Job 28:4

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; [even the waters] forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

The flood ^{H5158} breaketh out ^{H6555} from the inhabitant ^{H1481}; even the waters forgotten ^{H7911} of the foot ^{H7272}: they are dried up ^{H1809}, they are gone away ^{H5128} from men ^{H582}.

There where no one lives, they break open a shaft; the feet passing over are oblivious to them; far from people, suspended in space, they swing to and fro.

Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; They are forgotten of the foot; They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

Job 28:4 is part of a profound poetic interlude in the Book of Job, where the author marvels at humanity's incredible ingenuity and determination in mining the earth's hidden treasures. This chapter contrasts man's ability to extract precious metals from the deepest parts of the earth with the elusive, unsearchable nature of true wisdom.

Context

Chapter 28 of Job stands out as a magnificent hymn to wisdom. Before this, Job and his friends have debated the reasons for suffering. Here, Job shifts focus, describing how humans, with their remarkable skill, delve into the earth's darkest and most dangerous places to find gold, silver, iron, and precious stones. Verse 4 specifically paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by ancient miners. They would dig shafts and tunnels, often encountering underground water sources that needed to be managed or drained. This verse highlights the relentless human pursuit of material wealth, going where no foot has ever trod, even confronting natural obstacles like subterranean floods.

Key Themes

Human Ingenuity and Determination: The verse showcases humanity's extraordinary capacity to overcome natural barriers in the pursuit of resources. Miners venture into the earth's depths, diverting water and creating paths where none existed.
The Hidden Depths of Creation: It speaks to the unseen, forgotten parts of the earth, emphasizing that even these remote places are accessible to diligent human effort.
The Contrast with Wisdom: This detailed description of mining serves as a powerful setup for the chapter's main point: while humans can uncover all the earth's material wealth, true wisdom remains hidden and beyond human discovery without divine revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant" vividly describes the miner (the "inhabitant" or "dweller" of the mine) encountering and then managing subterranean water. The Hebrew word for "flood" (דָּלַל - dalal, though sometimes translated as 'stream' or 'torrent' in other contexts, here implies a gushing forth or breaking out) emphasizes the force of the water. The phrase "forgotten of the foot" highlights the remote, untrodden nature of these deep underground water sources, implying their untouched, pristine state before human intervention.

Practical Application

Job 28:4, within its broader context, serves as a powerful reminder that while human effort and ingenuity can conquer many physical challenges and uncover great material wealth, there are limits to what human endeavor alone can achieve. The passage ultimately directs us to recognize that true wisdom and understanding come from God, not from our own diligent searching in the physical world. It encourages us to seek divine wisdom with the same fervor that miners seek precious metals, understanding that it is far more valuable than any earthly treasure. This verse also implicitly celebrates the human capacity for work and perseverance, granted by God, to manage and shape the physical world, a theme echoed in Genesis 1:28 regarding mankind's dominion over creation.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.