Job 28 24

Job 28:24 kjv

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

Job 28:24 nkjv

For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,

Job 28:24 niv

for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

Job 28:24 esv

For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

Job 28:24 nlt

for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 24 Meaning

Job 28:24 proclaims God's supreme and comprehensive knowledge over all creation. It reveals Him as the only one who truly possesses and understands wisdom, primarily because His perception is infinite, encompassing every remote corner of the earth and everything contained beneath the entire heavens. This verse affirms God's omniscience and omnipresence as foundational to His unique ownership of wisdom, distinguishing His perfect understanding from any limited human grasp.

Job 28 24 Context

Job chapter 28 stands as a profound poetic interlude within the dialogues of Job and his friends. Often called the "Hymn to Wisdom" or the "Poem on Wisdom," it deviates from the direct arguments and offers a meditative reflection on the nature and origin of wisdom. The preceding verses (28:1-22) detail humanity's relentless quest for earthly treasures, such as precious metals and jewels, and their mastery in extracting them from the earth's depths. However, the poet asserts that despite humanity's ingenuity and exploratory spirit, true wisdom (personified as an elusive treasure) remains beyond their grasp, undiscoverable in the mines or oceans, and beyond purchase at any price. Verse 24, along with its immediate preceding and succeeding verses (28:23-28), marks the turning point. It emphatically declares that only God knows wisdom's dwelling and its path. This verse explains why God alone knows, linking His unique comprehension of wisdom to His omniscient vision of all creation. Historically, this chapter resonates with a context where human knowledge was valued but ultimately recognized as finite, in contrast to the divine. It might subtly challenge common ancient Near Eastern beliefs in obtaining ultimate wisdom through human effort or secretive mystical practices, affirming that it resides exclusively with the transcendent Creator.

Job 28 24 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction serves as a causal particle, meaning "because," "for," or "indeed." Here, it provides the fundamental reason or justification for the preceding statement that only God knows the way to wisdom and its dwelling place (Job 28:23). It introduces the theological foundation for God's unique possession of wisdom.
• He looks (יַבִּיט, yabbit): Derived from the Hebrew verb נבט (nabat), which means "to look," "to gaze," "to regard," or "to behold." Unlike a casual glance, nabat implies a purposeful, thorough, and often sustained observation. It suggests a comprehensive survey and consideration. In the context of God, it denotes an attentive, intentional perception, highlighting His active engagement with His creation rather than a passive oversight.
• to the ends (עַד־קְצְוֺת, ʿad-qəṣwōṯ): ʿAd means "to" or "until," indicating the full extent. Qəṣwōṯ comes from qāṣeh, meaning "end," "edge," or "border." Together, they denote the uttermost boundaries or remotest regions. This emphasizes the comprehensive geographical scope of God's gaze, indicating that no place on earth is hidden or too distant for His sight.
• of the earth (הָאָרֶץ, hāʾāreṣ): Refers to the entire planet, the terrestrial world. Combined with "ends," it signifies a universal reach over all landmasses and dwelling places of humanity.
• and sees (וְיִרְאֶה, wəyirʾeh): The conjunction "and" connects this perception with the previous "He looks." Yirʾeh comes from the Hebrew verb ראה (raʾah), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to understand," or "to know experientially." While nabat (looks) implies careful observation, raʾah often encompasses full comprehension and intimate knowledge, transcending mere visual perception. God doesn't just observe; He truly understands what He sees.
• everything (כָּל, kol): This is an inclusive word, meaning "all," "every," or "whole." Its presence ensures there are no exceptions or omissions. God's perception is exhaustive and complete.
• under the heavens (תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם, taḥaṯ kol-haššāmāyim): Taḥaṯ means "under" or "beneath." Haššāmāyim means "the heavens" or "the sky." This phrase expands the scope beyond just the earth's surface to include all that exists within the celestial sphere, every created thing, whether terrestrial or atmospheric. It paints a picture of cosmic omniscience, signifying total dominion and knowledge over the entire created order.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For He looks to the ends of the earth": This phrase highlights God's omnipresence and the vast geographical reach of His active perception. It signifies that no physical boundary or remote location on the planet can obscure anything from His view. This underscores His unlimited scope, a stark contrast to humanity's limited travel and exploratory capabilities.
• "and sees everything under the heavens": This expands upon the previous phrase, pushing the boundary of God's knowledge beyond just the horizontal plane of the earth to include the entire cosmic sphere. "Everything under the heavens" implies all created things, whether on the earth, in the atmosphere, or in the very structure of the cosmos known at the time. This denotes not just mere observation but complete, internalizing comprehension of all details, emphasizing His universal and absolute omniscience. The parallel structure of "ends of the earth" and "under the heavens" powerfully conveys total coverage and absolute awareness.

Job 28 24 Bonus section

This verse implies not only God's static knowledge but His dynamic, continuous awareness of all things. It informs our understanding of His sovereignty – His capacity to orchestrate all events because He sees and knows every variable across the entire creation. The statement acts as a comforting truth for believers, knowing their every circumstance and location is within God's perfect view and understanding. Conversely, it serves as a sobering reminder of divine accountability, as no deed, no matter how concealed, escapes His watchful eye. The profundity of God's "seeing" is contrasted with human blindness or limited perception, highlighting the radical dependency humanity has on God for any true understanding or wisdom.

Job 28 24 Commentary

Job 28:24 encapsulates the theological premise for God's exclusive claim to ultimate wisdom: His unparalleled omniscience and omnipresence. While humanity meticulously explores the physical world to uncover its treasures, wisdom, by contrast, is not a commodity that can be mined or bought. It resides solely with the Creator because He alone possesses the infinite perspective necessary to comprehend it. God's ability to "look to the ends of the earth" signifies His total spatial awareness, meaning no location is too remote for His sight. Furthermore, His capacity to "see everything under the heavens" broadens His knowledge to encompass all phenomena and entities throughout the cosmos, leaving nothing unobserved or misunderstood. This verse affirms that God's comprehensive vision is not merely observation but involves deep and active understanding, laying the foundation for His role in governing, weighing, and ordering all creation (as detailed in subsequent verses). This divine attribute demonstrates why true wisdom cannot be accessed or earned by human effort but must be received from God.