TRV
Translation
King James Version
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
Berean Standard Bible
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
American Standard Version
It cannot be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
World English Bible Messianic
It can’t be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for its price.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Golde shall not be giuen for it, neyther shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof.
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In the KJVVerse 13,520 of 31,102
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Commentary on Job 28 verses 12–19
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 ¶ The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
Job, having spoken of the wealth of the world, which men put such a value upon and take so much pains for, here comes to speak of another more valuable jewel, and that is, wisdom and understanding, the knowing and enjoying of God and ourselves. Those that found out all those ways and means to enrich themselves thought themselves very wise; but Job will not own theirs to be wisdom. He supposes them to gain their point, and to bring to light what they sought for (Job 28:11), and yet asks, "Where is wisdom? for it is not here." This their way is their folly. We must therefore seek it somewhere else, and it will be found nowhere but in the principles and practices of religion. There is more true knowledge, satisfaction, and happiness, in sound divinity, which shows us the way to the joys of heaven, than in natural philosophy or mathematics, which help us to find a way into the bowels of the earth. Two things cannot be found out concerning this wisdom: -
I. The price of it, for that is inestimable; its worth is infinitely more than all the riches in this world: Man knows not the price thereof (Job 28:13), that is, 1. Few put a due value upon it. Men know not the worth of it, its innate excellency, their need of it, and of what unspeakable advantage it will be to them; and therefore, though they have many a price in their hand to get this wisdom, yet they have no heart to it, Pro 17:16. The cock in the fable knew not the value of the precious stone he found in the dunghill, and therefore would rather have lighted on a barley-corn. Men know not the worth of grace, and therefore will take no pains to get it. 2. None can possibly give a valuable consideration for it, with all the wealth this world can furnish them with. This Job enlarges upon Job 28:15, etc., where he makes an inventory of the bona notabilia - the most valuable treasures of this world. Gold is five times mentioned; silver comes in also; and then several precious stones, the onyx and sapphire, pearls and rubies, and the topaz of Ethiopia. These are the things that are highest prized in the world's markets: but if a man would give, not only these, heaps of these, but all the substance of his house, all he is worth in the world, for wisdom, it would utterly be contemned. These may give a man some advantage in seeking wisdom, as they did to Solomon, but there is no purchasing wisdom with these. It is a gift of the Holy Ghost, which cannot be bought with money, Act 8:20. As it does not run in the blood, and so come to us by descent, so it cannot be got for money, nor does it come to us by purchase. Spiritual gifts are conferred without money and without price, because no money can be a price for them. Wisdom is likewise a more valuable gift to him that has it, makes him richer and happier, than gold or precious stones. It is better to get wisdom than gold. Gold is another's, wisdom our own; gold is for the body and time, wisdom for the soul and eternity. Let that which is most precious in God's account be so in ours. See Pro 3:14, etc.
II. The place of it, for that is undiscoverable. Where shall wisdom be found? Job 28:12. He asks this, 1. As one that truly desired to find it. This is a question we should all put. While the most of men are asking, "Where shall money be found?" we should ask, Where may wisdom be found? that we may seek it and find it, not vain philosophy, or carnal policy, but true religion; for that is the only true wisdom, that is it which best improves our faculties and best secures our spiritual and eternal welfare. This is that which we should cry after and dig for, Pro 2:3, Pro 2:4. 2. As one that utterly despaired of finding it any where but in God, and any way but by divine revelation: It is not found in this land of the living, Job 28:13. We cannot attain to a right understanding of God and his will, of ourselves and our duty and interest, by reading any books or men, but by reading God's book and the men of God. Such is the degeneracy of human nature that there is no true wisdom to be found with any but those who are born again, and who, through grace, partake of the divine nature. As for others, even the most ingenious and industrious, they can tell us no tidings of this lost wisdom. (1.) Ask the miners, and by them the depth will say, It is not in me, Job 28:14. Those who dig into the bowels of the earth, to rifle the treasures there, cannot in these dark recesses find this rare jewel, nor with all their art make themselves masters of it. (2.) Ask the mariners, and by them the sea will say, It is not in me. It can never be got either by trading on the waters or diving into them, can never be sucked from the abundance of the seas or the treasures hidden in the sand. Where there is a vein for the silver there is no vein for wisdom, none for grace. Men can more easily break through the difficulties they meet with in getting worldly wealth than through those they meet with in getting heavenly wisdom, and they will take more pains to learn how to live in this world than how to live for ever in a better world. So blind and foolish has man become that it is in vain to ask him, Where is the place of wisdom, and which is the road that leads to it?
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–19. Public domain.
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Gregory the DialogistAD 604
71. For what is denoted by ‘fine gold,’ save the holy Angels, who are rightly called both ‘gold,’ and ‘fine [obrysum];’ ‘gold,’ because they shine with brightness of righteousness; ‘fine,’ because they never had any defilement of sin. But for just men, so long as they are in this corruptible flesh with the conditions of mortality, ‘gold’ they may indeed be, ‘fine gold’ they cannot be in any wise; because the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind, that museth upon many things. [Wisd. 9, 15] For though in this life they may shine by an extraordinary brightness of righteousness, yet they never purely lack the dross of sins; as John the Apostle bears witness, who says, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us [1 John 1, 8]; and as James affirms, who puts a proof, saying, For in many things we all offend. [James 3, 2] As the Prophet likewise beseeches, who says, Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. [Ps. 143, 2] Those then are termed ‘fine gold’ who whilst holding fast in that innocency, wherein they were created, at once shine with the brightness of righteousness, and are stained with no dross of sins, no not the very least.
72. But because in the stead of this Wisdom no one of the Angels was to be sent as the Redeemer of the human race, lest in those Angels, who, we have been taught, have often appeared in aid of men, any man should rest his hope, it is said, Fine gold shall not be given for it. As though it were expressed in plain speech; ‘By Its own Self shall Wisdom be manifested, in order that the human race may be redeemed from sin.’ There is no Angel sent in His stead; because it must needs be that by the Creator the creature should be set free. And hence the Lord said in the Gospel, If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. [John 8, 36] But the holy man, being filled with the Spirit of that same Wisdom, foresaw that there would not be wanting in Judaea some that should put their hope in the Lawgiver, and make Moses the author of their salvation, even as to the man that had been healed, speaking evil, they say, Be thou His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. [John 9, 28] Whence it is yet further introduced with propriety,
Nor shall silver be weighed in exchange thereof.
73. For because the divine revelations are often denoted by ‘silver,’ by the term of silver it may be that the writers of that revelation are also understood, whose life shone amidst the crowds of their fellow-creatures with the light of virtuous attainments. But because the Law was able to point out sins, but not able to take them away, it was not anyone of the ancient Fathers, nor the Lawgiver Moses, that became the Redeemer of mankind. So ‘silver is not weighed in exchange of this Wisdom,’ because all that have had power to be holy, by comparison with the Only-begotten Son of God are accounted to have been of no worth, who except they had known and seen that they were servants of that ‘Wisdom,’ could never at all have been holy. For to this end were they sent, that in the hearts of men they might by preaching prepare a way for this ‘Wisdom,’ neither yet that for her, but by her they might govern the peoples under their charge. For because it was certain that by the accession of periods of time, the ailments of the waning world should grow to a height, it was brought about that in the end of ages the Eternal Wisdom of God should by Its own Self come to this full grown sick one, with his over great infirmity, i.e. to the human race lying sick, throughout the whole world, that preachers having been dispatched beforehand, like a kind of visitors, the power of the physician might afterwards come so much the more efficacious, in proportion as the sickness of the diseased had more grown to a head. But because there is no one sent in the stead of Him for the saving of us, let it be rightly said, Nor shall silver be weighed in the exchange thereof. Forasmuch as the life of the just men who preached, with whatever light of holiness it might abound, doth not by its presence make exchange for the coming of Heavenly Wisdom to us. But there were multitudes of the Gentiles, who being attached to the systems of discipline of this world’s wise ones, observed those things which are honourable among men, and believed that, honourable dealing being observed, they were sure to be saved, nor any longer sought a Mediator between God and man, since they held the teaching of the philosophers as being sufficient for them.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Job 28:15 is a profound declaration within a poetic discourse on wisdom, asserting the immeasurable and transcendent value of true understanding. It emphatically states that wisdom, unlike any earthly commodity, cannot be acquired through the most precious metals—gold or silver—nor can its worth be quantified by any material wealth. This verse underscores the spiritual and divine nature of wisdom, placing it far beyond the reach of human commerce, ingenuity, or effort.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 28:15 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. Hyperbole is evident in the assertion that wisdom cannot be bought with any amount of gold or silver, exaggerating the point to emphasize wisdom's inestimable value. This is not merely a high price, but an impossible one, beyond any conceivable earthly transaction. Parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, is used effectively with the two clauses: "It cannot be gotten for gold" and "neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof." These two lines express the same idea in slightly different ways, reinforcing the central message of wisdom's non-material nature and its absolute superiority to all earthly wealth. The structure creates a rhythmic and emphatic declaration, driving home the point. Furthermore, the entire chapter, including this verse, functions as an extended Rhetorical Question (implied from Job 28:12 and Job 28:20), where the answer is that wisdom is not found among human endeavors or treasures, but rather its source is divine. Finally, there is a strong Contrast drawn between the tangible, finite value of precious metals and the intangible, infinite value of wisdom, highlighting the spiritual realm's superiority over the material.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 28:15 powerfully articulates a core biblical truth: true wisdom, which encompasses moral discernment, practical skill, and a deep understanding of God's ways, is fundamentally distinct from and superior to all material wealth. This verse serves as a theological anchor, reminding humanity that ultimate value and meaning cannot be purchased or accumulated through earthly means. It challenges the common human tendency to equate prosperity with wisdom or to believe that spiritual insight can be acquired through financial investment. Instead, it points to a transcendent source for genuine wisdom, implying that it is a gift from God, accessible not through commerce but through a relationship with the Divine. It sets the stage for the chapter's conclusion, where wisdom is identified with the fear of the Lord.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 28:15 offers a profound challenge to our modern sensibilities, which often equate worth with monetary value or material acquisition. In a world driven by economic metrics, the relentless pursuit of financial success, and the belief that anything can be bought, this verse serves as a timeless reminder that the most precious commodities—true understanding, spiritual insight, and discernment of God's will—are beyond the reach of any earthly currency. It calls us to re-evaluate our priorities, shifting our focus from accumulating perishable wealth to seeking imperishable wisdom. This wisdom, as the broader context of Job 28 suggests, is not found in the depths of the earth or in human ingenuity, but ultimately in the fear of the Lord (Job 28:28). Therefore, the practical application is to cultivate a heart that prioritizes spiritual seeking over material gain, recognizing that genuine fulfillment, lasting understanding, and true peace come from a divine source, freely given to those who humbly seek it. Our pursuit should be for what is eternal, not what is fleeting.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does Job 28:15 mean that all money is bad or useless?
Answer: No, Job 28:15 does not suggest that money itself is inherently bad or useless. Rather, it highlights the limitations of money and material wealth. Gold and silver are valuable for commerce, earthly sustenance, and human flourishing, but they are utterly incapable of acquiring true wisdom, spiritual insight, or a deep understanding of God's purposes. The verse draws a stark contrast between finite, material value and infinite, spiritual value, asserting that the latter transcends the former. It's a statement about what money cannot buy, specifically the inestimable treasure of divine wisdom, not a condemnation of money's legitimate uses.
If wisdom cannot be bought, how can one acquire it according to the Bible?
Answer: The Bible consistently teaches that true wisdom is a gift from God, not something earned or purchased. Job 28:28 states, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." This implies that wisdom begins with reverence for God and obedience to His commands. Proverbs 2:6 affirms, "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." The New Testament echoes this, with James 1:5 encouraging believers to "ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Therefore, wisdom is acquired through humble seeking, reverent obedience, diligent study of God's Word, and prayerful dependence on God.
Is the wisdom spoken of in Job 28:15 the same as intelligence or knowledge?
Answer: While intelligence and knowledge are components, the "wisdom" (Hebrew: chokmah) in Job 28:15 and throughout the wisdom literature is far more comprehensive. It's not merely intellectual capacity or the accumulation of facts. Chokmah encompasses practical skill, moral discernment, ethical conduct, and a deep understanding of the way the world works according to God's design and purpose. It is knowing how to live skillfully and righteously in God's world, making sound judgments, and understanding divine principles. It is a holistic, spiritual insight that guides one's entire life, far exceeding mere academic knowledge or worldly cleverness. It is wisdom that leads to life and flourishing.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 28:15, by declaring wisdom to be beyond the price of gold or silver, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate, inestimable value of Christ, who is the very embodiment of divine wisdom. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented not merely as a wise teacher, but as the wisdom of God personified. 1 Corinthians 1:24 proclaims Christ as "the power of God and the wisdom of God," and 1 Corinthians 1:30 further states that God "made him our wisdom, our righteousness, sanctification and redemption." Just as Job 28:15 asserts that true wisdom cannot be acquired by human means or material wealth, so too salvation and true life in Christ are freely given, not earned or bought. The "treasure" of wisdom that humanity cannot find or afford is fully revealed and freely offered in Christ, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). The deep search for wisdom described in Job finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus, who is the priceless gift of God, freely given to those who believe, offering a wisdom that leads to eternal life, far surpassing any earthly gold or silver. He is the answer to humanity's quest for ultimate understanding and meaning, a treasure beyond all measure.