Job 28 21

Job 28:21 kjv

Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

Job 28:21 nkjv

It is hidden from the eyes of all living, And concealed from the birds of the air.

Job 28:21 niv

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.

Job 28:21 esv

It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.

Job 28:21 nlt

It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 21 Meaning

Job 28:21 states that divine wisdom, which is the subject of the entire chapter, remains entirely beyond the comprehension and discovery of all creation. It emphasizes the ultimate inaccessibility of true wisdom to any living being, whether human or animal, and even to those creatures that symbolize expansive sight and reach, like the birds. No creature, regardless of its perception or mobility, can independently find or grasp this ultimate wisdom; it remains uniquely known and held by God.

Job 28 21 Context

Job 28 forms a standalone hymn or discourse on the inaccessibility of divine wisdom. It serves as a pivotal theological interlude in the book of Job, preceding God's own direct speeches in chapters 38-41. Up to this point, Job and his friends have debated the cause of Job's suffering, largely from a human perspective rooted in traditional wisdom and legalistic frameworks. Chapter 28 contrasts human ingenuity in mining and extracting earthly treasures – gold, silver, jewels, and water from hidden depths – with their utter inability to locate or procure true wisdom. Man can penetrate the earth's deepest places for material wealth, but not for spiritual wisdom. This verse specifically underscores the universal inability of created beings to perceive or understand wisdom, acting as a crucial step towards the realization that wisdom is an attribute solely possessed by God. Historically and culturally, birds, especially eagles or ravens, were sometimes associated with superior sight, high vantage points, or even divination in ancient Near Eastern traditions. The inclusion of "birds of the air" emphasizes that even creatures with such keen, far-reaching perceptions cannot attain wisdom, thus powerfully negating any claims of natural or occult means of acquiring it.

Job 28 21 Word analysis

• It: Refers implicitly to "wisdom" (ḥoḵmâ - חָכְמָה), which is the primary subject of Job 28. It represents the ultimate, divine knowledge and insight, distinct from human understanding or acquired information.
• is hidden: (נִסְתְּרָה - niṣṭerah). This is a Nifal perfect feminine singular verb from the root sātar (סָתַר), meaning "to hide," "to conceal." The Nifal stem denotes a passive action – "it has been hidden" or "it has hidden itself." This indicates that its inaccessibility is not due to lack of effort on humanity's part, but rather by its intrinsic nature or divine decree; it is deliberately placed beyond creaturely sight.
• from the eyes: (מֵעֵינֵי - mēʿēynê). The Hebrew preposition min (מִן) "from" plus ʿayin (עַיִן) "eye," signifying visual perception and understanding. It means wisdom is beyond the range or scope of what any creature can naturally observe or comprehend.
• of all living: (כָּל־חָי - kål-ḥāy). kōl (כֹּל) means "all" or "every," and ḥay (חַי) refers to "living thing," "life," or "creature." This phrase broadly includes all animate beings – humans and animals alike – signifying the universal limitation of creation. No life form possesses the inherent capacity to discover wisdom on its own.
• and concealed: (וַתִּסָּתֵר - wətistērâ). A consecutive imperfect verb (Nifal) from the same root sātar, "to be concealed." The repetition strongly reinforces the idea of deep, profound hiddenness. This is not merely unobservable but actively kept out of reach.
• from the birds: (מֵעוֹף - mēʿôf). ʿôf (עוֹף) refers to "flying creatures" or "fowl," encompassing all birds. In ancient thought, birds, particularly those with keen eyesight like eagles, symbolized high vantage points and far-reaching observation. They might also be associated with celestial knowledge or portents.
• of the air: (הַשָּׁמָיִם - haššāmayim). Refers to the "heavens" or "sky." This emphasizes the domain of birds, further extending the reach of observation and freedom from earthly constraints. Even those who soar high and have the widest view are incapable of seeing wisdom. This might also indirectly counter practices of augury, suggesting that divine truth is not discernible through bird flights or behavior.

• "It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed": This opening segment firmly establishes the state of wisdom as entirely unknowable through natural means. The dual verbs "hidden" and "concealed" using the same root powerfully reiterate the message, underscoring its complete and absolute inaccessibility. It implies an intentional veil rather than a simple oversight. This profound hiddenness implies that if wisdom is to be known, it must be revealed rather than discovered.
• "from the eyes of all living and ... from the birds of the air": This pairing illustrates the totality of creation's incapacity. "All living" covers the entire spectrum of creaturely life, from the human (who boasts intelligence) to the smallest creature. The specific mention of "birds of the air" goes further; it suggests that even those creatures considered to have exceptional perceptive abilities, or who inhabit the highest earthly realm (the sky), cannot locate it. It could also metaphorically refer to beings (human or angelic) who might claim superior insights or revelation but still fall short of divine wisdom.

Job 28 21 Bonus section

The structure of Job 28, moving from man's successful conquest of the earth's physical depths (vv. 1-11) to his utter failure to find wisdom (vv. 12-21), brilliantly highlights a theological contrast. Wisdom here is not mere cleverness or human insight; it is presented as a profound, divine attribute. The deliberate anthropomorphic framing of wisdom in this chapter as something with a "place" (v. 12) or a "value" (v. 13) allows Job to explore its elusive nature fully before revealing its true abode with God. The hymn implicitly argues against the prevailing belief in Job's time (and often ours) that knowledge, wisdom, or insight could be acquired solely through human experience, observation, or ritual (including divination associated with birds). The verse effectively draws a boundary: while humanity is master of its own earthly domain, it is not master of ultimate wisdom, which transcends all creaturely categories and limitations. This wisdom ultimately points towards God Himself as its sole possessor and revealer, preparing the audience for God's majestic self-revelation starting in Job 38.

Job 28 21 Commentary

Job 28:21 is a definitive statement within the Hymn to Wisdom, asserting that wisdom is inherently elusive and inaccessible to the entire created order. While humanity can brilliantly unearth the hidden physical riches of the earth through laborious effort and cunning, their ingenuity falls short when seeking true wisdom. The verse emphasizes that wisdom is not merely hard to find; it is hidden and concealed by its very nature or divine prerogative. "All living" signifies that neither human intellectual prowess nor the natural instincts of any creature can grasp it. The specific inclusion of "birds of the air," known for their elevated perspective and sharp vision, highlights that even the keenest perception and widest-ranging search within the natural realm are utterly insufficient. This profound inaccessibility means that wisdom cannot be bought, discovered through observation, or gained by natural ascent. Its source and disclosure lie entirely with God alone, as explicitly stated in the subsequent verses of the chapter, ultimately setting the stage for God's majestic revelation of His own sovereign wisdom. This verse serves as a crucial point of humility for humanity, redirecting focus from self-reliant discovery to humble reception from the Divine.