Job 28:5

KJV

[As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

KJV (with Strong's)

As for the earth {H776}, out of it cometh {H3318} bread {H3899}: and under it is turned up {H2015} as it were fire {H784}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"While the earth is [peacefully] yielding bread, underneath, it is being convulsed as if by fire;

Berean Standard Bible

Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

American Standard Version

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 28:5 offers a profound poetic observation on the earth's dual nature: it is both the source of life-sustaining provision and the repository of hidden, fiery resources. This verse encapsulates humanity's remarkable ingenuity in extracting both daily necessities and valuable, often dangerous, treasures from the ground. It serves as a foundational statement within Job 28, a chapter that contrasts humanity's impressive mastery over the physical world with its inherent inability to discover true, divine wisdom through similar earthly endeavors.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 28 stands as a magnificent poetic interlude, distinct from the preceding dialogues between Job and his friends and the subsequent speeches. It functions as a "hymn to wisdom," shifting the focus from Job's personal suffering and the theological debates to a universal contemplation of wisdom's origin and accessibility. Verses 1-11 meticulously detail humanity's impressive feats in mining, describing how man delves into the earth's deepest, darkest places to unearth precious metals like silver, gold, and iron, and how he conquers formidable natural obstacles. Job 28:5 is an integral part of this vivid depiction, illustrating the earth's dual yield of both sustenance and subterranean riches, thereby setting the stage for the chapter's climactic declaration that true wisdom eludes even the most determined human exploration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the earth was universally recognized as the primary source of life, providing food through agriculture. Simultaneously, mining for metals and precious stones was an arduous and dangerous, yet highly valued, enterprise. Societies depended on these resources for tools, weapons, currency, and ornamentation. The imagery of "turning up fire" from beneath the earth would have resonated deeply with those familiar with the extraction of ores that required smelting (using fire) or combustible materials like coal. This verse reflects a common understanding of the earth as a vast, complex storehouse, whose contents were accessed through immense human labor and skill, often in perilous conditions far removed from the light of day, as detailed in [Job 28:1-4](/job/28-1 "Job 28:1-4 - Humanity's Mining Prowess").
* **Key Themes:** Job 28:5 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Provision and Sustenance**, highlighting the earth's fundamental role in sustaining life, a testament to God's benevolent design, as seen in passages like [Psalm 104:14](/psalm/104-14 "Psalm 104:14 - God's Provision for Creation"). Secondly, it celebrates **Human Ingenuity and Resourcefulness**, showcasing humanity's remarkable capacity for discovery, labor, and dominion over creation, echoing the mandate given in [Genesis 1:28](/genesis/1-28 "Genesis 1:28 - The Cultural Mandate"). Lastly, and most crucially for Job 28, this verse acts as a **Precursor to Wisdom's Elusiveness**. By vividly portraying humanity's ability to conquer the earth's physical depths, it subtly prepares the reader for the profound contrast that follows: despite all this earthly exploration and mastery, true wisdom remains hidden from human sight and cannot be acquired through any amount of earthly treasure or effort, a truth powerfully articulated in [Job 28:12-22](/job/28-12 "Job 28:12-22 - The Unattainable Nature of Wisdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **לָחֶם (Hebrew, _lakhem'_):** Translated as "bread" in the KJV, this Hebrew word broadly refers to food, sustenance, or grain. It emphasizes the earth's role as the primary provider of daily necessities for human life. In ancient Israel, bread was the staple food, symbolizing all essential nourishment. Its appearance here highlights the most basic and vital yield of the earth, contrasting it with the more hidden and refined treasures.
* **נֶהְפַּךְ (Hebrew, _nehpakh'_):** This word, translated as "is turned up," comes from the root הָפַךְ (*haphakh*), meaning "to turn, overturn, change, transform." In the Niphal (passive) stem, it conveys the sense of something being "overturned" or "transformed" from below the surface. This verb vividly portrays the active, often violent, process of mining and excavation, where the earth is literally turned inside out to reveal its hidden contents.
* **אֵשׁ (Hebrew, _'esh'_):** Translated as "fire," this word is used here in a metaphorical or descriptive sense. It likely refers to the fiery appearance of certain minerals or ores (e.g., glittering gold, sparkling gems, or red iron ore) as they are brought to light from the dark earth. Alternatively, it could allude to combustible materials like coal, or the intense heat of the smelting process required to refine metals extracted from the earth. The imagery evokes brilliance, danger, and the transformative power associated with these subterranean discoveries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread":** This clause establishes the earth's fundamental role as the source of sustenance. It speaks to the visible, accessible, and life-giving aspect of the ground. From the soil, through agriculture, comes the food necessary for human and animal life, a clear demonstration of divine provision and the natural order. This is the earth's benevolent face.
* **"and under it is turned up as it were fire":** This second clause introduces a stark contrast, revealing the earth's hidden, deeper, and often more dangerous dimension. "Under it" points to the subterranean realms, the dark mines and caverns. The phrase "is turned up" describes the laborious and invasive process of excavation. The comparison "as it were fire" refers to the valuable, often gleaming, minerals and ores (like gold, silver, copper, iron) that are extracted from these depths, or perhaps to combustible materials like coal, or even the intense heat of the refining process. This highlights humanity's persistent and resourceful efforts to uncover the earth's concealed treasures, often requiring immense effort and facing significant peril.

#### Literary Devices
Job 28:5 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Parallelism** is evident in the two clauses, contrasting the earth's surface yield of "bread" with its subterranean yield of "fire" (or fiery materials). This creates a balanced yet contrasting image. **Metaphor** is central to the phrase "turned up as it were fire," where "fire" is not literal combustion but a vivid descriptor for the appearance of valuable ores or the intense processes associated with their extraction and refinement. This also leans into **Symbolism**, where "bread" symbolizes life, sustenance, and the visible blessings of creation, while "fire" or fiery materials symbolize hidden wealth, human ingenuity, and the dangerous, transformative power of delving into the earth's depths. The verse's concise yet evocative language contributes to the overall poetic beauty and profound thematic development of Job 28.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 28:5, within its broader context, serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of creation, human endeavor, and the ultimate source of wisdom. It affirms God's design in providing for humanity's basic needs through the earth's bounty, while simultaneously showcasing the remarkable, God-given capacity of humanity to explore and harness the deeper, hidden resources of the planet. However, the verse's true theological weight is revealed when contrasted with the rest of Job 28, which asserts that despite all this human ingenuity and mastery over the physical world, true wisdom cannot be found within the earth's depths or purchased with its treasures. This sets up the profound truth that wisdom is a divine attribute, originating solely with God, and is revealed according to His will, not discovered by human effort. It teaches humility in our achievements and directs our gaze beyond earthly pursuits to the divine source of all true understanding.

* [Psalm 104:14](/psalm/104-14 "Psalm 104:14 - God Causes Grass to Grow for Livestock")
* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - For the LORD Gives Wisdom")
* [Isaiah 45:3](/isaiah/45-3 "Isaiah 45:3 - God Gives Treasures of Darkness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 28:5 invites us to a multi-layered reflection on our relationship with the created world and with the Creator. On one hand, it calls us to a profound sense of gratitude for God's consistent and abundant provision, from the daily nourishment that sustains life to the raw materials that enable civilization and technological advancement. This should foster a deep appreciation for the intricate design of creation and our dependence on its Giver. On the other hand, the verse, especially when viewed through the lens of the entire chapter, serves as a powerful reminder of the limits of human knowledge and the ultimate futility of seeking ultimate wisdom through purely earthly means. Despite our incredible capacity for discovery and innovation, the most profound truths, particularly those concerning life's ultimate meaning and purpose, remain beyond our grasp unless divinely revealed. This prompts us to cultivate humility in our achievements and to recognize that true wisdom is not something we can extract or purchase, but rather a gift to be sought from its divine source. It challenges us to prioritize the pursuit of God's wisdom over the accumulation of earthly treasures or the mastery of worldly knowledge.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the earth's dual provision of "bread" and "fire" (or hidden resources) shape your understanding of God's design and provision for humanity?**
* **In what ways might our modern society, despite its technological prowess, still struggle to find true wisdom, echoing the message of Job 28?**
* **How can we balance our legitimate efforts to harness the earth's resources with a humble recognition that ultimate wisdom comes only from God?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the contrast between "bread" and "fire" in Job 28:5?**

Answer: The contrast between "bread" and "fire" (or fiery materials) in [Job 28:5](/job/28-5 "Job 28:5 - Earth's Dual Yield") is highly significant. "Bread" symbolizes the earth's surface-level, visible, and essential provision for daily life—the sustenance that comes from agriculture. It represents the benevolent and accessible aspect of creation. "Fire" (or the materials that appear like fire, such as glittering ores or combustible resources) symbolizes the earth's hidden, deeper, and often more valuable treasures that require immense human effort, ingenuity, and even danger to extract. This contrast highlights humanity's dual relationship with the earth: as a source of basic needs and as a repository of profound, often dangerous, riches. It sets up the central theme of [Job 28](/job/28 "Job 28 - The Hymn to Wisdom"), which is that while humanity can master the earth's physical depths, true wisdom remains elusive and beyond human acquisition.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 28:5, with its depiction of the earth yielding both sustenance and hidden treasures, finds its ultimate fulfillment and reinterpretation in Christ. While the Old Testament passage marvels at humanity's ability to extract earthly goods, it simultaneously laments the inability to find true wisdom through such means. Jesus Christ, however, embodies the very wisdom that Job 28 declares to be unattainable by human effort. He is revealed as "the wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")), the one in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in Whom All Treasures of Wisdom Are Hidden")). Furthermore, Christ is not merely the source of spiritual wisdom but also the ultimate "Bread of Life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), providing eternal sustenance far beyond the earthly bread that perishes. He is also the one who, through His death and resurrection, descended into the depths and brought forth the greatest treasure—salvation and eternal life—a spiritual "fire" that purifies and illuminates. Thus, the dual provision of the earth in Job 28:5 foreshadows Christ, who provides both the spiritual sustenance for our souls and the hidden, invaluable treasure of divine wisdom and redemption, freely given to those who seek Him, unlike the earthly treasures that must be laboriously extracted.

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

Isaiah 28:25

When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?

Isaiah 28:29

This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working.

Psalms 104:14

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

Psalms 104:15

And wine [that] maketh glad the heart of man, [and] oil to make [his] face to shine, and bread [which] strengtheneth man's heart.

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.

Ezekiel 28:14

Thou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

Genesis 1:29

¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.