King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
the proud beasts have never set foot on it, no lion has ever passed over it.
Berean Standard Bible:
Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.
American Standard Version:
The proud beasts have not trodden it, Nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The lion's{H7830} whelps{H1121} have not trodden{H1869} it, nor the fierce lion{H7826} passed{H5710} by it.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 28:8
Job 28:8 is part of a larger poem found in the Book of Job, which is traditionally ascribed to the authorship of Moses and is one of the poetic books in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Wisdom Literature. The Book of Job deals with the theme of innocent suffering and the nature of faith in the face of undeserved calamity. It recounts the story of Job, a righteous man who loses everything—his wealth, his children, and his health—as a result of a divine bet between God and Satan.
The verse itself is situated within a chapter that is often considered a hymn to wisdom, particularly the inaccessibility and the value of true wisdom. Job 28:8 reads, "The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it," which metaphorically speaks to the elusiveness of wisdom. In the ancient Near Eastern context, lions were symbols of strength, ferocity, and untamed wilderness. The fact that even the young lions, known for their playful exploration, and the fierce adult lions, emblematic of power, have not come across wisdom suggests that wisdom is not found in the ordinary paths of life or in the ways of brute force or natural instinct.
This verse contributes to the overarching theme that wisdom is hidden from the eyes of all living creatures and is beyond the reach of the most powerful and predatory animals. It emphasizes that wisdom is not something that can be stumbled upon by chance or seized by strength; rather, it is a divine gift, known only to God, and perhaps attainable by humans through humility, fear of the Lord, and a deep, reflective search. The historical context of the Book of Job is thought to be during the patriarchal period, around the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which would place it in the second millennium BCE. However, the ideas expressed in the book reflect a high level of philosophical and theological inquiry, which may suggest a later period of composition, possibly during or after the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BCE.
*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: H7830
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁחַץ
Transliteration: shachats
Pronunciation: shakh'-ats
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to strut; haughtiness (as evinced by the attitude); [idiom] lion, pride. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H1869
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּרַךְ
Transliteration: dârak
Pronunciation: daw-rak'
Description: a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending); archer, bend, come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread (down), walk. - Strong's Number: H7826
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁחַל
Transliteration: shachal
Pronunciation: shakh'-al
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to roar; a lion (from his characteristic roar); (fierce) lion. - Strong's Number: H5710
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָדָה
Transliteration: ʻâdâh
Pronunciation: aw-daw'
Description: a primitive root; to advance, i.e. pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck (i.e. bring an ornament upon); adorn, deck (self), pass by, take away.