Job 28 27

Job 28:27 kjv

Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

Job 28:27 nkjv

Then He saw wisdom and declared it; He prepared it, indeed, He searched it out.

Job 28:27 niv

then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.

Job 28:27 esv

then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.

Job 28:27 nlt

Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 27 Meaning

Job 28:27 asserts God's exclusive and profound relationship with true wisdom. It reveals that wisdom is not merely an abstract concept but is deeply known, thoroughly comprehended, fundamentally established, and exhaustively investigated by God alone. This verse marks the culmination of Job 28's argument that while humanity can master earthly endeavors and discover hidden treasures, ultimate wisdom resides uniquely with the Creator, forming the blueprint of His governance and creation. It underscores God's omniscient grasp and absolute sovereignty over all knowledge and insight.

Job 28 27 Context

Job chapter 28 is a majestic poem, distinct from the ongoing dialogue between Job and his friends. It serves as a philosophical interlude that transcends Job's personal suffering to address the larger question of wisdom's origin and accessibility. The chapter opens by describing humanity's remarkable prowess in extracting precious metals and jewels from the deepest parts of the earth, symbolizing humanity's intellectual ingenuity and relentless pursuit of hidden material wealth. Yet, the poem dramatically shifts to declare that despite this remarkable ingenuity, humanity cannot find or purchase true wisdom. Wisdom's "path" and "place" are unknown to living creatures, hidden from all forms of life and even from the realm of death and destruction (Sheol and Abaddon). It is against this backdrop of humanity's inability and God's exclusive knowledge that Job 28:27 profoundly declares that only God Himself understands and possesses true wisdom, before revealing its essence for humanity in the following verse (Job 28:28). This verse thus climaxes the argument regarding God's sole proprietorship of wisdom as an intrinsic aspect of His being and operation.

Job 28 27 Word analysis

• Then he saw it (וַיִּרְאֶהָ, wayyirʾehā):

  • וַיִּרְאֶהָ is a consecutive imperfect from the root ראה (ra'ah), meaning "to see, behold, perceive, understand." The feminine singular suffix -הָ (-hā) refers to wisdom (chokmah), which is feminine in Hebrew.
  • Significance: This is not merely a glance, but a deep, perceptive, and comprehensive seeing, akin to full apprehension and profound understanding. God did not "find" wisdom, implying it was lost, but rather, He inherently possessed it and thoroughly surveyed it.

• and declared it (וַיְסַפְּרֶהָ, wayĕsappĕrehā):

  • וַיְסַפְּרֶהָ is a consecutive imperfect from the root סָפַר (saphar) in the Piel stem, which means "to count, recount, declare, tell." The intensive Piel suggests a thorough or detailed declaration.
  • Significance: Following comprehension, God articulates wisdom. This implies definition, categorisation, and the formulation of its principles. It suggests wisdom is ordered and expressible in God's mind, perhaps akin to creating the framework or principles of its operation.

• he established it (הֲכִינָהּ, hĕkîynah):

  • הֲכִינָהּ is from the root כּוּן (kun) in the Hiphil stem, meaning "to make firm, to establish, to prepare."
  • Significance: After discerning and defining wisdom, God set it firmly into place. This denotes not just conceptual knowledge, but also its practical implementation as a foundational principle, possibly in the very fabric of creation or His divine governance. It implies a stability and permanence imparted to wisdom by God.

• and searched it out (וְגַם־חֲקָרָהּ, wĕgam-ḥăqārāh):

  • וְגַם (wĕgam) means "and also," adding emphasis. חֲקָרָהּ (ḥăqārāh) is from the root חָקַר (ḥaqar), meaning "to search, inquire, investigate, probe deeply."
  • Significance: This indicates an exhaustive, thorough, and intimate knowledge, leaving no aspect unexplored. It underscores the unparalleled depth of God's understanding of wisdom, not as one searching for something unknown, but as One who profoundly knows and fully grasps its every facet and implication. This implies complete mastery and profound internal understanding.

• Words-group Analysis (Sequential Actions):

  • "Then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out." This sequence of four distinct divine actions emphasizes God's total and exclusive mastery over wisdom.
    • Seeing/Perceiving (ראה): Represents His complete knowledge and comprehension of wisdom's nature.
    • Declaring/Recounting (סָפַר): Denotes His articulate grasp, as if giving structure and order to wisdom.
    • Establishing/Preparing (כּוּן): Implies His active role in embedding wisdom as a foundational principle within creation and governance.
    • Searching out/Probing (חָקַר): Reveals His exhaustive, intimate, and continuous examination of wisdom's deepest dimensions, affirming absolute omniscience.
  • Together, these verbs describe a divine interaction with wisdom that is utterly comprehensive, active, foundational, and intimate, distinguishing God's unique possession from humanity's limited grasp. This progression illustrates that wisdom is an intrinsic aspect of God's being and the underlying order of His works, fully integrated and known by Him.

Job 28 27 Bonus section

The active verbs in Job 28:27 underscore that God is not just aware of wisdom, but actively engages with it at multiple, profound levels. This contrasts sharply with humanity's futile search detailed earlier in the chapter. The "it" (הָ) consistently referring to "wisdom" (feminine noun in Hebrew, חָכְמָה, chokmah) is significant; it personifies wisdom as an entity uniquely interacted with by God. This foreshadows passages in Proverbs 8 where wisdom is depicted as existing with God before creation, involved in His foundational works. The verse implies that the order and coherence of the universe exist because God saw, declared, established, and intimately knows wisdom, making it the very blueprint of existence.

Job 28 27 Commentary

Job 28:27 is the climax of the poem on wisdom, which contrasts humanity's astounding ability to uncover earthly treasures with its inability to find wisdom. While humans can mine deep within the earth to find silver, gold, and precious stones, wisdom remains elusive, beyond human discovery or purchase. It highlights that the most profound and essential treasure, wisdom, cannot be bought or reached through human effort or ingenuity. Only God knows its secret and its source. This verse articulates how God possesses this wisdom: He "saw it," meaning He fully understood and apprehended it; He "declared it," signifying He brought its principles into clear focus; He "established it," meaning He put it firmly in place as a foundational element, especially in creation; and He "searched it out," indicating His exhaustive and complete comprehension, leaving no aspect unknown. This divine relationship with wisdom underscores God's omniscient nature and serves as a powerful reminder that true wisdom, far from being a human achievement, originates and is fully encompassed within the Creator.