Job 28 17

Job 28:17 kjv

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

Job 28:17 nkjv

Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for jewelry of fine gold.

Job 28:17 niv

Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

Job 28:17 esv

Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

Job 28:17 nlt

Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 17 Meaning

Job 28:17 proclaims the immeasurable and incomparable worth of divine wisdom, asserting that no earthly treasure, no matter how precious or refined, can ever equate to its value or serve as an exchange for it. It emphasizes that while humanity can uncover and exploit the most valuable material riches hidden deep within the earth, true wisdom remains beyond human acquisition through wealth or human effort alone.

Job 28 17 Context

Job 28 stands as a profound poetic interlude, often referred to as "the hymn to wisdom," strategically placed within Job's dialogue with his friends. The chapter shifts focus from Job's personal suffering and the philosophical debate about the nature of God's justice to a universal truth about the nature and source of wisdom. The preceding verses (Job 28:1-11) detail the astonishing feats of human ingenuity and labor in extracting precious metals and gems from the deepest parts of the earth. Humanity has mastered mining, creating pathways unknown to wild animals, revealing the earth's hidden treasures. However, starting from Job 28:12, the poem poses a crucial question: "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding reside?"

Verse 17 specifically continues the theme set from verse 15, which begins listing a series of precious metals and gems—gold, silver, fine gold, onyx, sapphire, coral, crystal—each successively dismissed as insufficient to purchase or even compare to wisdom. The verse reinforces that while human endeavors can achieve great material wealth, true divine wisdom is not a commodity for sale, nor can its value be quantified by the most coveted earthly treasures. Historically, societies in the ancient Near East, including those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant, highly valued and fiercely sought precious metals and stones as symbols of wealth, power, and security. Job 28 directly challenges this human paradigm, asserting that the ultimate treasure lies beyond any earthly market or human capacity for discovery.

Job 28 17 Word analysis

• זָהָב (zahav) – Gold: In biblical literature and the ancient Near East, gold universally represented the ultimate measure of wealth, purity, and durability. Its inclusion immediately establishes the highest possible material standard against which wisdom is contrasted. It signifies earthly riches at their peak.

• וּזְכוּכִית (u-z'khuchit) – and glass/crystal: The Hebrew word z'khuchit refers to a transparent substance. While some translations render it simply "glass," most scholars believe it refers to crystal (like rock crystal) or a type of transparent gem, possibly of exceptionally high quality and clarity. Given the context alongside precious metals and other gems in Job 28 (like sapphire, onyx, coral), z'khuchit likely represents a rare, beautiful, and highly valued translucent material, highlighting beauty and perfection that still cannot compare to wisdom.

• לֹא־יַעַרְכֶנָּה (lo-ya‘arkhennah) – cannot equal its value / cannot be appraised by it: This phrase employs the Hebrew verb עָרַךְ ('arakh), meaning "to arrange," "to set in order," or "to appraise," "to value," "to estimate." The negation לֹא (lo) is emphatic: it is utterly impossible to set these materials alongside wisdom as equivalents, or to use them to determine wisdom's price. Wisdom exists on a qualitatively different, non-commensurable plane than material wealth.

• וּתְמוּרָתָהּ (u-t'muratah) – nor can articles of fine gold be exchanged for it / and its exchange/substitute: The Hebrew noun תְּמוּרָה (t'murah) means "exchange" or "substitute." It carries the connotation of an item given in place of another, especially in a commercial transaction or as a ransom. The inclusion of this term reinforces the idea that wisdom is not available through purchase or barter. There is no material item, no matter its worth, that can be given in exchange to acquire it.

• כְּלִי פָז (kĕlī phāz) – articles/vessel of fine gold/pure gold:

  • כְּלִי (keli): This noun can refer to an article, vessel, instrument, or equipment. Its use here implies not just raw gold, but crafted, worked, and finished products of gold, perhaps indicating artistry and additional human value added.
  • פָז (paz): This term specifically denotes "pure gold" or "fine gold," gold of the highest possible refinement and quality. It elevates the material referred to earlier (simple zahav), ensuring that even the most exquisite and purest form of earthly wealth is found lacking in comparison to wisdom.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Gold and glass/crystal cannot equal its value": This opening segment sets up a powerful juxtaposition. By naming "gold" – the most revered metal – alongside "glass/crystal" – representing the most exquisite and valuable transparent materials, the verse establishes the very pinnacle of earthly treasure. The phrase "cannot equal its value" (or "cannot be appraised by it") definitively states that these supreme material goods fall drastically short of matching wisdom's inherent worth. They are fundamentally incomparable in essence and value.

• "nor can articles of fine gold be exchanged for it": This phrase functions as a strong parallel and intensifier. While the first part negates equivalency in value, this second part denies any possibility of exchange or substitution. By specifying "articles of fine gold," the text progresses from raw precious material to refined, crafted goods made from the highest quality gold, symbolizing human ingenuity reaching its apex in creating material wealth. Yet, even such peak human productions cannot serve as a ransom, a trade, or a purchase price for wisdom. It powerfully underscores that divine wisdom is entirely outside the realm of commerce and human acquisition methods.

Job 28 17 Bonus section

• Polemics against Materialism: This verse, and indeed the entire chapter, functions as an implicit polemic against the ancient Near Eastern cultural worldview (and any materialistically inclined worldview) that placed ultimate value, security, and even status solely on the accumulation of wealth. Job asserts that even the most highly prized possessions in those cultures are utterly worthless when compared to true wisdom.
• The Inherent Value of Wisdom: Unlike material wealth whose value is often dictated by scarcity, market demand, or human preference, the worth of wisdom is portrayed as inherent, absolute, and intrinsic because its origin is divine. Its value isn't derived from what humans attribute to it, but from its connection to the very nature of God.
• Divine Revelation: The chapter, especially verses 23-28, emphasizes that wisdom cannot be "found" or "bought" by human effort but must be "revealed" or "given" by God. This sets wisdom apart as a gift of divine grace rather than an object of human achievement. "To fear the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
• Beyond Human Ingenuity: The preceding verses showcase humanity's impressive capability to conquer nature for material gain. Job 28:17, however, draws a boundary: there are domains (like wisdom) that human ingenuity, exploration, or wealth cannot touch. It humbles human pride in its achievements, redirecting attention to divine sovereignty over wisdom.

Job 28 17 Commentary

Job 28:17 is a cornerstone within the hymn to wisdom, revealing a crucial theological truth: divine wisdom operates on a plane distinct from, and far superior to, any earthly value system. While humanity meticulously mines the earth to uncover its hidden gold, silver, and precious gems, demonstrating unparalleled resourcefulness, the wisdom that gives true meaning and purpose remains fundamentally elusive to human endeavor and purchasing power. The repetition of materials and the insistence on their inadequacy (Job 28:15-19) highlight wisdom's absolute transcendence. It is not merely expensive, but utterly beyond any price. This implies that wisdom cannot be manufactured by human intellect, accumulated through diligent searching, or acquired through financial transaction. Its inaccessibility by these means forces the listener to consider its ultimate source. The passage subtly prepares for the revelation in Job 28:23, where God alone is revealed as the source who "understands the way to it and He alone knows where it dwells." Thus, the verse calls believers to shift their gaze from material pursuits as ultimate values to seeking the one true Source of all wisdom.

Examples of practical usage:

• When evaluating career paths, prioritizing wisdom and righteous living over solely monetary gain.
• In educational pursuits, seeking understanding and discernment that shape character and worldview, not just knowledge for economic advantage.
• Recognizing that true contentment and spiritual wealth come from divine wisdom, not from accumulating possessions.