Job 28:2

KJV

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone.

KJV (with Strong's)

Iron {H1270} is taken {H3947} out of the earth {H6083}, and brass {H5154} is molten {H6694} out of the stone {H68}.

Complete Jewish Bible

iron is extracted from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

Berean Standard Bible

Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.

American Standard Version

Iron is taken out of the earth, And copper is molten out of the stone.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 28:2 is a vivid poetic expression within a profound interlude, celebrating humanity's remarkable ingenuity and tireless effort in extracting valuable, hidden resources from the earth. By detailing the arduous process of mining and metallurgy, the verse sets a powerful stage for the chapter's central theological inquiry: while humanity can master the physical world and unearth its treasures, true wisdom remains elusive, hidden from human discovery, and ultimately belongs to God alone.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 28 stands as a magnificent, self-contained poetic interlude, often referred to as the "Hymn to Wisdom," strategically placed between Job's final defense (Job 27) and the speeches of Elihu (Job 32-37). It serves as a profound pivot in the narrative, shifting the focus from the individual suffering and theological debates of Job and his friends to a universal contemplation of wisdom's nature and source. The chapter begins by detailing humanity's impressive ability to delve into the earth's deepest recesses, creating intricate mines and tunnels to unearth hidden treasures like silver and gold ([Job 28:1](/job/28-1 "Job 28:1 - Humanity's Search for Earthly Treasures")). Verse 2 specifically highlights the extraction of iron from the ground and the smelting of brass (or copper) from stone, further illustrating humanity's mastery over the physical world. This vivid description of human technological prowess and daring exploration serves as a powerful backdrop to the chapter's central, rhetorical question: "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?" ([Job 28:12](/job/28-12 "Job 28:12 - The Elusiveness of Wisdom")). The ultimate conclusion, meticulously built through the poem, is that true wisdom is not found in the earth's depths, nor can it be purchased with the most precious gems; it belongs to God alone ([Job 28:23](/job/28-23 "Job 28:23 - God's Understanding of Wisdom"), [Job 28:28](/job/28-28 "Job 28:28 - The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The descriptions in Job 28:1-11 reflect a sophisticated understanding of ancient mining and metallurgical practices prevalent in the Near East. Iron and copper (often translated as "brass" in older versions like the KJV, but more accurately referring to copper or its alloy, bronze) were foundational metals for ancient civilizations, essential for tools, weapons, and various implements. The process of extracting iron from the earth involved identifying ore deposits, often deep underground, and then laboriously digging it out. Smelting brass (copper/bronze) from "stone" refers to the process of heating copper ore (malachite, azurite, etc.) to extremely high temperatures in furnaces, often with charcoal, to separate the pure metal from the rock. This was a dangerous and labor-intensive endeavor, requiring significant engineering skill, knowledge of geology, and control over fire. The text's detailed portrayal of miners hanging by ropes in shafts, far from human habitation, underscores the perilous nature of these ancient industries. This context highlights humanity's drive to harness natural resources, a drive that was both technologically advanced for its time and fraught with risk.
* **Key Themes:** Job 28:2 contributes significantly to several major themes within the chapter and the broader book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Human Ingenuity and Diligence**, showcasing humanity's capacity for exploration, hard work, and innovation. People go to extraordinary lengths and endure significant danger to extract materials that sustain and advance civilization, reflecting a God-given creative impulse within mankind. Secondly, it emphasizes **Mastery Over the Physical World**, demonstrating humanity's ability to subdue and utilize the earth's resources. The complex processes described—mining iron and smelting copper—were vital technologies in the ancient world, signifying a sophisticated understanding of metallurgy and a degree of dominion over creation, echoing themes found in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - Dominion Mandate"). Thirdly, and most crucially, the verse sets up a profound **Contrast with Divine Wisdom**. This impressive human skill in mastering the physical realm is presented in stark contrast to humanity's inability to discover or comprehend divine wisdom through their own efforts. The chapter implies that while we can find gold, silver, iron, and copper, wisdom's true source remains hidden from human eyes and cannot be purchased or unearthed by human endeavor alone, as underscored in [Job 28:12-14](/job/28-12 "Job 28:12-14 - Wisdom's Elusive Nature").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Iron (Hebrew, _barzel_):** A common and essential metal in the ancient world, known for its strength and durability. Its extraction from the earth was a difficult and often dangerous process, symbolizing the profound effort required to obtain valuable, hidden resources. The mention of iron here highlights humanity's ability to harness the earth's raw power for practical applications.
* **Brass (Hebrew, נְחֹשֶׁת, _nechosheth_):** While translated as "brass" in the KJV, this Hebrew term typically refers to copper or bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) in ancient Near Eastern contexts. True brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) was less common in the ancient world. The use of _nechosheth_ here points to the widespread and vital use of copper-based metals for tools, weapons, and ornaments, underscoring humanity's advanced metallurgical knowledge and ability to transform raw materials.
* **Molten (Hebrew, יָצוּק, _yatsuq_):** This word describes the process of smelting, where ore-bearing stone is subjected to intense heat to extract the pure metal. It signifies a transformative process, where something raw and unrefined (stone) is converted into something valuable and usable (metal) through human skill and technological mastery. This act of "melting" or "casting" highlights the active and intelligent intervention of humanity in the natural world.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Iron is taken out of the earth":** This clause emphasizes the active and laborious process of extraction. Iron, a valuable and necessary resource, is not found on the surface but must be "taken out" from deep within the earth. This speaks to human diligence, perseverance, and the physical effort involved in unearthing hidden treasures. It also hints at the hidden nature of valuable things, which require effort to uncover.
* **"and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone":** This clause describes a further stage of human ingenuity: the transformation of raw material. "Brass" (copper/bronze) is not simply found but must be "molten" or smelted from its ore, which is found within "stone." This highlights humanity's technological prowess, their ability to apply scientific understanding (even if rudimentary) to refine and create useful materials from seemingly intractable natural elements. It underscores the theme of human mastery over the physical world and the sophisticated processes involved in ancient metallurgy.

#### Literary Devices
Job 28:2, like the entire chapter, is rich in **Imagery**, painting vivid pictures of human endeavor. The images of "iron taken out of the earth" and "brass molten out of the stone" evoke the arduous, dangerous, yet ultimately successful efforts of miners and metallurgists. This concrete imagery grounds the abstract discussion of wisdom in tangible human experience. The verse also employs **Juxtaposition** and **Contrast**, which are central to the chapter's overall message. The impressive human ability to extract and refine metals from the earth is implicitly contrasted with humanity's inability to discover or create true wisdom through similar means. This sets up the profound theological point that while humans can master the physical world, divine wisdom remains beyond their grasp. Furthermore, the metals themselves can be seen as **Symbols**: iron and copper/bronze symbolize earthly wealth, human achievement, and the tangible products of human labor, which are ultimately limited in value compared to the infinite worth of divine wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 28:2 beautifully illustrates humanity's God-given capacity for dominion and creativity, echoing the creation mandate in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Dominion Mandate"). Humans are uniquely endowed with the intellect and drive to explore, understand, and harness the natural world, transforming raw materials into useful tools and treasures. However, this verse, within the larger context of Job 28, serves to highlight the profound limitation of human wisdom when it comes to ultimate truth and understanding. While we can delve into the deepest parts of the earth and master its resources, we cannot, by our own efforts, discover the hidden wisdom of God. This wisdom is not a commodity to be mined or smelted; it is a divine revelation, accessible only through reverent obedience and the fear of the Lord. The chapter thus establishes a crucial distinction between human technical skill and divine, salvific wisdom, emphasizing that true understanding originates with the Creator, not with human ingenuity.

* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - Wisdom from the Lord"): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts are Higher"): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom"): "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 28:2 invites us to marvel at the incredible human capacity for discovery, innovation, and diligent work, a testament to the creative spark God has instilled within us. We are capable of amazing feats in science, technology, and exploration, transforming our world in countless ways. This verse encourages us to pursue knowledge, develop skills, and engage with the material world with excellence and responsibility. However, the chapter's overarching message calls for profound humility: while we can extract physical treasures from the earth, true wisdom, understanding, and the deepest truths about life, suffering, and God are not found through human effort or intellectual prowess alone. They are gifts from God, requiring reverence, obedience, and a posture of humility before the Creator. This passage challenges us to recognize the limits of our own understanding and to seek ultimate wisdom not in the depths of human achievement, but in the revealed Word and character of God. It reminds us that our greatest ingenuity should lead us to greater awe of the One who holds all wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does our modern technological advancement, similar to the ancient metallurgical skills described, sometimes blind us to our need for divine wisdom?**
* **In what areas of your life are you relying solely on human ingenuity, and where might you need to seek God's wisdom more earnestly?**
* **How can appreciating human creativity and dominion over the earth lead us to a deeper reverence for the Creator?**
* **What does "the fear of the Lord" practically mean in our pursuit of knowledge and understanding today?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "brass" in Job 28:2, given that true brass was less common in ancient times?**

Answer: The KJV translation of "brass" in Job 28:2, from the Hebrew word _nechosheth_ (נְחֹשֶׁת), most accurately refers to copper or, more commonly, bronze. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, which was a highly significant metal in the ancient Near East, preceding the widespread use of iron. True brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, became more prevalent in later periods. The significance here is not the precise metallurgical composition but the human ability to extract and transform raw ore (stone) into a valuable and useful metal through the complex process of smelting. This highlights the advanced technological understanding of the time and humanity's mastery over the earth's resources, setting the stage for the contrast with the elusive nature of divine wisdom.

**Why does Job 28 focus so extensively on mining and metallurgy before discussing wisdom?**

Answer: The extensive focus on mining and metallurgy in [Job 28:1-11](/job/28-1 "Job 28:1-11 - Humanity's Daring Exploits") serves as a powerful and vivid **analogy** to underscore the chapter's central theme: the elusiveness of true wisdom. The poet meticulously details humanity's incredible efforts, ingenuity, and daring in delving into the deepest, darkest, and most dangerous parts of the earth to extract hidden, precious metals like silver, gold, iron, and copper. This demonstrates the peak of human capability in mastering the physical world. By contrasting this impressive human achievement with the rhetorical question, "But where shall wisdom be found?" ([Job 28:12](/job/28-12 "Job 28:12 - The Elusiveness of Wisdom")), the chapter makes a profound point: if humans can go to such extraordinary lengths to find earthly treasures, yet cannot find wisdom by similar means, then wisdom must reside in a realm beyond human discovery and acquisition. It establishes that true wisdom is not a commodity to be unearthed or purchased, but a divine attribute and gift, ultimately found only in God ([Job 28:23](/job/28-23 "Job 28:23 - God's Understanding of Wisdom")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 28:2, with its depiction of humanity's tireless pursuit and mastery over the earth's hidden treasures, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reorientation in the person of Jesus Christ. While humanity can unearth iron and smelt copper, the true, ultimate treasure—divine wisdom—is not found in the earth's depths but is revealed in Christ. He is the very embodiment of God's wisdom, as [1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God") declares, "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." In Him are "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - All Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")). Just as miners descend into darkness to bring forth light-reflecting metals, Christ, the light of the world, descended into the darkness of humanity's sin and death to bring forth the light of salvation and true understanding. The "fear of the Lord" that Job 28 concludes as the beginning of wisdom ([Job 28:28](/job/28-28 "Job 28:28 - The Fear of the Lord is Wisdom")) is perfectly realized in Christ, who perfectly humbled Himself and obeyed God, even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Christ's Humility and Obedience")). He is the one who truly "knows the way to wisdom" and "understands its place" because He is God's wisdom incarnate, making known the Father's heart and mind to a humanity otherwise lost in its own limited pursuits ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God, Except the Son")). In Christ, the search for wisdom culminates, not in a material find, but in a living relationship with the One who is the source of all truth and life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 8:9

A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any [thing] in it; a land whose stones [are] iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

Genesis 4:22

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain [was] Naamah.

Numbers 31:22

Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

1 Chronicles 22:14

Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.