagery emphasizes the preciousness and rarity of wisdom, likening it to the most valuable materials known at the time. The verse suggests that wisdom, like these precious elements, is hard to find and extract, requiring great effort and insight.
In the historical context, sapphires and gold were symbols of wealth and royalty, often associated with divine attributes and the splendor of the temple in Jerusalem. By comparing wisdom to these treasures, the verse elevates wisdom to a status that is both desirable and elusive, highlighting the idea that true understanding is a divine gift not easily obtained by human effort alone. This reflects the broader theme of the chapter, which is the human quest for understanding and the recognition that wisdom is ultimately a divine attribute that humans can only partially grasp.
*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: H68
There are 1276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶבֶן
Transliteration: ʼeben
Pronunciation: eh'-ben
Description: from the root of בָּנָה through the meaning to build; a stone; [phrase] carbuncle, [phrase] mason, [phrase] plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-) stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H5601
There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סַפִּיר
Transliteration: çappîyr
Pronunciation: sap-peer'
Description: from סָפַר; a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire; sapphire. - Strong's Number: H6083
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָפָר
Transliteration: ʻâphâr
Pronunciation: aw-fawr'
Description: from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish. - Strong's Number: H2091
There are 336 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָהָב
Transliteration: zâhâb
Pronunciation: zaw-hawb'
Description: from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky; gold(-en), fair weather.