Job 28:16

16 Wisdom cannot be bought with fine gold or with valuable onyx or sapphire gems.

Job 28:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 28:16

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir
Which is often spoken of in Scripture as choice gold, if not the best; (See Gill on Job 22:24); the sense is, that the gold of Ophir is not of the value of wisdom, or of the same worth with that, and so not sufficient to purchase it: with the precious onyx and sapphire: two precious stones that were in the breastplate of the high priest, of which (See Gill on Exodus 28:9), (See Gill on Exodus 28:18), and (See Gill on Exodus 28:20); but not so precious, or of such value as wisdom. Pliny F25 speaks of the onyx stone as in Arabia, near which Job lived, and who doubtless was acquainted with it and its worth, and also with the sapphire he makes mention of before, (See Gill on Job 28:6). The word for "valued" is by some rendered "strowed" F26, as goods are when they are exposed to sale; but wisdom should not be laid, or put on a level with these, though so excellent and precious.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Nat. Hist. l. 37. c. 6.
F26 (hlot) "verbum significat sternere", Michaelis.

Job 28:16 In-Context

14 The deep ocean says, 'It's not in me;' the sea says, 'It's not in me.'
15 Wisdom cannot be bought with gold, and its cost cannot be weighed in silver.
16 Wisdom cannot be bought with fine gold or with valuable onyx or sapphire gems.
17 Gold and crystal are not as valuable as wisdom, and you cannot buy it with jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worth talking about, and the price of wisdom is much greater than rubies.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.