Job 28:16

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

It cannot be valued {H5541} with the gold {H3800} of Ophir {H211}, with the precious {H3368} onyx {H7718}, or the sapphire {H5601}.

It can't be purchased with choice gold from Ofir, or with precious onyx or sapphires.

It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

Job 28:16 is a profound declaration within a poetic interlude in the Book of Job, emphasizing the immeasurable worth of true wisdom. It asserts that wisdom cannot be equated with or purchased by the most coveted earthly treasures of the ancient world.

Context

Chapter 28 of Job stands as a unique and beautiful hymn to wisdom, distinct from the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends. It describes humanity's tireless efforts to extract precious metals and stones from the earth's deepest recesses (Job 28:1-11), highlighting their ingenuity in uncovering hidden material wealth. However, the chapter then poses a critical question: "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?" (Job 28:12). Verses 15-19 then proceed to list various valuable commodities—gold, silver, precious stones—each of which is declared insufficient to purchase or value wisdom. Verse 16, with its specific mention of "the gold of Ophir," the "precious onyx," and the "sapphire," reinforces this powerful message of wisdom's incomparable superiority to all earthly riches.

Key Themes

  • The Inestimable Value of Wisdom: The primary message is that wisdom far surpasses all material possessions. Unlike gold or jewels, which can be mined and traded, true wisdom is divinely originated and cannot be bought or sold. This theme resonates throughout biblical wisdom literature, particularly in Proverbs, where wisdom is declared more precious than rubies.
  • Divine Origin of True Wisdom: While humans can find hidden treasures in the earth, the path to wisdom is hidden from all living things and even from the birds of the air (Job 28:21). Only God understands its way and knows its place (Job 28:23). This emphasizes that genuine wisdom is not a product of human ingenuity or exploration but a gift from the Almighty.
  • Contrast Between Earthly Riches and Spiritual Insight: The verse vividly contrasts the tangible, exhaustible nature of material wealth with the intangible, inexhaustible, and eternal nature of wisdom. It challenges the common human tendency to prioritize accumulation of physical assets over the pursuit of deeper understanding and spiritual truth.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Ophir" refers to a legendary land, famed in ancient times for its exceptionally pure and abundant gold. Its mention here signifies the highest possible standard of material wealth. The "onyx" and "sapphire" were also highly prized gemstones, often associated with royalty and divine presence (e.g., the sapphire is mentioned in visions of God's throne in Exodus 24:10 and Ezekiel 1:26). The Hebrew word for "valued" (סָלָה, salah) implies a process of weighing or estimating worth, which wisdom ultimately defies because its true value is beyond any human scale.

Practical Application

Job 28:16 serves as a timeless reminder to re-evaluate our priorities. In a world often driven by the pursuit of wealth, status, and material possessions, this verse redirects our focus to something far more enduring and beneficial: wisdom. It encourages us to seek understanding, discernment, and godly insight above all else, recognizing that true enrichment comes not from what we accumulate but from how we understand and navigate life with divine guidance. This pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong journey, leading to a richness that cannot be stolen, diminish, or compare to any earthly treasure.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 13:12

    I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

  • Ezekiel 28:13

    Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

  • Psalms 45:9

    Kings' daughters [were] among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

  • Exodus 28:20

    And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:4

    [Even] three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses [withal]:

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