TRV
Translation
King James Version
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
Complete Jewish Bible
Neither gold nor glass can be compared with it; nor can it be exchanged for a bowl of fine gold,
Berean Standard Bible
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
American Standard Version
Gold and glass cannot equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
World English Bible Messianic
Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
Geneva Bible (1599)
The golde nor the chrystall shall be equall vnto it, nor the exchange shalbe for plate of fine golde.
Young's Literal Translation
Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor is its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
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In the KJVVerse 13,522 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
77. Who that is sound of perception would deem it worthy to understand this according to the letter? For ‘glass,’ as we said above, is of much less worth than ‘gold,’ and after it was said that ‘gold is not equal’ to this Wisdom, it is yet further, as if heightening, subjoined, that ‘glass’ too cannot equal it either. But the bare letter failing us in the historical sense, sends us to investigating the mystery of the allegory. For we know that the metal gold shines with a superior brightness to all the metals. But it is of the nature of glass that whilst seen without it shines with perfect transparency in the inside. In every other metal whatever is contained within is hidden from sight, but in the case of glass, every liquid, such as it is contained within, such is it shown to be without, and, so to say, all the liquid in a glass vessel, whilst shut up is open. What other thing, then, do we understand by ‘gold and glass,’ but that heavenly Country, that society of blessed citizens, whose hearts mutually one with another at once shine with brightness, and are transparent by pureness; which John in Revelations had beheld, when he said, And the building of the wall of it was of jasper, and the city was of pure gold like unto clear glass. [Rev. 21, 18] For because all the Saints shall shine in the supreme brightness of bliss, it is described as constructed of gold.
78. And because their very brightness itself is reciprocally open to them in each other’s breasts, and when the countenance of each one marked his conscience is penetrated along with it, this very gold is described as like pure glass. For there the mind of every person no bodily frame of limbs will hide from the eyes of his fellow, but the interior will be given to view, the very harmony of the body too will also be plain to the eyes of the body, and each one will be in such wise distinguishable to another, as now he cannot be distinguishable to himself. But now our hearts, so long as we are in this life, because they cannot be seen in one by another, are enclosed not within glass vessels, but within vessels of earthenware; in which same clay in respect of the mind being affected the Prophet dreaded to stick, when he said, Deliver me out of the clay, that I may not stick fast. [Ps. 69, 14] Which very tabernacle of bodies, Paul calls ‘our earthly house,’ saying, For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2 Cor, 5, 1] Therefore in this earthly house so long as we live, the mere partition wall of our corrupt state, so to say, we do not penetrate with the eyes of the mind, and the hidden things in each other we cannot see. Hence Holy Church desiring to see the form of her Spouse in the Godhead, yet not being able, because the fashion of His Eternal Being, which she longed to behold, His Manhood, which He took upon Him, hid from her eyes, says mourning in the Song of Songs; Behold he standeth behind our wall. [Cant. 2, 9] As if she said in plain speech, ‘I desire to see HIM now already in the appearance of His Godhead, but I am still shut out from the sight of Him by the wall of the flesh He has assumed.’ Therefore so long as we live in this corruptible flesh, we see not the thoughts of the hearts in one another. Whence it is said by the same Paul, For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man that is in him? [1 Cor. 2, 11] And again; Therefore Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. [1 Cor. 4, 5] So then that City, which manifests the hearts of them that are in it to each severally and reciprocally, is described ‘of gold like to pure glass,’ that by the gold it may be represented bright, and by the glass transparent.
79. But though all the Saints therein glitter with such wonderful brightness, and shine through with such extraordinary transparency, yet that Wisdom, by a likeness of Which they have all that they are, they ‘cannot equal.’ Therefore it is well said, The gold and the glass cannot equal it. For it is for this that all the Saints are brought to those eternal joys, that they may be like to God, as it is written, When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. [1 John 3, 2] And yet it is written, O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto Thee? [Ps. 89, 9] And again; Who shall be like unto God among the sons of God? [ib. v. 6] Whence then shall they be like, and whence not like, but that to this ‘Wisdom’ they at once be like for a semblance and not like for equality? For by gazing on the Eternity of God, it is brought to pass upon them that they should be eternal, and while they receive the gift of seeing Him, by the receiving of Blessedness they copy the thing that they see. They are both like, then, because they are made blessed; and they are not like to the Creator, because they are a creature. And thus they both have a certain likeness to God, because they are without end; and yet they have no equality to the Incomprehensible One, because they have comprehensible being. Therefore let it be justly said, The gold and the glass is not equal to it. For with whatever brightness and transparency the Saints may shine, it is one thing for men to be wise in God, and another thing for a Man to be the Wisdom of God. Which same Wisdom he was truly acquainted with, who never ventured to liken any one of the Saints to the Mediator between God and man. And hence it is added; .
Neither shall vessels of gold high and overtopping be exchanged instead of it.
80. For a ‘lofty vessel of gold’ did Elijah prove, ‘a lofty vessel of gold’ Jeremiah, ‘lofty and overtopping vessels of gold’ the old Fathers were. But this Wisdom of God, in order that It might redeem us from a carnal kind of life, appeared in the flesh, and he, who did not see that Wisdom in a true light, supposed that the Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus, was one of the Prophets, which Christ the eyes of the Elect held for God, when they saw by Him but Man. Hence it is said by Him to the holy Disciples, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? [Matt. 16, 13, &c.] And when they thereupon answered Him, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist; some Elias: some Jeremias, or one of the prophets; they were immediately interrogated touching their own perception; But whom say ye that I am? To whom Peter, answering directly in the voice of the whole Church, says, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Thus, then, forasmuch as according to the declaration of Paul we ‘know Christ, the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God,’ for this Wisdom Peter refused to ‘exchange vessels of gold lofty and overtopping,’ because he understood concerning it no other thing than it was. For as has been said, a great ‘vessel of gold’ was John, a great ‘vessel of gold’ Elijah, a great vessel of gold ‘Jeremiah. Now whoever accounted that That God was anyone of these, did ‘exchange a vessel of gold high and overtopping’ for this ‘Wisdom.’ But for this Wisdom the Church doth not ‘exchange vessels of gold high and overtopping,’ because it holds that Christ the Son of God is not one of the Prophets, but the One Lord of the Prophets. For seeing that ‘Wisdom’ Itself had come to her, she refused to keep herself fixed in those golden vessels, but was eager with certainty of faith to pass on into that Wisdom. Whence she saith in the Song of Songs; The watchmen that keep the city found me; to whom I said, Saw ye him, whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him, whom my soul loveth. [Cant. 3, 3. 4.] For whom do we take ‘the watchmen that go about the city’ to be, but the former fathers and prophets who set themselves to watch by the voice of holy preaching for our safe keeping? but when the Church sought her Redeemer, she would not fix her hope in those same ancient preachers, in that she says, It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth. For Him she had not been able to find, if she had been unwilling ‘to pass by through these.’ For the unbelievers had rested themselves in those warders, who believed that Christ the Son of God was anyone of those. With the voice then and the faith of Peter, Holy Church passed by the watchmen she found, in that she disdained to believe the Lord Who had been prophesied to be anyone of the number of the prophets. Thus, let it be said, nor shall vessels of gold high and overtopping be exchanged for it. Because the Elect severally both venerate the life of the Saints for their loftiness, and yet do not take up with it for error. For those whom they know to be simple men they do not all compare to God-Man.
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 28:17 is a profound declaration embedded within a unique poetic interlude, asserting the incomparable and unattainable value of wisdom. This verse emphatically states that even the most coveted earthly treasures—gold and crystal, representing the pinnacle of material wealth—cannot equal wisdom's worth, nor can they serve as a medium for its acquisition. It stands as a powerful testament to wisdom's divine origin and its transcendence over all transient, tangible possessions, urging a reorientation of human pursuit from the material to the truly invaluable.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Chapter 28 of Job is a self-contained poetic meditation, distinct from the ongoing dialogue between Job and his three friends. It serves as a profound interlude that shifts the focus from the problem of suffering to the elusive nature and divine origin of wisdom. Preceding verses vividly describe humanity's impressive technological prowess in mining the earth's deepest recesses for precious metals and gems, venturing into places "where no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen" (Job 28:7). This detailed portrayal of human ingenuity in extracting earthly riches sets up a powerful contrast. Despite this remarkable human capability, the chapter then poses a critical rhetorical question: "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?" (Job 28:12). Job 28:17 directly answers this by reinforcing that wisdom is not found in the earth's depths, nor can it be purchased with any earthly commodity, no matter how valuable, building on the assertion in Job 28:15. The chapter culminates by revealing that true wisdom originates with God and is found in the "fear of the Lord" (Job 28:28), providing the ultimate resolution to the human quest for understanding.
Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, gold, silver, and precious stones were the ultimate symbols of wealth, power, and status. Mining was an exceptionally dangerous and arduous undertaking, requiring significant skill, advanced techniques for the time, and immense labor, making the extracted materials exceedingly valuable and sought after. The mention of "jewels of fine gold" likely refers to "gold of Ophir" (Hebrew: kethem ophir), a legendary source of the highest quality gold, possibly located in the Arabian Peninsula or East Africa, renowned for its exceptional purity and desirability throughout the ancient world. The prevailing cultural understanding was that anything of immense value could be acquired through sufficient wealth or strategic exchange. However, Job 28:17 radically challenges this fundamental assumption by positing that wisdom operates on an entirely different plane of value, one that transcends the transactional nature of the material world. This would have been a startling and counter-cultural statement in an era where material possessions often defined one's standing, security, and perceived blessing from the divine.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and biblical wisdom literature. Firstly, it underscores The Incomparable Value of Wisdom, asserting its absolute supremacy over all earthly treasures. By explicitly stating that gold, crystal, and the finest gold cannot "equal" or "exchange" for it, the text elevates wisdom to an unparalleled status, highlighting that its worth is beyond human calculation or material acquisition. Secondly, it points to The Divine Origin and Unattainability of True Wisdom by Human Means Alone. While humanity can master the earth's resources and extract its hidden riches, it cannot discover or purchase wisdom through its own efforts; its source is ultimately God, who alone "understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof" (Job 28:23). This theme emphasizes human limitation and dependence on divine revelation. Lastly, the verse subtly highlights The Futility and Limitation of Earthly Wealth. Despite its allure and utility, material wealth is ultimately inadequate for acquiring the most valuable commodity—wisdom. This encourages a profound re-evaluation of priorities, shifting focus from transient earthly gains to enduring spiritual understanding, a theme richly echoed in other wisdom texts like Proverbs 8, which personifies wisdom as a divine companion.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 28:17 employs several potent Literary Devices to convey its profound message about the incomparable value of wisdom. The primary device is Hyperbole, as the verse exaggerates the inability of the most precious earthly substances (gold, crystal, fine gold) to compare with wisdom, thereby emphasizing wisdom's immeasurable, almost infinite, superiority. This is coupled with stark Contrast, setting the tangible, finite value of "gold" and "crystal" against the intangible, infinite value of wisdom. The entire chapter, including this verse, functions as an extended Metaphor, where wisdom is presented as a hidden, invaluable treasure, but one that cannot be mined or purchased like earthly treasures. Furthermore, the verse participates in the chapter's broader Rhetorical Question structure (e.g., "But where shall wisdom be found?"), serving as a definitive negative answer regarding material acquisition, thereby amplifying the mystery and divine source of wisdom. This use of rhetorical questioning and subsequent negation underscores the limits of human endeavor in the face of divine truth.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 28:17 articulates a foundational biblical truth: true wisdom is not a commodity to be bought or sold, nor can its value be quantified by any earthly measure. It stands in stark contrast to human endeavors to accumulate wealth, asserting that the pursuit of material riches, no matter how grand, is ultimately futile in acquiring what truly matters—divine understanding. This perspective elevates spiritual and intellectual discernment above all temporal possessions, aligning with a consistent biblical emphasis on the supremacy of God-given wisdom as the ultimate treasure, leading to life, righteousness, and true prosperity. It challenges humanity's innate tendency to equate value with material worth, redirecting focus to the transcendent and eternal. This truth is a cornerstone of biblical wisdom literature, which consistently prioritizes spiritual insight over worldly gain.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 28:17 serves as a profound challenge to our contemporary values, which often prioritize material accumulation, financial success, and tangible assets. In a world driven by consumerism and the relentless pursuit of wealth, this verse compels us to pause and re-evaluate what we truly consider valuable. It reminds us that the most significant treasures are not those that can be bought or sold, but rather the intangible qualities of wisdom, understanding, and discernment, particularly those that originate from God. Pursuing divine wisdom means cultivating a life rooted in the fear of the Lord, seeking His truth, and applying His principles to our daily lives. This pursuit leads to a richness that transcends economic cycles, market fluctuations, and earthly decay, providing enduring purpose, moral clarity, and spiritual fulfillment that no amount of gold or crystal could ever purchase. It calls us to invest our time, energy, and resources not in fleeting material gains, but in the eternal pursuit of God's wisdom, which alone can guide us through life's complexities and lead us to true flourishing, offering a stability and peace that worldly wealth can never provide.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the Book of Job dedicate an entire chapter to wisdom, seemingly interrupting the main narrative?
Answer: Chapter 28 serves as a crucial theological interlude, shifting the focus from Job's suffering and the friends' flawed arguments to the ultimate source of understanding. It acts as a divine commentary, providing a transcendent perspective on the very problem of suffering and the limits of human knowledge. While Job and his friends have exhaustively debated the reasons for suffering, this chapter implicitly suggests that true wisdom—which comprehends the mysteries of God's ways—is beyond human discovery or purchase. It sets the stage for God's eventual appearance in Job 38, where He reveals His unsearchable wisdom in creation, thereby humbling Job and the reader, and preparing them to accept God's sovereignty even in the face of inexplicable suffering. The chapter's placement emphasizes that even if one could understand the universe's mechanics (as implied by humanity's mining prowess), the deeper wisdom of God's purposes remains elusive to human intellect alone, highlighting the necessity of divine revelation for true understanding.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 28:17 highlights the inestimable value of wisdom and its divine origin, the New Testament reveals that this ultimate wisdom is not merely an abstract concept or a set of principles, but is perfectly embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul declares that Christ is "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24), and that "in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). What Job 28:17 asserts cannot be bought with gold or crystal is freely given through faith in Christ, for He is the very revelation of God's wisdom to humanity. He is the pre-existent Word, through whom "all things were made" (John 1:3), revealing the profound wisdom of God in both creation and redemption. The pursuit of wisdom, which humanity could not achieve on its own, finds its ultimate fulfillment and accessibility in Christ. He is the "pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:45-46), for which one would sell everything, not to buy Him, but to gain Him and the immeasurable wisdom He embodies. Thus, the wisdom that surpasses all earthly wealth is not acquired through human effort or material exchange, but received as a gift of grace through the one who is Wisdom incarnate, freely offered to all who believe.