Job 28 10

Job 28:10 kjv

He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

Job 28:10 nkjv

He cuts out channels in the rocks, And his eye sees every precious thing.

Job 28:10 niv

They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.

Job 28:10 esv

He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.

Job 28:10 nlt

They cut tunnels in the rocks
and uncover precious stones.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 10 Meaning

Job 28:10 illustrates the remarkable ingenuity, tireless effort, and keen perception of humanity, specifically in the arduous pursuit of mining. It describes how human miners meticulously "cut out channels" or tunnels through the most unyielding "rocks," overcoming immense natural barriers. This intensive labor and sophisticated engineering are then coupled with their ability to precisely discern and locate "every precious thing"—valuable metals and gemstones—hidden deep within the earth. The verse highlights the impressive human capacity to conquer the physical world in pursuit of material wealth, setting the stage for the chapter's profound contrast between discoverable earthly treasures and the hidden, ultimately unattainable nature of true wisdom by human endeavor alone.

Job 28 10 Context

Job 28 is a poetic and profound soliloquy, often referred to as Job's "Hymn to Wisdom." It marks a shift in Job's discourse, moving beyond his direct arguments with his friends about the reasons for his suffering. This chapter explores humanity's vast capabilities and simultaneous limitations.

The first part of Job 28 (verses 1-11), which includes verse 10, vividly describes the arduous and dangerous work of miners. It highlights humanity's exceptional skill, courage, and technological prowess in conquering the deepest and darkest parts of the earth. Miners dig shafts and tunnels, brave perils, descend to places untouched by living creatures, turn mountains upside down, and finally extract valuable metals (gold, silver, iron, copper) and precious stones from their hidden natural veins. Job 28:10 is a key component of this detailed description, showcasing the almost superhuman effort and precise vision required to procure earthly treasures.

The profound contrast is then introduced in the latter half of the chapter (verses 12-28). Despite humanity's astonishing success in plumbing the earth's depths for material riches, true wisdom remains utterly inaccessible to human search, comprehension, or purchase. Its value far surpasses gold, silver, or any jewel found by the miner's toil. The chapter concludes that only God knows wisdom's path and understands its place because He established and discerned it at creation. Thus, Job 28:10 functions as a powerful illustration of humanity's impressive but ultimately limited capacity, underscoring that while man can uncover earthly treasures, divine wisdom is uniquely known to God alone and revealed through fear of the Lord and departure from evil.

Job 28 10 Word analysis

• He cuts out (פְּלָחָיו, pə·lā·ḥāw): From the root pālach (פָּלַח), meaning "to split," "to cleave," "to pierce," or "to break open." This is an active and forceful verb, denoting a powerful and deliberate act of penetrating hard material. It emphasizes intense, dedicated, and skilled labor. It suggests not merely striking but creating a clear passage.
• channels (יְאֹרִים, yə·’ō·rîm): The plural of ye'or (יְאוֹר), often translated as "river" or "stream," specifically associated with the Nile (Exod 7:19; Isa 19:6-7). Here, in the context of mining, it signifies artificial passages or tunnels, cut to create access, perhaps even for diverting water or managing water accumulation within the mines. This term emphasizes human control and reshaping of natural terrain.
• in the rocks (בַּצּוּרִים, baṣ·ṣū·rîm): The term tsūrīm (צוּרִים) refers to hard rock, cliffs, or fortresses. The preposition "in" or "from" highlights the formidable, unyielding nature of the material being penetrated. It stresses the extreme difficulty and immense physical effort involved in piercing such solid stone, showcasing human perseverance against natural resistance.
• and his eye (וְכָל־ ... עֵינוֹ, wə·ḵol-... ‘ê·nōw): This phrase highlights the faculty of sight, often symbolic of perception, understanding, and careful discernment. It suggests focused observation and meticulous attention. It implies the miner's keen vision and knowledge necessary to identify and follow mineral veins.
• sees (רָ֝אֲתָה, rā·’ă·ṯāh): From ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "to look," "to perceive," or "to behold." In this context, it implies not just casual seeing but a perceptive recognition, identifying, and understanding of what is hidden. It speaks to the miner's acquired knowledge and sharp discernment amidst challenging conditions.
• every precious thing (יְקָרָה, yə·qā·rāh): From yāqār (יָקָר), meaning "precious," "costly," "valuable," "rare," or "esteemed." This refers to minerals, gems, or metals of high worth. It underscores the material objective of the miners' difficult work—the discovery of earthly treasures that are valuable in human estimation, creating a vivid contrast with wisdom's far greater and inimitable value.

Word-groups by Word-groups Analysis:

• "He cuts out channels in the rocks": This phrase encapsulates humanity's audacious ambition and engineering prowess. It speaks of conquering the hardest natural barriers by creating artificial pathways deep within them. It emphasizes the brute force and precision involved in mining, demonstrating human dominion over the earth's very structure. This action symbolizes the extreme effort undertaken for earthly gain.
• "and his eye sees every precious thing": This complements the previous phrase by emphasizing the keen discernment required. It's not just about brute strength to cut tunnels, but also about expert knowledge and precise observation to identify and extract the hidden treasures. This phrase highlights the intelligence and meticulousness that accompanies human labor in uncovering valuable, but still material, resources. It points to the successful outcome of their search.

Job 28 10 Bonus section

• The "He": In Job 28, the indefinite "he" is understood to represent humanity as a whole or, more specifically, the collective endeavor of human miners. It is not a reference to God in this verse but rather to the incredible feats achievable through human ingenuity and labor.
• Ancient Engineering Marvel: The description in Job 28:10-11 reflects remarkable advancements in ancient mining, including shafts and adits for ventilation, dewatering, and extraction. This wasn't merely surface quarrying but a complex industry demonstrating an astonishing mastery over difficult terrain and deep geological features. This highlights how advanced societies understood and applied engineering principles to secure resources.
• Pre-figurement of Divine Wisdom: While the verse focuses on human capability, the underlying theme of wisdom being hidden in the earth yet revealed (as God knows its place, v. 23) subtly anticipates spiritual truths. Just as miners diligently seek precious things from hidden places, so too is spiritual truth often "hidden" but revealed through God (Isa 45:3). This human diligence, though focused on earthly gain, paradoxically foreshadows the even greater search for and reception of divine wisdom.

Job 28 10 Commentary

Job 28:10 functions as a powerful illustration of humanity's impressive technological and adaptive capabilities in ancient times, particularly in the realm of mining. It portrays human ingenuity and sheer determination: penetrating solid rock, not merely chipping at its surface, but engineering complex subterranean networks ("channels"). This required incredible labor, courage, and sophisticated understanding of geology and mining techniques of the ancient Near East. The detail of "his eye sees every precious thing" further highlights the acute perception and trained skill needed to locate valuable ore veins and distinguish them from ordinary rock, emphasizing successful discovery.

This verse serves a crucial rhetorical purpose within Job's "Hymn to Wisdom." By detailing such profound human achievement in extracting material wealth from the earth's most formidable depths, Job effectively sets up a stark contrast: if humans can accomplish such seemingly impossible feats in the physical realm for mere material gain, how much more profoundly elusive must true wisdom be, which remains undiscovered by any such human endeavor or exploration? The verse ultimately elevates human effort while simultaneously defining its limits, positing that ultimate wisdom and knowledge of God's ways are not products of human striving or material discovery but reside exclusively with God.