Job 28 4

Job 28:4 kjv

The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

Job 28:4 nkjv

He breaks open a shaft away from people; In places forgotten by feet They hang far away from men; They swing to and fro.

Job 28:4 niv

Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.

Job 28:4 esv

He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.

Job 28:4 nlt

They sink a mine shaft into the earth
far from where anyone lives.
They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 4 Meaning

Job 28:4 describes the intense, isolated, and perilous endeavors undertaken by humans in their relentless pursuit of material treasures. It paints a picture of miners breaking open remote shafts deep within the earth, far from human habitation, forgotten and unseen by those who traverse the land, suspended precariously in the depths, swaying in their perilous work. This verse serves to underscore the profound lengths to which humanity will go for earthly riches, setting a dramatic contrast with the ineffable and unattainable nature of true divine wisdom, which the chapter later reveals cannot be acquired by such human efforts or discovered in these earthly mines.

Job 28 4 Context

Job 28 stands as a profound poetic interlude within the dialogue sections of the book of Job. It breaks away from the debate between Job and his friends, taking on the form of a hymn or wisdom poem. The chapter details humanity's ingenious ability to discover and extract precious metals and jewels from the earth's deepest, most dangerous, and darkest recesses. Verses 1-11 enumerate various mining processes—digging shafts, finding hidden veins, bringing light to what is dark—showcasing human skill and perseverance in uncovering earthly wealth.

Verse 4 specifically highlights the extreme methods employed by these ancient miners. Historically, such mining operations were perilous. Miners often created adits (horizontal tunnels) into hillsides or followed dry stream beds (wadis) where minerals were found. They were lowered into shafts on ropes, working in isolation from natural light and often in dangerous, unstable conditions, literally forgotten by those above ground. This depiction sets the stage for the chapter's main rhetorical question, introduced in verse 12: "But where can wisdom be found?" The passage uses human material quest to draw a stark contrast to the unparalleled, unobtainable nature of true wisdom by human means. The subtle polemic lies in suggesting that while man can conquer the earth's hidden material treasures, divine wisdom remains beyond his reach, underscoring humanity's limits and God's exclusive dominion over ultimate knowledge.

Job 28 4 Word analysis

• He opens up a shaft:
  • Original Hebrew: פָּרַץ נַחַל (parats nachal).
  • פּרַץ (parats): Qal perfect, "he broke open," "he burst forth." Signifies making a forceful breach or breakthrough. In context, it refers to initiating a mine shaft or tunnel. This implies deliberate, powerful action against natural barriers.
  • נַחַל (nachal): Literally "torrent," "wadi," or "riverbed." In ancient Near Eastern mining, valuable minerals like gold or precious stones were often found in dried-up riverbeds or channels. The "breach" or "opening" of a nachal here refers to the initial, arduous excavation into a channel or adit of a mine.
• away from where people live:
  • Original Hebrew: מֵעִם גֵּר (me'im ger).
  • מֵעִם (me'im): "from near," "away from." Indicates separation or distance.
  • גֵּר (ger): "sojourner," "resident alien," "foreigner." This term signifies someone living in a place temporarily or without permanent family roots, often associated with a settlement. The phrase emphasizes the deep isolation of these mining locations, far removed not just from typical human habitation but even from the more transient populations of settlements, indicating a truly remote and abandoned place.
• unnoticed by travelers:
  • Original Hebrew: וְנִזְנְחוּ דַּלּוּ (veniznechu dallu). Many translations take "by travelers" from the sense of regel (foot, implying one who travels), but the direct translation is more stark.
  • וְנִזְנְחוּ (veniznechu): From זָנַח (zanakh), Niphal perfect, "they are forgotten," "they are abandoned." The Nifal stem denotes a passive state. This highlights the complete neglect and oblivion these miners experience; they are literally out of sight and out of mind to the general populace.
• they hang suspended:
  • Original Hebrew: דַּלּוּ (dallu).
  • דַּלּוּ (dallu): Qal perfect, "they hung down," "they are suspended." Describes the physical reality of ancient mining where workers were often lowered into vertical shafts or over cliffs using ropes. This signifies vulnerability and a precarious position.
• away from people:
  • Original Hebrew: מֵאֱנוֹשׁ (me'enosh).
  • מֵאֱנוֹשׁ (me'enosh): "from man," "away from humanity." אֱנוֹשׁ (enosh) refers to humanity as frail and mortal. This reiterates the profound isolation, emphasizing their separation from human society and the dangers inherent in being utterly cut off.
• and sway:
  • Original Hebrew: יְנֻעוּ (yenu'u).
  • יְנֻעוּ (yenu'u): Qal imperfect, "they sway," "they totter," "they tremble." This active verb paints a vivid picture of the miners' unsteady, dangerous work environment as they move precariously while suspended, perhaps from fatigue, the instability of the ropes, or the shaking ground.

Words-group analysis:

• "He opens up a shaft away from where people live" (פָּרַץ נַחַל מֵעִם גֵּר): This phrase immediately establishes the setting: deep, dangerous, and utterly remote from normal human existence. It highlights human daring and the breaking of natural boundaries.
• "unnoticed by travelers, they hang suspended" (וְנִזְנְחוּ דַּלּוּ): This emphasizes the complete abandonment and precariousness of the miners' situation. Their effort is unseen, unappreciated by passersby, underscoring the solitary and hidden nature of their toil.
• "away from people, and sway" (מֵאֱנוֹשׁ יְנֻעוּ): The repetition of isolation ("away from people") reinforces the extreme nature of the pursuit. The image of "swaying" evokes vulnerability, the constant risk of their perilous existence, and the unsteadiness of their world compared to solid ground.

Job 28 4 Bonus section

The "shaft" or "wadi" mentioned is not merely a metaphor; it reflects real, incredibly difficult ancient mining practices where workers literally excavated waterless riverbeds or dug deep horizontal and vertical tunnels (adits and shafts). The very act of "breaking open" signifies violent disruption of nature, mirroring the aggressive pursuit of riches. This verse's focus on isolation and oblivion ("unnoticed by travelers," "away from people") not only highlights the danger but also points to the hiddenness of the entire enterprise, which further strengthens the contrast with the even greater hiddenness of true wisdom. The choice of "ger" (sojourner/foreigner) rather than a general term for inhabitants implies an effort to locate mining operations even beyond established temporary settlements, truly out of civilization's gaze, adding another layer to the verse's emphasis on ultimate remoteness.

Job 28 4 Commentary

Job 28:4 illustrates the human drive to penetrate the earth's deepest, darkest, and most perilous reaches in pursuit of valuable materials. This verse highlights the extreme measures—physical danger, profound isolation, and intense labor—that humanity undertakes for a temporal gain. The vivid imagery of miners hanging suspended and swaying in abandoned shafts underscores the lengths of human determination. This extreme devotion to unearthing material wealth serves as a stark counterpoint to the central theme of Job 28, which posits that wisdom is far more hidden and utterly unattainable by such earthly means. It is a profound irony: humanity can uncover every hidden gem from the earth, yet divine wisdom remains uniquely veiled from their discovery and understanding. The verse challenges humanity's pride in its ability to master the physical world, setting a limit to human ingenuity when it comes to apprehending divine truth.

• Example for practical usage: Just as people dedicate immense effort to obtain wealth, believers should consider whether they exert equivalent dedication in seeking divine wisdom and understanding of God's ways. Is our zeal for spiritual treasures as great as that for worldly pursuits? The verse can serve as a reflective mirror to our priorities and effort allocation.